FIT (stool blood) test result of >10? Reassurance, please.

[advicepleasez]

Could a medic / sensible person explain my result to me?! It says >10 and then the comment from my GP practice says Low risk of cancer. Monitor symptoms or something.

I guess this means nothing to worry about? It’s only that the ‘normal’ range it states is 0-9.9. I assume the range has to be a figure, but the result always comes back as >10, if it is in fact, say, 0.3 or 9.9, or whatever. Is that right? Or could I have got a more precise (and possibly lower figure) if it was really low risk?

When I first read the comment, I misread it as suggesting I did in fact have low risk of colonic cancer. (Paranoid, aren’t I?! 😂). I had one episode of rectal pink mucus / tiny blood clots so was investigated. Now a bit of pain around bum so I think it’s probs haemorrhoids after all).

I'm not a medic but my Mom's results were in to the 100's last year and she didn't have cancer. She was passing blood too. However she is being monitored now

What was the reason for having the test? If you don't mind me asking, what's your age?

Mine was mildly elevated. I had a colonoscopy within 3 weeks which showed internal haemorrhoids. Was told they'd see me in clinic to discuss options if I felt necessary but it would be a separate referral because I'd been on the 2 week pathway to exclude cancer.

My understanding of the Nice guidelines was that positive is anything over 10 and that should trigger an automatic onward referral but I might be mistaken.

Thank you for all your responses. Yes, it said >10 ug/g and reported as normal, but I just can’t work out if this result is slightly raised at all. Alongside this it said the normal range was 0.0 to 9.9.

It’s the response of the clinician at my practice (on my patient access records) that seems quite a bit too precise if there is no risk… perhaps they are being cautious. Here it is:

(StephanieH) - Normal - no action needed

• -
• Low risk of bowel cancer. If persisting symptoms of concern, consider
• obtaining specialist advice in line with local arrangements.

@oldpawn I am 52. Saw my GP as had a one off episode of pink mucus / tiny blood clots in discharge from rectum, a couple of times when wiping one evening 2 weeks ago. GP examined me (nothing remarkable - a couple of small external piles she said) and ordered the FIT test. She did say that if it came back negative to keep an eye on symptoms anyway as they had a low threshold for referral onwards… so perhaps that explains the comment? Any thoughts?

thanks again.

Oh goodness, I mean <10! I knew it meant less than 10 in my original post, just got the signs muddled up! Sorry! Yes <10!

Possibly a polyp. I wouldn't assume piles. I did and it was a polyp.

So your result is below 10?
Then your GP is right, just keep an eye on symptoms. If things get worse they'd repeat the test. Knowing what number you have between 0 and 9.9 isn't relevant, because any of those are 'normal'.

They say low risk because they can't say no risk. Even having the colonoscopy I was told that there is a chance (infinitesimally small) that a cancer can be missed.

Thank you very much for the reassurance, @MassiveOvaryaction. I appreciate your reply. It must have been worrying for but glad the colonoscopy was reassuring.

I totally get what you mean about them not being able to say ‘no risk’. Thank you.

@CraftyTaupeOtter would a polyp show up as a positive in the FIT test? Is there a risk of polyps being cancerous? Should I worry further?

I’ve not had any bleeding now since that one weird episode (which bizarrely occurred several hours after eating a horrible fry up and feeling weird about it in my tummy all day - doc thought possibly related but prob not…. sorry for TMI).

Thanks again, everyone

Mine was higher than that and my inflammation test was also a bit high. I think 17ish and 20+ went for the colonoscopy and they said all fine. I think it’s normally in the hundreds with colon cancer in other countries I think I read cut off point is higher than ten for colonoscopy referral

Yes, a polyp can show in the FIT test as blood. Most polyps are fine but there are some that can change towards cancer down the track, so removing them before they can do this is the best option. I did had clean samples except for one. I told the doctor I knew it was a pile. It wasn't. I don't think you need to worry but I'm glad I got it checked out and the polyp is gone. If you're on the fence, can you redo the test and see how it goes a second time?

Thank you @CraftyTaupeOtter, I will definitely think about redoing the rest if I get any repeat bleed or discomfort, tbh.

It’s the slightly persistent uncomfortable feeling that is odd, but it that does feel like piles!

But the bleed was pink discharge and tiny (I mean, tiny) blood clots and v little of it - seems perhaps more like a polyp bleed to me than a pile, now you suggest that (I had a cervical polyp in preg which bled once). Was your polyp diagnosed by colonoscopy?

Thank you for this reassurance, too @toomanyleggings. Glad yours was fine.

Yes, it was diagnosed by colonoscopy. I do have a pile but the doctor said we can't assume that is the cause of me having a positive sample in the FIT test, or whether there is something else going on too. So I had the colonoscopy and did indeed have a polyp. I don't know if it ever bled. Interestingly, I also had a cervical polyp removed once and that had never shown me any signs of being there until it was seen during a routine examination.

@CraftyTaupeOtter ditto re the cervical polyp (but then it did bleed once!). Perhaps I’m more likely to have a colonic one if had a cervical one too?! Interesting! 🤔 Thanks for your reply.

I don't know if there is any link but I have wondered if there is a tendency towards these things or whether it's coincidence.