Fuck - this means they suspect cancer doesn't it?

[vipersnest1]

I went for an appointment at 'the bum clinic' on Tuesday. I was told I need further tests and they would take weeks.
I've had a call today to say I've been referred for an urgent flexible sigmoidoscopy and have an appointment on Monday.
I know it could just be to rule it out, but it's the 'urgent' part of it that has thrown me.

My friend also had a very similar situation actually, and yes if they suspect cancer at all ( I think mostly to act fast and rule it out) you will get an urgent appointment, like my friend! But if helps settle you at all hers come back cancer free ! So I would see it as a good thing, still scary yes but try not to get to worried of the outcome ! :)

Well it means that cancer is one of a number of possibilities, but because (in the small chance that is the cause) its important to find out quickly, you get put on the high speed route. It can also be that your symptoms are severe or have been going on a long time, and so considered more urgent.

I know it's scary, but it's better to rule it out as quickly as possible, and in the event that it is the cause, means you'll get treatment sooner. I have been referred on the "cancer pathway" three times to date, in every case cancer was ruled out.

It's easier said than done, but try not to stress out - either way it's better to know and improves the treatment options.

Urgent doesn't mean it is cancer. It means there was something on the last test that needs investigating now. It could be nothing, it could be something needing treatment of some kind as soon as possible.

It's horrible worrying and the waiting is really tough, be kind to yourself this weekend and I hope it goes OK on Monday.

Thank you, @TheCuriouscakedecorator, @IVFGotThis05 and @EnterFunnyNameHere.
I'm trying to keep my logical head on and know the chance is slim, but I'm still shaking.

@TheMooch, X-post.

They work from the most serious down so think of it as looking to rule it out rather than it is cancer. Your symptoms have just triggered the two week pathway and it is good that they are on the ball.

It certainly does sound like they need to look at something but it doesn't mean cancer. They may have spotted (pre cancerous) polyps that need removal and immediate examination.

2 years ago I had very enlarged iliac lymph nodes and some other stomach issues I was told to go private to get an immediate colonoscopy (it was during the tail end of a lockdown). I sent the weekend drinking the foul drink and worrying. In the end they found nothing to worry about at all. So take heart.

The way I looked at it was; 'you have what you have', but now they are going to do something about it immediately and that can only be a good thing.

Best wishes.

It's such a horrible feeling, waiting for tests and worrying and thinking the worst. As PPs have said, it's much more likely that it isn't serious. However, if it is, it's really good that they're moving things quickly, and (in my experience) the worst I felt was while waiting for tests and worrying - it sounds weird but once I actually got the cancer diagnosis I felt much better, because now there was a plan and there were proper oncologists looking after me, and they knew exactly what it was and the stage and grade and the prognosis and the treatment protocol.

Having information is so much better than being left in the dark. Thinking that you might have cancer is worse than having cancer, in my experience. Good luck - I'd say try not to worry, but I know that's impossible.

Oh OP - this is the worst part. When you know one way or the other, then you can deal with whatever comes next. It's the not knowing that is so, so hard.

The main thing is you're in the system and they're all over it. Well done for taking the first step and getting checked out.

Courage to you.

My DH had the same, hospital called and booked him in for the following few days, he said how come it’s so quick and was told they only get the next 2 weeks appointments released at once and he had to decide there and then or wait 2 more weeks. He had this done 8 weeks ago and although they took several biopsies these were fine, but he has had to have botox for a fissure, which has cleared up. He has had a follow up appointment and DH is still having discomfort and pain passing stools, so he is having a ct scan soon. In fact they rang to book him in, but his appointment for a blood test isn’t until 2 weeks time, so this is holding this up.

I also think one reason they ring with only a few days notice is that they don’t get too many no shows last minute.

Thank you to everyone for the kind comments.
@Reusername, that's my thinking - that they saw / found something in the examination that I had. I just wish the consultant had said something at the time.

Between myself and family we have had a few of the dreaded urgent 2 week check ups, but none turned out to be cancer.

Don't go into panic mode too quickly. I was referred for a scan (not the same as you but similar). I would told it would be 8-10 weeks, but they actually called me the next day! I went and had the scan (nothing to worry about was the result). I asked them how come it came through so quickly and she just said they had a cancellation when she was looking at my referral and as I was local she called me and slotted me in. Retrospectively I don't think that's necessarily fair on others - but it's the reason I was given.

I was referred under the 2 week rule for a colonoscopy in 2010. There are a myriad of medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms to bowel, stomach, rectal cancers so cancer always has to be ruled out even though it isn't the most likely cause. I turned out to have ulcerative colitis, which can cause serious bowel damage so still needs quick treatment but isn't as scary as cancer. There are also cancers in that region that are relatively readily treatable with surgery and not necessarily the ongoing chemo that we all jump to worrying about.

If they felt a lump/growth during an internal examination it could be benign but still need removing.

It's always hard not to panic but I recommend distraction if you possibly can and just feel glad that whatever the scenario is it is going to be taken control of.

Try Not to panic.

it’s probably a referral under the ’two week pathway’ which is anything that could be serious even if the slightest of symptoms is treated as urgent.

my partner had some blood in his poo and was referred under this pathway for colonoscopy.

it’s them being cautious. Doesn’t necessarily mean it’s serious.

When something was seen on DH's scan the consultant was honest from the start and said it was most likely cancer (which it was).

I would agree with a PP, consultants often double check to rule a condition out, but usually they already know and just need to confirm, so if your consultant isn’t telling you he suspects cancer🤞you should have good news.

My Neurologist, suspected MS when I presented with classic symptoms, he told me immediately he thought it was MS, MRI proved him to be correct, recently referred two week pathway for blood in urine urologist said he would just double check and that he was not expecting to find anything sinister and he was correct had cystoscopy all clear.

Good luck OP, it’s a worrying time I know.

After visiting my GP with bowel problems, I was given a card with " you may have cancer" discuss with family/colleagues. This was in March. My urgent 2 week appointment took 5 weeks to be seen. At appt due to two crossed swollen fissures, was given medication to reduce, then back after 6 weeks ( allowing 6 weeks for meds to work /should have reduced) No reduction, exact same position. Now on a waiting list for urgent sigmoid. Initial urgent referral made 12 weeks ago! Work informed, moved internal departments to support/less pressure/no home visits. I am also panicked & although consultant said, " we have to say cancer as a possibility" apart from a quick look/feel am in no better position. GP have written to expedite. I know NHS is on its knee's. It's been 3 months of me worrying whether I have cancer.

I hope very much OP, you are seen much quicker and have positive results 💐

Hang in there and I would try not to worry. I was referred for a similarly urgent colonoscopy, plus CT and blood tests, as had symptoms plus blood tests indicated possible cancer (not bowel cancer, something else). They wanted it all done the following week. I was eventually diagnosed with a long-term bowel issue (one that is perfectly manageable), but it wasn't cancer. It sounds like they are being cautious and that's good as you'll get answers soon.

@Roselilly36 unfortunately that wasn't my experience at all - all the medical people I saw insisted categorically that there was nothing to worry about and all the tests were 'just in case'. Even after I had a letter from the Marsden asking me to come to their sarcoma clinic less than a few days later my GP and the radiologist at the local hospital were swearing blind they didn't think it was cancer (I found out afterwards they'd already made the diagnosis at that point). So it's not always the case. But it's more likely statistically not to be cancer, but even if it is, it's not necessarily the end of the world, and mentally I felt way way better after the diagnosis and starting treatment.

I know they don't want to worry people unnecessarily but my experience means I will never believe a doctor again when they say it's nothing to worry about. Sorry OP this isn't helping! I do feel for you as the wait is awful.

Not necessarily cancer, DH was on the 2 week pathway - he was coeliac in the end

Yes, the consultant should have said... It's not nice to have left you with all this uncertainty and feeling so worried. Just a straightforward "I found x during the examination, this could be due to x, y, z, but it's really important that we now investigate you for z as it's quite serious, so we will refer you for a sigmoidoscopy". You're worried anyway, without even having been given this information so it wouldn't make it worse (I don't think...).

My partner does certain types of medical investigations and often patients turn up not knowing why they are having the test. It's not good practice.

I hope things go well on Monday. You can ask what they can see, what it might mean and what will happen next. It doesn't matter who is doing the test (or if they say they would rather you wait till you have your next consultant appointment), you can still ask for their professional opinion - and let the consultant know when you see them next that you had a bit of a shock with this urgent referral (if you want to feedback).

OP sometimes the consultant/doctor will put 'urgent' to get you through quicker and prevent you from having to wait 8 months, but it can still be an eliminatory procedure. Don't worry until you need to. Harder said than done I know.

From experience, I have had a few urgent appointments to rule out cancer, but in each instance I have been referred on the 'cancer pathway' and once nothing cancerous was found, I was discharged from cancer pathway and referred back to routine appointments.

Google Cancer pathway nhs and it explains more.