2-week referral bowel cancer query

[Octobet789]

Hi, my husband has had a 2-week referral for potential bowel cancer and is having a colonoscopy. Just wondered if anyone knows - if it is cancer, are they likely to be able to tell him on the day they do the colonoscopy? I know any polyps they remove will have to go to the lab, so that would take time, but can they sometimes know straight away?

I've had 2 colonoscopy exams.
First one nothing seen.
Second one a polyp was removed. Endoscopist said there and then it was highly unlikely to be cancer.

My understanding is that if they find polyps, they can usually tell if they're harmless but they remove them anyway and send everything to the lab to check. This is what happened to me.
I know that they do tell people if they see cancer as they are experienced and know what to look for. I know someone who was told immediately but then they had to have scans etc. to see how far advanced it was. Luckily it hadn't gone through the bowel wall so an operation removed it.
Fingers crossed for your DH.

My Dad was told immediately after his colonoscopy that it looked very suspicious for cancer, but obviously had to wait for the biopsies to confirm.
Hope it's all clear for your husband x

My surgeon told me he was pretty sure after colonoscopy but I know someone else who wasn’t told until biopsy results. No way of telling really. Keeping everything crossed for your DH.

My husband was told straight afterwards, that there was a large tumour that was very likely to be cancer.

After dropping him off and being told how long it would be before he'd be ready to go home, I'd gone shopping nearby. The clinic called me earlier than expected, and suggested I come back. Then we were both called in to see the doctor.

I was told immediately afterwards that they had not found anything to worry about.

Thanks all, I really appreciate the responses. It helps to have a bit of a sense of how it might go. 🙏

... can they sometimes know straight away?

Yep, I was told immediately afterwards - I took some interest and they showed me the pictures - where it was and how they measured it - it was all rather fascinating actually - I stuck two fingers up at it.

I stuck two fingers up at it.

That seems a fairly appropriate response 🙂 I hope you got good treatment and are well.

Above comment was to @DanFmDorking