Poo test has come back as abnormal for 70 yr old DM. Very worried.

[Crunchie23]

Hi,

So yes, DM has been getting lots of pelvic pain for a few months and was sent for every test going. All the blood test came back normal, as did her abdominal scan, but her stick test has shown some blood.

She has just told me that she does sometimes see blood after going to the toilet, but has done for years and assumed it was piles or maybe an IBS flare-up, which she does have quite bad. No investigations before now, although she has done other stick tests that have come back clear. I understand these can be unreliable though.

The pain did seem to flare up after quite a nasty fall, which is what's giving me a bit of reassurance and she does also have a prolapse, which could be causing pressure/pain, but still, at DMs age, I'm very concerned.

So now she waits for colonoscopy referral, which should be within the next couple of weeks and she is understandably very nervous.

I know nobody can tell me for sure what's going on here, so I'm not entirely sure why I'm posting. Probably just for a hand hold really. It would be good to hear from those who have been through the same/similar

TIA

Sending a hand hold here. It's always so scary and not much will be reassuring. I've worked in a few endoscopy departments and a positive fit test doesn't always come back as anything at all, let alone anything sinister. It's not the most reliable test so hopefully she'll have the all clear soon enough. Thinking of you both.
The fact scans are clear is also very positive.

NC for this. I've had similar recently, though without any pain, pelvic or otherwise. Colonoscopy found a couple of precancerous polyps, which were removed. I was told to eat more fibre and have more frequent colonoscopies, i.e. every 2-3 years.

Bowel cancers are very slow growing, but anyone over 50-55 should have a Colonoscopy every 10 years.

My dmum had blood in her poo. She was 89. It was caused by some other medication she was taking (sorry I can't remember what) but no cancer. She is still with us at 92. I don't know if this is relevant or helpful at all because obviously this is different for everyone.

Thank you for your replies. Feeling slightly less panicky.

@Olivia199 I was under the impression that abdominal scans very often don't pick up bowel related issues.

It depends on the type of scan of course. Although a clear scan is not a sure fire way to rule out disease, it is a good start!

@Olivia199 thank you.