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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

bowel cancer - can't think of any other reason for bleeding - help

43 replies

late · 20/03/2005 23:15

Seen gp seen consultant now having to wait until for an appointment for further test and told it may not be until September. Sorry but can you help? Symptoms are blood pouring when using the loo, bad stomach pains, loss of apetite and therefore losing weight. It has to be cancer doesn't it? Had bad piles for years but it has to be cancer doesn't it? Why are they waiting so long for the tests, know they are busy but is it because it is too late for me? GP not any use.

OP posts:

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Evesmama · 20/03/2005 23:20

my dd was v.ill with bleeding piles and had to go to hosp...dont think of the worst honey, keep yourself active, try and put it to oneside till appointment other wise youll make yourself il with worry...you'll be okay

milward · 20/03/2005 23:21

Don't know late - but could you get an appointment with anyone else to put your mind at rest here? Excuse me if I'm wrong on the nhs system here but if you turned up at a&e with these symptoms would they turn you away? - would they at least try to find out what is wrong?

tiffini · 20/03/2005 23:23

have breifly browsed the net for info on bowel cancer and it says bleeding from the back passage is very common with piles, but i would go to your gp again tell him your fears, if he does'nt think it is anything serious he should reasure you, if not ask for 2nd opinion chin up

mummytosteven · 20/03/2005 23:24

can you try changing to another GP/another practice if you are finding your GP unsupportive - 6 months sounds like a very long wait. or could you afford to get some tests done privately.

symptoms sound very distress, like Evesmama says there are other things it could be than cancer - like bad piles or maybe IBS/Colitis/Infection that can give you nasty symptoms like blood in stools.

pinkdiamond · 20/03/2005 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FIMAC1 · 20/03/2005 23:24

I am sure that if they were at all concerned they would give you an early appointment than Sept - it may be a bad case of Piles that may need an Op. Go back to your GP or see another one in the surgery that is more helpful. I had an internal with a camera with similar (not as severe) probs fairly quickly. Turns out to be piles which they cauturised

Evesmama · 20/03/2005 23:25

p.s dp went to a&e with his(well couldnt go without them could he!)
and they send him straight to other hosp to have them dealt with. was in and out in a day

late · 20/03/2005 23:26

GP has always been useless plus only one at practice there is another GP there but never there. Have wondered about going to A&E but with having seen a consultant and knowing that things are ticking over wouldn't they be angry at me for wasting their time when urgent cases and priorty that day/night. Think it has to be cancer and hospital just ticking my records over due to other treatable cases. If it's piles why don't they just say it has to be cancer doesn't it. SORRY. must go children need my attention please anyone with experience I would be grateful for your time. Tried NHS direct no good wondering about private but have no money. must go.

OP posts:

JoolsToo · 20/03/2005 23:27

I'm not a doctor (obviously) but as you're worried about cancer - may I suggest it could be ulcerative colitis? my sil has it. Bleeding and abdominal pain are symptoms.

I suppose it could be a whole host of things and as you suffer from piles it could be connected and as they're making you wait until Sept I shouldn't think it would be cancer.

Let us know how you get on - I'm sure you'll be fine

milward · 20/03/2005 23:28

Late get yourself down to a&e tomorrow. Let us know what happens.

SleepyJess · 20/03/2005 23:29

Conditions such as diverticulitis and Chron's disease can cause a lot of bleeding. Not nice I know..... but treatable..and not cancer. Having said that, bowel cancer is one of the most treatable if detected soon enough. I know of someone who has been in remission from quite extensive bowel cancer for years.

Good luck

SJ xx

FIMAC1 · 20/03/2005 23:30

Oh Late

You must go back and demand a earlier appointment! Go into A&E if you have to and insist on the tests I really can't believe your treatment you are receiving - which NHS region are you in?

Take care and PLEASE go back to you surgery and insist an earlier app!

Surfermum · 20/03/2005 23:33

I would have thought that if the Consultant was at all worried about you he would get the tests done earlier than September. I would suggest giving his secretary a ring tomorrow, explain that you're really worried and why, and ask them for some more information about what is going on. You might be able to speak to the Consultant again on the phone, they might write to you, or they might be able to arrange for you to see the Consultant again, or one of his junior doctors who could go through things with you.

KathH · 21/03/2005 08:20

I would go to A&E today. My dad died of bowel cancer and the worst thing was that if he'd not kept quiet about the symptoms they said they could have treated it. Having said that the bleeding and the pain doesnt necessarily mean that its cancer it could be all sorts of things but please get it checked it out.

hoxtonchick · 21/03/2005 08:31

if your consultant thought it was cancer you would have been tested much sooner than september, i'm sure.

CountessDracula · 21/03/2005 08:38

late do you have diarrhoea as well as the blood, and mucus mixed in too (sorry!) If so then it could def. be Crohn's Disease which I have had for 15 years. I lost a vast amount of weight when I first had it (went from 10.5 stone to 6.5) and had all the symptoms you have.

Other possible symptoms are arthritisy feelings in your feet and legs and/or sore eyes, though you will not necessarily have these. Plus do you get bloating in your stomach? I found when I finally went to hospital that although I had lost 4 stone I couldn't do up a skirt that had fitted me before.

I would defo try and get seen now even if it means a trip to a&e. Keep well hydrated too, get some dioralyte or something.

Best of luck xx

lou33 · 21/03/2005 09:19

i had theses exact same symptoms as well a while ago and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. There are quite a few shared symptoms with various bowel conditions, so it doesn't have to be cancer. I lost 1.5 stone in 10 days btw.

bettys · 21/03/2005 09:32

What did the consultant actually say? Did he examine you for piles? Is the appointment in September for a colonoscopy? I think you need to be given more information so if he didn't tell you call back & ask.
Do you have a family history of bowel cancer? If so you would get treated more quickly. I've been through this process myself as I have a family history of it, & the consultant should have examined you & then if not sure whether the bleeding is caused by piles or something else, ordered a colonoscopy. Also the GP should have ordered blood tests.
I can't comment on Crohn's disease but bowel cancer is treatable.
HTH

CountessDracula · 21/03/2005 12:53

Oh sorry should have said - Crohn's although unpleasant is manageable with drugs.

Bettys - nice to see you back!

late · 21/03/2005 14:36

thank you thank you THANK YOU all for your replies. I am seeing my GP again later today. Yes there is mucas too, mouth is tasteless, don't want to eat or drink anything as keep feeling sick if I do and can't bear to feel sick. I'm due to have an endoscopy (sp?) in or by September does that mean anything to anyone? Had blood tests and going to ask GP if he has the results bet he will say no he isn't very good at all. THANK YOU AGAIN everyone you really are a great lot for taking the time and telling me what you can, plus sharing your ailments to help alleviate my worries. I may well go to A&E if I don't get somewhere soon as this is all very worrying and having to put a brave face on in front of the children.

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 21/03/2005 14:48

Hmm I think the mucus does point towards Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis as the body produces it to help soothe the ulcers I think. (I have no idea if this is also a symptom of anything else, am not medical).

I would insist on an emergency referral and if you don't get one go into A&E. I ended up being 12 hours away from dying of dehydration due to the stupid GPs ignoring me! Don't let it happen to you.

Best of luck xx

SoupDragon · 21/03/2005 14:56

Have a look at this thread. Turned out to be a stomach infection, cured by a course of antibiotics. Just to show that it can be lots of other things rather than cancer.

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lou33 · 21/03/2005 19:09

you sound exactly like i was before my colitis was diagnosed

mancmum · 21/03/2005 19:13

Late, sorr to add this so late, but it does sound like ulcerative colitis... I had it when I was at University under a lot of stress (ie how to pass degree after missing 2.5 years of lectures) -- had every sympotom you mentioned... esp mucus, blood loss, weigt loss etc...

I had a course of steroids and have been very lucky never to have had it since...

I had the endoscopy to diagnose it..

milward · 21/03/2005 20:36

Wishing you all the best late - hope everything goes well. I have a digestive condition following another prob & surgery. I had to almost beg the docs to investigate it - please tell them everything even the most embaressing bits - I did & it was this that got them to realise that it was serious. Good luck

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