Positive fecal occult test

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SAL
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:39 am
Facebook Username: SalSavatore Vecchio

Positive fecal occult test

Postby SAL » Sun Oct 27, 2019 10:45 am

Hi I'm new to this form I had a positive fecal test couple months ago supposed to get a colonoscopy this week I'm showing no signs of anything at all as far as cancer or anything else really so I'm almost thinking about canceling the appointment any opinions?

There is no history of colon cancer in my family and even my specialist said there's a 90% chance and nothing's wrong

AmyG
Posts: 371
Joined: Tue Dec 25, 2018 8:08 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby AmyG » Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:47 am

Get the colonoscopy.
42 dx @ 9wks pregnant w/baby #8 8/18
Sigmoid colon resection 9/18
Adenocarcinoma, G2, T3N0M0..or so we thought
KRAS/BRAF wild
Liver biopsy is malignant, stage iv now boys!
Delivered healthy baby 3/19
FOLFOX + Avastin 5/19
CEA 167 to 24 after 4 rounds
Liver resection 8/28/19
NED!! CEA 2.3
CEA 5.8 idk wtf is up with that, but everything else is clear!
CEA 3.7 make up your damn mind...
CEA 1.5 that's a new low!

Beckster
Posts: 438
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2017 3:01 pm
Location: New Jersey

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby Beckster » Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:51 am

Ditto...get the colonoscopy! It is better to be safe than sorry!
57/F
DX:(CC) 10/19/16
11/4/16- Lap right hemi(cecum)
CEA- Pre Op (1.9), Pre Chemo (2.5)
Type: Adenocarcinoma
Tumor size:3.5 cm x 2.5 x 0.7 cm
Grade: G3
TNM: T3N0M0/IIA
LN: 0/24
LVI present
Surgical margins: clear
MSS
12/27/2016 - Capeox, anaphylactic
1/2/17 to 6/9/17- Xeloda
6/17,12/17,6/18,12/18,6/19,12/19,12/20,12/21 CT Scan NED :D
CEA- 6/17- 3.6, 9/17- 2.8 12/17-2.8, 3/18-3.1, 6/18-3.0, 9/18 2.8, 12/18 2.5 3/19 3.1 6/19 3.1 9/19 2.6 12/19 2.8 6/20 3.0 12/20 2.7 6/21 2.9,[color=#000000]12/21 2.7[/color]
Clear Colonoscopy 10/17, 11/19,11/21 :D

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Kick'nAssCancer'sAss
Posts: 248
Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2014 4:38 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby Kick'nAssCancer'sAss » Sun Oct 27, 2019 1:55 pm

I had the fecal test and it came back normal. Within a year I was dx with a tennis ball sized tumour. Dr. said it had been growing for years and he could send 100 colon cancer patients for the fecal test and only 40% would have a positive. Fecal test only detects traces of blood in the stool. Not all tumours have blood.

GET THE SCOPE!!!!
53M Dx RC Halloween 2013
CT & BONE scan
MRI/T3N0M0 1 suspicious LN
5 wks chemo/rad
LAR open TME Feb 26/14
temp bag
0/24 nodes pCR/pathological
Folfox (8) Mar 28-Jul 4 /14
Aug/14 clear CT scan
Aug 27/14 reversal
Feb/15 clear scope
July/15 Feb/16 Feb/17 Feb/18 clear CT scans
Feb/18 clear scope
Sept 19 clear CT scan & DISCHARGED :P
Mar/23 clear scope
CEA 1.6 @ dx
1.6,1.4,1.7,2.4,2.9, 2.7 2.3 2.5 2.2 2.1 2.5 2.6 2.7
2.7 Sept 19
0-4 normal
https://kickingasscancersass.blogspot.com/

hopefulandstrong
Posts: 58
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 7:11 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby hopefulandstrong » Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:36 pm

Get the scope. Positive Fecal Occult test is how we found mine -- which happens to be fast growing.
54, female
1/8/19 DS Stage 4 with Liver Mets; Successful Colon Resect
2/18/19 Started Folfox -- CEA 70
5/8/19 - BRAF mutation -- switch to Triplet Therapy: Encorafenib, Binimetinib, Cetximab
6/13/19 - CEA dropped from 214 to 22
8/29 - CEA jump to 30-- scans reveal liver spread, though still confined. triplet therapy abandoned; some concern about PIC3 mutation interfering with BRAF treatment
9/1 - 10/4 -- no treatment
10/4 -- folfoxfiri to stem further progression; pump placement in January (hopefully)

radnyc
Posts: 446
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:32 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby radnyc » Sun Oct 27, 2019 3:55 pm

No doubt. Get the colonoscopy, you don’t want to be in a bad situation down the line because you didn’t.
DX Jan 2010, at age 47
Feb - colon resection - 2/17 nodes positive
April - liver mets - Stage 4
3 months Folfox chemotherapy
August '10 liver resection and HAI pump
7 months chemo FUDR HAI and Folfiri systemic
NED since August 2010
Last treatment April 2011
HAI Pump removed Dec 2015

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ginabeewell
Posts: 565
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2018 10:30 am

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby ginabeewell » Sun Oct 27, 2019 5:21 pm

Up until the morning of my colonoscopy, I had two GIs assuring me it could not be cancer. It was, stage 4. Get the colonoscopy!!
49 YO mom of twins (11) lucky stepmom of 16/19 year olds
9/17/18 DX stage 4 CRC w inoperable liver mets CEA 931
Currently NED!

Join me on a lookback of my journey via my Strive for Five on Substack here:
https://ginajacobson.substack.com

All treatment details here:
https://www.weareallmadeofstars.net/col ... nt-journey

My favorite posts here:
https://weareallmadeofstars.net/favorite-posts

annieliz
Posts: 56
Joined: Fri Jul 26, 2019 5:13 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby annieliz » Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:39 pm

No question - definitely get the colonoscopy!
66 Female
7/15/19 Colonoscopy
7/26/19 DX: Rectal Adenocarcinoma
CEA 8/8/19-1.9, 12/6/19-2.3, 2/28/20-1.7, 11/27 - 1.9, 2/10/21 - 1.5
8/16/19 - 11/23/19 FOLFOX - 8 rounds
10/9 flex sig ~30% shrinkage 11/27/19-a bit more shrinkage
Neulasta 9/29/19, 10/27/19, 11/24/19
25 days Xeloda and radiation 12/17/2019 - 1/22/20
Robotic LAR 4/14/20 - clear margins - 0/15 nodes
Temp ileostomy - Reversal 7/15 - minor LARS
10/19/20 - clear colonoscopy
2/10/21 - clear CT

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby NHMike » Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:43 pm

Everyone should get a colonoscopy at 50. I don't know whether you're younger or older but you're going to need to get them sooner or later. The colonoscopy itself isn't bad - it's the preparation that you do at home that's a lot of work.

If it is cancer, then you want to catch it as early as possible. The later the stage, the more difficult and painful and long is the treatment. And, at some point, treatment might not be an option.

Anyone who has had colon or rectal cancer wouldn't wish it on anyone and, will, of course, tell you to get the colonoscopy.

We get them all the time.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

erins
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 12:41 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby erins » Mon Oct 28, 2019 12:39 am

SAL wrote:Hi I'm new to this form I had a positive fecal test couple months ago supposed to get a colonoscopy this week I'm showing no signs of anything at all as far as cancer or anything else really so I'm almost thinking about canceling the appointment any opinions?

There is no history of colon cancer in my family and even my specialist said there's a 90% chance and nothing's wrong

I had almost the exact same situation—38 years old, positive FOT, no family history, no risk factors. I don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t eat red meat, I’m slender and physically active.
My GI literally said ‘I don’t think it’s anything serious like cancer’
Between that conversation and the colonoscopy appointment my mom went into the hospital, passed away and was buried. I nearly cancelled my appointment—just too much going on. But then I imagined the ass-kicking my mom would give me if I didn’t go.

I got the scope, and it WAS cancer. I was lucky, I was stage 2a. They caught it early because I kept my appointment.

Get the colonoscopy.
38 yr old female
Rectal bleeding for 1 month—>
5/4/18 colonoscopy found mass in sigmoid colon
5/21/18 LAR
stage 2a, 0/17 lymph, clean margins
T3N0M0 G1
LVI neg, PNI neg, MSS
9/21/18 CEA 0.8
11/16/18 CEA 0.8 & CT clear
12/7/18 iron infusion
2/1/18 iron improved, CEA stable.

Koreysue
Posts: 258
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2018 2:36 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby Koreysue » Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:06 am

Get the colonoscopy!
Also- the new recommended age for routine colonoscopy now is 45
Dx: 6/2017 stage 3 CC
Sigmoid, 2 nodes
CEA at dx: 6.1
Sigmoid Colectomy/folfox (last chemo (1/31/18)
CEA 4/2018: 2.4
CEA 7/2018: 3.7
Colonoscopy 8/18 clean
PET scan 8/20/18 NED
CEA 11/2018: 3.8
CEA 2/2019: 3.2
CT NED 6/18/19 / CEA : 3.4
CEA 10/21/19: 3.2
CEA 3/9/20: 3.8
CT NED /CEA 6/17/20: 3.8
CEA 11/4/20 4.6 <——— whyyyy? (will retest in a few weeks)
CT NED 12/1/20 CEA: 3.5
CEA 5/21 4.2
CEA 10/21 3.4
colonoscopy 10/21 10mm polyp
CEA 4/22 3.7
CEA 7/22 3.8
CEA 12/22 4
CEA 1/22 3.2 and NED 5yr scan

boxhill
Posts: 789
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2018 11:40 am

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby boxhill » Mon Oct 28, 2019 11:16 am

Going to the bother/expense of having a fecal occult test then ignoring the positive result?

Denial is not just a river in Egypt! :D

Please, have the colonoscopy. MANY people are diagnosed with CRC with no symptoms. Don't take the chance. Wishing all the best for you. :)
F, 64 at DX CRC Stage IV
3/17/18 blockage, r hemi
11 of 25 LN,5 mesentery nodes
5mm liver met
pT3 pN2b pM1
BRAF wild, KRAS G12D
dMMR, MSI-H
5/18 FOLFOX
7/18 and 11/18 CT NED
12/18 MRI 5mm liver mass, 2 LNs in porta hepatis
12/31/18 Keytruda
6/19 Multiphasic CT LNs normal, Liver stable
6/28/19 Pause Key, predisone for joint pain
7/31/19 Restart Key
9/19 CT stable
Pain: all fails but Celebrex
12/23/19 CT stable
5/20 MRI stable/NED
6/20 Stop Key
All MRIs NED

skb
Posts: 100
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2017 2:00 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby skb » Mon Oct 28, 2019 12:32 pm

Please do not cancel the colonoscopy.

The inconvenience of colonoscopy is very minor compared to going through advanced cancer treatment. If there is cancer, detect it early and get rid of it. That is key to survival.

Colonoscopy is not too bad as many think it is. There is some food restrictions and drinking of laxative the previous day to cleanse the colon. That is it. The procedure does not hurt at all. You will be sleeping through all of it. When you wake up, you will have no pain or discomfort.
3/21/17: Dx T3N0M0-mid rectal 4.5cm
4/18 to 5/22/17: chemoradiation- Xeloda and daily radiation (25 doses)
6/28/17: clean biopsy, clean scans
8/17: MRI - no evidence of tumor, no surgery, starts wait and watch
8/17 to 12/17: Folfox
8/19 VATS - 1cm lung nodule
7/17/21- Clean CT, CEA 15.6 !
8/24/21- PET , biopsy finds met along obturator lymph nodes
10/1/21- Surgery , 12 rounds of FOLFIRI -ended 4/22
4/15/22, 9/6/22. 1/20/23- Clean scan, normal CEA
10/23- four sub-centimeter lung nodules, all PET negative

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CRguy
Posts: 10473
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:00 pm

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby CRguy » Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:52 pm

SAL wrote:There is no history of colon cancer in my family and even my specialist said there's a 90% chance and nothing's wrong

I had no family history of CRC and the docs initially thought it was a bleeding internal hemorrhoid, so they set up a colonoscopy " just to be safe "
That was in 2007 ... I am a Stage IV CRC survivor since then ...
AND I have been staying safe ever since with regular follow up colonoscopies ( last one Oct 9 this year ! )

SO just to keep the theme going here for you

GET THE COLONOSCOPY :shock: :!: :!: :!:

Best wishes
CRguy
Caregiver x 4
Stage IV A rectal cancer/lung met
17 Year survivor
my life is an ongoing totally randomized UNcontrolled experiment with N=1 !
Review of my Journey so far

Deb m
Posts: 558
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:08 am

Re: Positive fecal occult test

Postby Deb m » Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:40 am

My husband really had no symptoms of colon cancer. He had a scope only because of a positive fecal test and because he turned 52 and was due anyway. He had a 3.6 cm tumor in his cecum which is the beginning of your large intestine. Ended up having major surgery follow by 6 months/12 hits of folfox. Get the scope no matter what! If they find something, and that's if, hopefully it's a early find and that's a big key to beating this beast!


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