I think I might have cancer

[DreamyShark]

Old-time poster here but I haven't been here in a while and would rather stay anon.

I think I probably have cancer. For the past month or so I've had pelvic pain on and off with some odd bowel symptoms (a feeling of pressure and needing to go but nothing there). Eight days ago it really got quite intense and since then it's been keeping me awake almost every night.
The pain itself isn't sharp, it's more like period pain or low-down contractions. Mostly focused in the left ovary region so inside the hip bone, but also above the hip on the same side.
Most of the time it's a dull ache but at times it becomes quite severe and that can last for an hour or two. This usually happens in the middle of the night and I don't get back to sleep. Often I will wake thinking I need the toilet and then it turns into this aching.
I've had no fever, no urinary symptoms, and bloods seem to be normal. I've become a proper hospital-botherer having been to A&E twice (they did bloods but said I was just anxious) and seen the GP, who has done more bloods, a FIT test and referred me for CT. I also had a gynaecological ultrasound last week that showed nothing significant, just a bit of free fluid around ovary.
The scan is routine and could take eight weeks. I'm falling apart. I haven't managed a shift at work in over a week and some days I don't feel safe to drive my son to school. I was awake for 31 hours straight on Monday and Tuesday. But yesterday was better, and then I was woken up at 11pm yesterday and not slept since.
I have asked if scan can be brought forward but GP says no.
I suppose I'm posting here to see if anyone has been through something like this, and if anyone has any ideas about what to do. I feel very much alone with it as I've got no idea what is wrong and am veering between colorectal cancer and possibly a kidney stone. Nothing else seems likely at this point.
So sorry if I sound like I'm mad. If I'm not yet I think it's a matter of time.
Thanks for reading x

Your investigations so far have come back normal. So take heart from that. Are you getting help for your anxiety? To be so anxious about this, that you can't work is not normal. You need help for that at least.

Thank you for replying. I am anxious, generally, but I don't think the tests they have done so far would have shown cancer in my hip or bowel. If it hadn't been so persistent I wouldn't be worried but it has shown no signs of going away. I think I would feel a lot better if I knew what it was.

They would have tested your iron though, so if you're not anaemic that is reassuring.

Btw it's not anxiety stopping me from working, it's the pain. Like really bad period pain that distracts you from everything. I don't normally get much period pain, though I am 50 now so it could be ramping up. But my period has been and gone since this started.

Thank you, yes no anaemia seems encouraging. Something to cling to.

Also, if you had blood tests they would have also checked white blood cell count as well as iron so if your bloods were normal I would take reassurances in that.

You're right, it's good to have clear bloods. I think I'm just struggling to understand what it might be iyswim. Nothing seems to fit the pattern.

I echo the others. The bloods so far haven't flagged things it should if it was the worst.

Try to stay positive and take comfort in those results and the fact you're being looked after now. Good luck x

Have you lost a lot of weight without trying? I am not an expert but have had mild worries about cancer for similar things. But letting the worry disrupt your sleep etc isn't going to help in the long run if it is.
The best thing you could do right now is try and look after your health better drink more fluids take supplements for over 50s.
It could be peri menopause and that does all sorts of weird things to your body including bone pain.
For now you could try doing more walking if you are able and getting out in the fresh air to help you sleep. Don't mean to sound patronising.

Could you have a cyst that has burst? That might explain the free fluid. No anemia and no weight loss is good in terms of colon. What about a prolapse, how is your pelvic floor? You are going to have a CT which is good, you aren’t having to jump through hoops. H pylori or gastritis might be worth looking into as those pains can feel near ovaries but also tend to travel around

How would you rate the pain out of 10?

If you go on a long walk, does it get better or worse?

Colorectal cancer usually causes a change in your bowel habits before pain. The GP doesn't suspect an issue with your bowel as otherwise they would have requested a colonoscopy.

Kidney stones are extremely painful. I knew someone who couldn't walk for a week while passing one.

Hope you get some answers and feel better soon, OP ❤️

Thanks @rainydaysandwednesdays. Maybe it is all in my head. That's what most people seem to think so it's worth considering. I'm sorry for posting if that's the case. I'm grateful for the replies all the same. 💐

I had ALL of these symptoms OP and was referred like yourself. Abdominal amd back pain...body pain etc. i had scan which showed fluid in tube.
Blood tests fine. Turns out was just one of those things. I did suffer previously with cystic ovaries on and off. Im absolutely fine... this was 10 ...15 yrs ago..im still here 😉. Still have the problems but all benign. All the best OP

Sorry Delphina I cross-posted with you. Most of the time it's maybe a 3 or 4 but when it ramps up it is more like a 7 or 8.
Walking makes the pain radiate into the front of my thigh and all around my hip. I end up limping a bit.
GP said he wondered about diverticular disease but with no fever and nights being the worst I'm not sure that fits.
Thank you for being so kind.

I understand you must be completely consumed by this right now. Please call the nurse help line at Cancer Research UK and speak to them. 0808 800 4040. They can help you understand what tests you had and what they might show and other tests you could have if worried further. Hopefully they can reassure you and give you information to help you go back to the Dr's if you need to push harder to be taken seriously.

Oh yikes I've missed a bunch of replies. I'm so sorry. Not very good on a phone... have fired up the PC so I can type properly.

@Luddite26 Not patronising at all, and thank you for taking the time to reply. I think getting outside does help. I've lost about half a stone in the last week because I just don't want to eat, but otherwise not.

@Notinthemood12 Yes I wondered if it was an ovarian cyst at first as I've had them before, and she did say it could already have burst, but I'd have expected the pain to disappear by now if so as that was a week ago. But you never know.
I will look up the things you suggest. Thank you very much. Pelvic floor seems good, luckily after 3 children...

@Loubelle70 that's really interesting. When you say fluid in tube, is that something they could see on ultrasound? She seemed to think all those bits were OK, though it does feel very gynaecological tbh.

OP are you on HRT?
Only asking because bowel issues and pain are very common in peri & menopause, along with increased anxiety.
Do take heart that bloods and ultrasound were all ok, if you had cancer then something would have flagged up as needing extra investigation.
I hope when you get your scan the results give you reassurance rather than anything concerning

@Mayleen thank you for the advice and the number, I will try it later. I don't really want to bother them without having a diagnosis as perhaps it is something else and I'm just being silly. But if you think it would be OK to then I will.

@JustOneFootInFrontOfTheOther Thank you, that's really kind. I would be so glad if it turned out it was just menopause stuff. I'm not on anything for that, still having cycles though they go between about 18 and 33 days and have for a few years.

My DH has diverticulitis, pain is where his inflammation is on one side, he has it bad and there is blood in his poo, sorry tmi, when he gets a flare up, which was picked up on fit tests and colonoscopy. Kidney and gallstones really hurt bad, but can be helped with diet, drinking lots of fluid. As already mentioned your bloods haven’t revealed any abnormalities but you need to try and resolve your anxiety until you get your scan.

Could it be prolapse? Despite what some doctors.say, this can cause a lot of pain.

If you're at a 7/8 pain wise for many hours, that must be torture!! Call the GP again as they need to give you ways to manage this.

It's very encouraging that your bloods are all good, and if you don't have other symptoms like loose stools all the time, blood in your urine, etc, I would assume it's something benign.

What have you tried for the pain? Are you taking regular paracetamol/ibuprofen, using heat pads (or something cold if heat feels bad)? Have you tried drinking more water/keeping a food diary to see if it could be anything you're eating?

Please do call that's exactly what they are there for. They will not mind one bit and would encourage you themselves if they saw your post. Information is power in your situation so don't put your self at a disadvantage by being polite. I think it would really help you to speak to a professional

What ever else is going on you are not being silly. Constant pain is so debilitating. The important thing is to find out the cause. I'm sorry that I can't offer advice on that but in the interim maybe you could try some mindfulness mediation to manage your symptoms? You can find guided meditation online. Might be worth a try while you are waiting for a diagnosis.

Thanks @Mindymomo. I'm sorry your DH has been through that, it sounds horrid. 💐

I haven't had any bleeding, though I think the FIT test will show if there is any that's not visible. You are right about the anxiety. I'm trying to manage it and have not yet descended into full-blown panic, which I'm quite proud about tbh 😊as I normally would have by now. I just wish I knew what the problem was.