Hand hold - FIT rest loved one (bowel cancer screen)

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Hello everyone

I'm just looking for a handhold.

A loved one had blood when she wiped about two weeks ago and was treated for a pile. She is 35 and otherwise in good health. No kids. She's had a bit of morning diarrhoea since the summer but was told it was likely IBS as lots of direct family members have it.

She had it again this week and had the test that I believe is called the FIT test, along with two tests for inflammatory bowel disease. So far only the FIT one has come back and she's had positive for blood and needs a colonoscopy. The test turnaround was very quick, Weds AM and results back to day and told colonoscopy within two weeks.

Logical part of my brain is saying we are a family with a lot of IBS, piles and diverticulitis and no history of bowel cancer and this is much more likely but my not logical part is screaming "BOWEL CANCER!" because it's so fast a turnaround with the test etc.

Just looking for someone to talk me down off the ledge and also to hold my hand.

Many thanks for reading.

I would really try not to panic. I've personally not had a FIT test, but I have had the other tests (Faecal calprotectin, etc.) and lots of blood tests, all of which was abnormal. I also had symptoms, not blood so much, but lots of other bowel issues over an extended period of time.

I had an urgent referral and had a colonoscopy and CT scan within about a week. It wasn't cancer. It was an issue with my pancreas (oddly enough - I didn't realise your pancreas has so much impact on your bowels). I was 40 at the time.

While it's a bit shit (pardon the pun), and I have to be on treatment for life and still have symptoms, I'm glad they handled it swiftly. It sounds like they are doing the same for your family member and it's great she'll have answers quickly. But do try not to panic. The vast, vast majority of urgent referrals are not cancer. I know it's hard not to worry.

DH had a positive FIT test and a clear colonoscopy, so try not to worry.

Thanks to those who have replied, I really appreciate it. I'm here on my own, DH is away this week with work, and I'm on my own with the kids trying to act normal but feeling so, so anxious (I'm an anxious person anyway). I don't think it helps that family member presented it as "bad news, the bowel cancer test has come back abnormal" which made me feel sick immediately. She's autistic and sometimes a bit blunt!

It's not a bowel cancer test though. It's a test to see if you are passing blood from your bowel and there can be many reasons for this, of which one is cancer. I have ulcerative colitis and have bleeding from my bowel. It is much more likely to be an inflammatory bowel disease like I have or Crohn's than cancer so please try not to worry too much!

Thanks - yes, I know that's true logically it's just she's more or less told me she's got bowel cancer so it's made me panic. She's had runny stools and bad wind for a few months which is also making me panic.