Worried about bowel cancer - do I keep insisting on more checks ?

[Worriedaboutc]

I’ve had bowel issues since 2018. Started with pain , had a scan and they said I had some inflamed lymph nodes not to worry etc. I thought maybe IBS And it didn’t get any worse.
Became anaemic in 2019 which despite treatment is persistent.
Bowel habits changed in 2021 just constant constipation and if I did go colon pain afterwards. I had to start laxatives or just can’t go at all!

Stool sample for inflammation was normal in 2019.

so I’ve stayed on the laxatives and it was ok going once a day but since January this year the pain is worse and stools have been ribbon/pencil thin and I never feel like I’m finished if that makes sense ?
Ive always been the same weight for about 20 years but since January I’ve lost a stone and a half without trying. Thyroid has been checked etc and all normal.
the gp did a fit stool test and that was normal so they said I don’t need further tests ?

I’ve also had severe exhaustion for the last 4 months to the point I worried I have chronic fatigue syndrome.

Should I go back and push for more tests ? Apparently the fit test rules out bowel cancer but I have such an uneasy feeling that something is very wrong ?

I would say trust your instincts. Go back to your gp and if they're not helpful look into getting tests done privately if you can afford it.

Was going to say exactly the same.

I should add I’ve had zero bleeding but in the last 3 months I get pain and/or a sensation of something up there ? I don’t have piles or anything and I just feel really ‘not ok’ but I keep being told this fit tear should have reassured me

*test

I think I’ll go back to the gp but see a different doctor. I know I should feel reassured but every day now I feel like my body is not right ? And I keep telling myself that test was ok but I feel awful. I don’t really have any health anxiety and I’m rarely ill but since this started in 2018 I just do not feel right at all

Ask for a barium meal it will show any narrowings in the bowel

Can I ask what age you are? Only because constipation and exhaustion are really common in women once they are heading to menopause, I am prescribed Resolor and still have issues!

That said, there are false negative and false positive FIT test results.

“The sensitivity of FIT is very high, but not 100%:7 up to 10% of patients with CRC will have a false-negative FIT result. These patients may then be falsely reassured, and present only after their symptoms significantly worsen at a later date with advanced disease”
https://bjgp.org/content/69/679/60#:~:text=The%20sensitivity%20of%20FIT%20is,later%20date%20with%20advanced%20disease.

That does sound like more testing is needed, weight loss without trying is not normal for a start.

Yes. Insist.
I don’t know how old you are but my mums first symptoms of ovarian cancer were all to do with changes in her bowel movements. Sorry I don’t mean to scare you but I’ve started to be more evangelical about sharing the symptoms of this vile disease that they call “the silent killer” as the lack of concrete specific symptoms means it’s often spotted far too late as was the case with my lovely mum.
the weight loss alone is a worry. I wish you all the best and a happy outcome. Xx

Do you know what the FIT result was exactly? I think you need to go back to a different GP and request an urgent referral. Negative FIT aside, your other symptoms 'qualify' for a referral.

I’m 40 and it started 5 years ago, I had some hormone tests as well as the thyroid ones and everything was ok, cycles still regular etc too so I don’t think it’s related , since January things have really got worse after just grumbling along 2018-2022

I had lots of strange symptoms before breast cancer detected - it can sometimes be not the cancer you expect. A CT scan can sometimes be useful.

Fit result was 6. Ive had a calprotectin test as well which was 28 so all normal

I think you need more tests for your peace of mind. But also peri meno plays havoc with the bowel and can give Ibs symptoms. Or you may have developed food sensitivities. My dh can’t eat wheat and dairy any more and used to be fine with it. Possibly linked to covid but might just be him getting older. No idea if this is relevant but surely your GP should be looking into all of this

Keep going back and don't be fobbed off like my relative was. For her, by the time they finally took notice and stopped treating her like she was a hypochondriac, it was way too late.