DH with a positive FIT test - super worried :(

[ElGraham]

My DH has been having a few random episodes of an upset stomach over the past few years. After the last one I persuaded him to go to the Dr. They did a FIT test and it came back positive at 24ug/g (apparently anything above 10 is positive). He hasn't had any other symptoms at all. He is 43 years of age. Pretty fit and eats very well.

I'm 2 months pregnant with our first and beside myself with worry that its cancer. He's on the 2WW for a colonoscopy - we have insurance through Bupa so are seeing a specialist tomorrow and hoping that will give us some reassurance.

Does any one have any idea of what it could be? I have seen some scary statistics that 1 in 4 positive fit tests are cancer. I can't really sleep because of the worry!

Sometimes it’s nothing, I had a scare a few years ago, turns out it was my bleeding piles.

I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t go hunting around for information online, it will only mess with your head.

Your husband is getting it checked and worst case scenario if it is cancer they’ve caught it early.

Sending you lots of strength, think positive and just know he’s in safe hands xx

My result was higher than that, colonoscopy showed internal haemorrhoids.
It's a worrying time, especially with pregnancy hormones in the mix! Hope all is ok

It could be internal piles, it could be polyps, it could be IBD (of which there are several kinds!), it could be IBS. There are so many other things it could other than cancer so try and keep those in your mind too. I know it's really hard not to spiral but in 2wks or less you will know for sure what you're dealing with.

My London hospital leaflet said 9 out of 100 positive FIT tests turned out to be bowel cancer so the 1 in 4 statistic does not sound reliable.

I had a colonoscopy after a positive FIT. Polyps and piles had caused the positive result. I absolutely appreciate it’s worrying but statistically very unlikely to be cancer.

Oh, OP. What a horrible time you're having.
A FIT test is a pretty crude test, it detects blood in the stool and is used to indicate some further investigation is appropriate.

As PP have said, it's very likely that it's picked up some blood from haemorrhoids and his upset stomachs could just be some Irritable bowel.

The consultant tomorrow will take a full history and family hx, but a colonsocopy is appropriate under the circumstances and could be really reasurring if all OK.

It's natural to be worried but try not to ruminate...I find the saying "All things are possible, not all things are probable " helpful.

Sometimes the "box" strategy is helpful.
You pack the worry into a metaphorical box, and set a time limit on when you open the box to let it out. Then firmly shut the box until the next given time.
That way, you are acknowledging and addressing the worry, and not suppressing it, but, equally, not letting it dominate your life and thoughts and sleep.
All the best and congratulations on your pregnancy.

My oh had a positive fit test when he was 40, think it was a level of 38. Had a colonoscopy and it was piles causing it.

I had a positive FIT test with a very high score. As others have said, it was 2 polyps and piles. I am now on a 5 year recall. I was seen within two weeks and couldn’t be happier with the service I got from the NHS. Please try not to panic.

Please try not to panic. I’m not clinical but I do work in bowel cancer screening. FIT looks for blood, so it’s positive for blood not cancer. 24 is still low and like others say it’s more likely to be piles, IBD or something.

during Covid we weren’t routinely doing colonoscopies, we were sending FITs in the post and only those with a result higher than 120 were being brought in for colonoscopy, which was the guidelines at the time.

I had a positive FIT of 29 after having IBS type symptoms and am having a colonoscopy at the end of this week. I'm extremely worried and have been struggling to cope on the 2ww, but glad that they will be checking what's going on. It's good to hear that it could also be something else.

DH has had repeatedly abnormal FITs, four colonoscopies, four gastroscopies, plus two episodes of swallowing a capsule thingy and low-grade anaemia for years. No signs of cancer, IBS or anything else 🤷🏼‍♀️
I’ve had two of 120+, diagnosed with IBS.
Abnormal doesn’t = cancer every time imo.

Thanks for all the positive messages everyone - it does really help!

@SancerreSunsets do let us know how things go got my fingers crossed for you!

Everywhere I have looked is that 99% chance its not cancer with no other symptoms and him being below 50. But of course, that one percent chance that it is is quite literally terrifying for me. I can't help but catastrophise and just assume the worst!

1 in 4 doesn't sound right at all, purely based on my own circle of family & friends, many of us seem to have experienced it!
Of 5 people I know recently, their post high FIT colonoscopy showed:
2 - nothing at all
1 - polyps
1 - piles
1 - IBD

All the best.

Love this comment thank you so much this is really helpful for my anxiety! X

His FIT score may be "positive" but it's still relatively low - people have FIT scores in the hundreds! I had pretty much the same score as him and it was a polyp.

At his age it's unlikely it would be anything untoward.

Same here. My fit score was 200! I was convinced I was going to die. They found a few benign polyps in the bowel and gallbladder issues (probably the cause of bloatedness). Horrible process to have to through but worth it in the end.

Please try not to worry, I had the same last year with a positive fit test and all the symptoms of bowel cancer bar weight loss. My mother passed away from bowel cancer so I was absolutely terrified. I had a colonoscopy and it was just bleeding hemorrhoids in the end. I got myself into a horrendous state over nothing. I hope that helps to keep you calm!

Update on my gastroscopy and coloscopy, which was due to low ferritin and a positive FIT of 29 plus ongoing bowel symptoms (months of loose bowels). I'm relieved to say that nothing sinister was found in either examination ... only some mild diverticulitis. Hopefully this will be reassuring.

In terms of the prep - if your DH has to take Plenvu, let's just say it is very effective! I started my first dose at 13.00 yesterday and by 13.40 I was in the bathroom, and stayed there for some time. My bowels ran clear by this point. The second dose seemed more aggressive and I had to take a break from the drink several times due to needing to visit the bathroom. I didn't finish with bathroom visits until gone midnight and then had to get up three times in the night. I still needed to go when I arrived for my procedure this morning - all of the bathroom sessions after the first dose were clear liquid, like urine, so my bowel was fully clean, just still working on the drinks I suppose.

I found the drinks pretty rank. I followed the advice to chill them and drink them through a straw. I sipped water after each sip of the drink. I split each dose of 500mls into two glasses of 250mls and aimed to drink 1 every half hour. They taste awful, but it's doable.

I felt extremely thirsty during this process and drank a lot of water. I also had stomach pains, bloating and almost continuous stomach gurgling. This morning I wasn't allowed to drink after 6.15 as my appointment was for 8.15, but after checking in and getting the canula put in for sedation, the procedure didn't start until 10 so I was very dehydrated.

The gastroscopy was quick and not too bad, but the sedation was wearing off during the colonoscopy and I found it very painful at points and needed gas and air. Women's colons are apparently trickier than men's as they are crammed into a smaller space and have more twists and turns, so this may be partly the issue.

I hope all goes well for your husband, OP. It's extremely likely that he will be fine, since his FIT was fairly low, but it's good to get it all checked out to see if they can find a cause for his occasional issues.

So I’m really pleased to have this update! My DH had his colonoscopy this morning and all is totally normal - no polyps no inflammation, nothing at all. I feel like 5000 bricks have been lifted! Thank you everyone for all your comments and @SancerreSunsets so glad everything went week for you too!

So happy for you OP! Now you can relax xx