Positive occult blood stool test

[Anonymous]

American College if Gastroenterology Colorectal Cancer Screening guidelines

The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2021 guidelines recommend colorectal cancer screening in average-risk individuals of age 50 to 75 years, and suggest screening in average-risk individuals of age 45 to 49 years. The ACG recommends colonoscopy and FIT as the primary modalities for colorectal cancer screening.

https://www.medscape.com/answers/2500006-108972/what-are-the-acg-colorectal-screening-guidelines#:~:text=American%20College%20of%20Gastroenterology%20(ACG,modalities%20for%20colorectal%20cancer%20screening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its good you're getting colonscopy irrespective of this result. The age to start is 45 now so you really should do it anyways!
Good luck!

That’s wrong. 45 is the age to start screening, not for automatic colonoscopies.

OP just schedule the colonoscopy. (A screening colonoscopy should be done at 45 anyway, so you're due.)

At 45 you need to be screened, not have a “screening colonoscopy”. Less invasive screening is recommended.

You really need to stop. The gold standard for screening colorectal cancer is a screening colonoscopy.

[Anonymous]

Colonoscopy is diagnostic and preventative for colorectal cancer. Polyps that are benign but that could develop pre-cancerous potential are removed. Yes, fecal occult testing is less invasive- but screening colonoscopy does, indeed, start at 45.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. My understanding is that at Kaiser, screening starts at 45 and for low risk people it starts with the poop test that I did and failed. This changed a little over a year ago as when I turned 45 the recommendation was 50. I heard back from my doctor and she referred me for a colonoscopy. It’s not scheduled yet, but it is no longer a screening colonoscopy so more urgent and they’ll get me in within a couple of weeks.

So far the doctor has provided no further info. Maybe there is no further info needed at this point but it’s slightly alarming to get a positive result like this.

[Anonymous]

You may want to see if you need upper GI looked at too. Any reflux or issues like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You may want to see if you need upper GI looked at too. Any reflux or issues like that?

I have had some reflux recently. What is the connection?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had this, got a colonoscopy (which I would have put off endlessly), and the gastroenterologist removed one polyp, said the blood was just from hemorrhoids, and to come back in five years. Very reassuring after a lot of worry!

+1. Same, hemorroids caused by straining to pass stools. I tweaked my diet and no more issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its good you're getting colonscopy irrespective of this result. The age to start is 45 now so you really should do it anyways!
Good luck!

That’s wrong. 45 is the age to start screening, not for automatic colonoscopies.

Incorrect

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its good you're getting colonscopy irrespective of this result. The age to start is 45 now so you really should do it anyways!
Good luck!

That’s wrong. 45 is the age to start screening, not for automatic colonoscopies.

Incorrect

Correct. 45 is suggested for screening, not required.

[Anonymous]

OP has a family history of colon cancer and a history of endometrial polyps, which increases the risk of colorectal polyps. She is higher than average risk. This should have been a colonoscopy at age 45.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP has a family history of colon cancer and a history of endometrial polyps, which increases the risk of colorectal polyps. She is higher than average risk. This should have been a colonoscopy at age 45.

I’m OP. At 45 I didn’t have a family history of colon cancer. My uncle died of colon cancer in the last couple of years. He was also well into his 70s, and my mom’s half brother so I’m not sure whether that really counts as “family history” but I’ll discuss with the doctor. When I was 45 the recommendation was to start at 50. When that recommendation changed I was screened. So as far as I’m concerned, everything proceeded as it should have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP has a family history of colon cancer and a history of endometrial polyps, which increases the risk of colorectal polyps. She is higher than average risk. This should have been a colonoscopy at age 45.

I’m OP. At 45 I didn’t have a family history of colon cancer. My uncle died of colon cancer in the last couple of years. He was also well into his 70s, and my mom’s half brother so I’m not sure whether that really counts as “family history” but I’ll discuss with the doctor. When I was 45 the recommendation was to start at 50. When that recommendation changed I was screened. So as far as I’m concerned, everything proceeded as it should have.

OP, do you have any history of uterine (endometrial) cancer in your family? Many people aren't aware that colon and uterine cancer run together in families and having one in your family history can increase your risk for the other (even in the absence of Lynch Syndrome). My grandmother died of uterine cancer in her 80's but there was no colon cancer in our family at all. Many did have a history of polyps. As it turns out I was diagnosed with colon cancer at 45. I wish I'd been more educated on these potential red flags.

Not trying to scare you--just want to be sure you're aware. Chance are good that everything is fine. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP has a family history of colon cancer and a history of endometrial polyps, which increases the risk of colorectal polyps. She is higher than average risk. This should have been a colonoscopy at age 45.

I’m OP. At 45 I didn’t have a family history of colon cancer. My uncle died of colon cancer in the last couple of years. He was also well into his 70s, and my mom’s half brother so I’m not sure whether that really counts as “family history” but I’ll discuss with the doctor. When I was 45 the recommendation was to start at 50. When that recommendation changed I was screened. So as far as I’m concerned, everything proceeded as it should have.

OP, do you have any history of uterine (endometrial) cancer in your family? Many people aren't aware that colon and uterine cancer run together in families and having one in your family history can increase your risk for the other (even in the absence of Lynch Syndrome). My grandmother died of uterine cancer in her 80's but there was no colon cancer in our family at all. Many did have a history of polyps. As it turns out I was diagnosed with colon cancer at 45. I wish I'd been more educated on these potential red flags.

Not trying to scare you--just want to be sure you're aware. Chance are good that everything is fine. Best of luck!

Thanks for that info. I didn’t know that. In fact, my grandmother died of cancer in the 80s, aged late 60s and it may have been uterine but my understanding it wasn’t clear whether it originated there, her cervix or ovaries as it had spread.

[Anonymous]

OP — take your docs up on fast-tracking your colonoscopy — don’t delay. Chances are very good it’s something benign. And very good chance it can be taken care of by this colonoscopy. No reason to be anxious — you’re doing just as you should. Good luck — pls report back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP — take your docs up on fast-tracking your colonoscopy — don’t delay. Chances are very good it’s something benign. And very good chance it can be taken care of by this colonoscopy. No reason to be anxious — you’re doing just as you should. Good luck — pls report back!

OP here. I’m waiting for the appointment, expecting a call with day and time soon.