what could i have wrong am worried i have cancer

[bonstey2]

i received a fecal test pack via DHS and the 1st test was unclear, the 2nd was normal and the third was abnormal.  i am now waiting for a colonoscopy. suffer with anxieties and cant stop worrying whats wrong, have always suffered with ibs, but now am wanting to go poo 2 or 3 times a day and have stomach uncomfortable feelings and belch all the time i am 70 years old

[bonstey2]

thankyou very much for your comments, i do suffer greatly with anxieties and at present taking citalopram 20mg but it doesnt seem to make any difference. i have always suffered with ibs and the going poo 2 or 3 times in the morning was happening before the test, butmy poo is smelly and a funny sticky goo sometimes.  i am paranoid about my poo i keep looking at it, and yesterday i kept feeling as if i wanted to go andwent about 4 times in the morning and still felt if i wanted to do more, so i took a glass of fibregel orange and last night i got diarahea. i am going to see a practitioner tomorrow to talk about the colonoscopy but i just want to get it over with before i go mad and sick with worry i cant help it, and incidentally my poor husband is suffering i am driving him mad because i keep talking about it, saying i have pain in my stomach, i feel full up now.  incidentaly i am waiting for an appointment to see a therapist. thanks for listening. margaret

[Kaneda2112]

It's not clear in your note whether the other symptoms ("now am wanting to go poo 2 or 3 times a day and have stomach uncomfortable feelings and belch all the time") came AFTER the test or before. I suspect the increased BMs etc may be due to anxiety from what little you've mentioned.

That being said, there are many causes for why your FOBT came back positive. It could be anything, and as difficult as it is, you need to try to put it out of your mind if it's interfering with your day to day life. If you feel the anxiety is taking control you need to talk to either a therapist or your GP for a small prescription to perhaps calm you down. Just a thought.

From the Mayo Clinic -

"Your doctor will review the results of the fecal occult blood test and then share the results with you.

    Negative result. A fecal occult blood test is considered negative if no blood is detected in your stool samples. If you had the test to screen for colon cancer and you're at average risk — you have no colon cancer risk factors other than age — your doctor may recommend waiting one year and then repeating the test.

    Positive result. A fecal occult blood test is considered positive if blood is detected in your stool samples. You may need additional testing — such as a colonoscopy — to locate the source of the bleeding.

It's important to remember that false-negative and false-positive results are possible. Some cancers and most polyps don't bleed, which may lead to a false-negative result. Likewise, occult bleeding may come from sources other than colon cancer or a polyp — a false-positive — such as from a stomach ulcer, hemorrhoid, or even blood swallowed from your mouth or nose."

and from the Ontario Ministry of Health -

"A positive test result doesn't necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer but does require follow-up to find out if you do have colorectal cancer. Approximately 5% of people with a positive FOBT are found to have cancer during a follow-up colonoscopy. It is recommended that everyone 50 years and older should be screened with a FOBT every two years."

Try to keep your anxiety in check - I KNOW it's difficult having been there myself. But if you can't do it on your own, there's no shame in asking for some med help. Keep us in the loop and let us know how it all develops.