1. < Colorectal Cancer

Anyone have a positive Cologuard test?

Posted by dazlin @dazlin, Nov 21, 2019

My test results came back positive. I asked what did it show, because they test for 11 different cancers or categories. They said, it just states either negative or positive for cancer. I had problems a few years back and did a colonoscopy, which came back ok. Now this!! I'm reading theres a 13 percent chance of false positive. Right now I'm extremely distraught about having to go through all Consults, tests, and dreaded preps. Orders are in for Consult with gastro, but they're booked out through January or February in Mayo. I have not received any notice for appointment yet. Dont know what to think or do.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @samdeman "Thank you for your kind words. I have consult and test coming up." + (show)
@samdeman

Thank you for your kind words. I have consult and test coming up.

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@samdeman Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That is a very good question, one that I have pondered myself! I am not sure what path you took to decide on a Cologuard test. I had my last colonoscopy in 2014, and was terribly ill from the preparation. Then had to do the procedure with no twilight sleep! At that time I made a vow to not have any more of those procedures.

As a daily dialysis patient, and active blood cancer patient under treatment, getting a read on my colon health is not high on my list. Sigh....it should be part of my 2024 resolutions, I think!

@georga35 showed a good reason for you to pursue further investigation.

Will you let us know what your upcoming consult results are, please?
Ginger

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1 reply
samdeman | @samdeman | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @georga35 "Hi Samdeman, Cologuard may have detected a pre-cancer situation. My husband kept refusing a colonoscopy but..." + (show)
@georga35

Hi Samdeman,
Cologuard may have detected a pre-cancer situation. My husband kept refusing a colonoscopy but I finally got him to do cologuard test. He was 74 and non-smoker male. Test came back positive. He finally agreed to colonoscopy a few months later ... Which found a polyp in pre-cancer stage. Polyp removed during colonoscopy. No further issues... He was just told that he should follow up with another test in 5 years. If my husband had not done cologuard followed by colonoscopy, doc told him he would have been dealing with CRC within 5 years.
So don't delay taking action. I hope your situation is resolved easily just as it was for my husband.
Take care.

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Thank you for your kind words. I have consult and test coming up.

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1 reply
georga35 | @georga35 | Dec 24, 2023
In reply to @samdeman "I am healthy 72 year old non smoking male. I just received positive cologuard test. I..." + (show)
@samdeman

<p>I am healthy 72 year old non smoking male. I just received positive cologuard test. I have appointment with gastro doctor 7 feb. how likely do I have colo rectal cancer?</p>

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Hi Samdeman,
Cologuard may have detected a pre-cancer situation. My husband kept refusing a colonoscopy but I finally got him to do cologuard test. He was 74 and non-smoker male. Test came back positive. He finally agreed to colonoscopy a few months later ... Which found a polyp in pre-cancer stage. Polyp removed during colonoscopy. No further issues... He was just told that he should follow up with another test in 5 years. If my husband had not done cologuard followed by colonoscopy, doc told him he would have been dealing with CRC within 5 years.
So don't delay taking action. I hope your situation is resolved easily just as it was for my husband.
Take care.

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2 replies
samdeman | @samdeman | Dec 23, 2023

<p>I am healthy 72 year old non smoking male. I just received positive cologuard test. I have appointment with gastro doctor 7 feb. how likely do I have colo rectal cancer?</p>

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1 reply
Sam | @sgbisrat | Dec 13, 2023
In reply to @sgbisrat "The last cologuard test came positive & I had to do a colonoscopy. Isn’t the idea..." + (show)
@sgbisrat

The last cologuard test came positive & I had to do a colonoscopy. Isn’t the idea of the test to catch the cancer before it spreads or at least while it’s in a precancerous stage?
Therefore, the test in my view is useless no matter how often you do it, as long as it’s missing it!

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I agree!

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patloh59 | @patloh59 | Dec 13, 2023
In reply to @mistscout2013 "I had a colonscopy in 03 Was o k Again in 13 Was fine Now I..." + (show)
@mistscout2013

I had a colonscopy in 03 Was o k Again in 13 Was fine Now I am eighty and tech at clinic thought she was being easy on me so said I should have cologuard. I had seen that little blue and white box marching around the yard and pool and was not too impressed but I caved in anyway. I know I have internal hemorroids and bleed sometimes Not often. But Cologuard test was positive and said it sensed adenoma or colon cancer. Thanks for being real candid about everything which told me nothing specific. Just got to have colonscopy anyway which I should have insisted on in the first place. I am worried and am trying to search on internet and every piece of info I can find to see what my chance of having cancer is. What made it worse is they emailed me and told me but the link only lasted for 24 hrs Considering the test cost 500 to 600 dollars that was not much for my money. My aprn that I had been going to is sick and was in the midst changing to a doctor I had formerly. Getting records changed over and the anxiety it is causing is really nerve wracking. I am crying one day and being bold the next day and hoping I can get scheduled for the colonscopy soon. I will never take or reccomend the colorguard test to anyone.

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I agree with you mostly….if one is without symptoms and absolutely cannot for cost or ins. reasons have a colonoscopy than perhaps cologuard is ok.
I had a colonoscopy 12 years ago and did cologuard 3 years ago (both fine). My GP said to just take another cologuard test in the interim until I went for another colonoscopy. It came back positive about a month ago. I was freaking out. I managed to see a gastro within two weeks but was told I’d have to wait 6 weeks for the colonoscopy! That’s a long time to worry! But I was lucky, they had a cancellation so I am now done with the test and I am fine. It was a false positive.
I would say if you are due, skip the cologuard and just schedule the colonoscopy. The use of cologuard is so suspect because of many false positives and negatives!

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Sam | @sgbisrat | Dec 13, 2023
In reply to @sgbisrat "Stay away from Cologuard! I used the test for the last 9 years every 3 years..." + (show)
@sgbisrat

Stay away from Cologuard! I used the test for the last 9 years every 3 years and a few months ago a full blown colon cancer that spread was discovered the test missed.
Have a second thought before taking the Cologuard route!

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I used it for the last 6 years & in January 2023 ….a full blown cancer!!!!😫😫😫

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needadviceplease | @needadviceplease | Oct 4, 2023
In reply to @coolibrarian "I received news of a positive test in July as well. I did my first test..." + (show)
@coolibrarian

I received news of a positive test in July as well. I did my first test five years prior and it was negative. I have a colonoscopy scheduled in two weeks. I've been trying really hard not to worry so I keep reading everything I can get my hands on that would help ease my worries. I too have had no symptoms and find myself dreading every trip to the bathroom yet always take a good hard look before I flush! lol If anything, the positive test has forced me to get a colonoscopy at 56.... and if the results come back with little to worry about then the positive Cologuard served its purpose with me. Thanks for your posts about your experience... it has made me feel better going into the procedure. So glad yours came back just fine. 🙂

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VERY SHORT VERSION :
I took a Cologuard test because I liked it wasn’t intrusive. I had previous gone through at least 2 other colonoscopies that were negative in my life before…

Cologuard test to me is nothing but false information,
Can’t even believe FDA approved it! They use statistics as part of the test I took that came back positive. Had to go for a colonoscopy and it was negative.

Cologuard your lucky I don’t sue you people for what you put me through …….

REPLY
Sam | @sgbisrat | Oct 1, 2023

The last cologuard test came positive & I had to do a colonoscopy. Isn’t the idea of the test to catch the cancer before it spreads or at least while it’s in a precancerous stage?
Therefore, the test in my view is useless no matter how often you do it, as long as it’s missing it!

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1 reply
brownsf | @brownsf | Oct 1, 2023

My cologuard came back positive. I assumed they would provide more information than just positive or negative . Wrong! I called the company and they said my doctor would receive a more detailed report. Wrong again! My doctor’s report was exactly the same as mine. They could provide no information, for example, on whether the positive result was detected from DNA or from occult blood. I contacted multiple doctors until finding one who could do a colonoscopy within a reasonable time. I had two polyps removed, one of which was benign and one pre-cancerous. I will not bother with cologuard again. I suggest talking to your primary care doctor about alternative possibilities for a colonoscopy if your insurance would cover this, asking others where they go, and making phone calls.

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