Cancerous polyp found after colonoscopy

[OhNoItsAdeno]

Wasn’t expecting to be here

Had some pain and bloating, positive fit test, colonoscopy which removed two larger polyps and a couple of small ones, consultant almost certain all were fine, report just came back and one is cancerous, and margins not clear, so it’s in the bowel wall.

Everything has moved at speed and I have an upper grading CT scan in a couple of days, awaiting rectal MRI - is it as bad as it sounds, I am scared to Google - and meeting surgeon later in the week.

At the moment they are suggestion resection may be enough, possibly a temporary ostomy, and hopefully no chemo

Anyone who has been though this who could advise.
I am trying not to be terrified, unsuccessfully

Hi, I work in cardiology and do many pre-op work-ups for people in your position. Try not to panic, ( I know that's easy to say,) but these guys do this every day, it is there bread & butter, they are expert at this. They will try their very best to do a re-section and if they can't it will be a temp. ostomy... they stick to their word & generally reverse it after 6 months. It's a horrible place to be in, but hold your nerve, I am sure you are in expert hands. Bowel cancer treatment / cure has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. Hopefully this will just be a horrible blip for you, before you can return to your normal every day life 💖

I'm so sorry, what a shock for you. My father had bowel cancer, he was terrified of having a stoma and true to her word, his surgeon did a resection, he didn't even have a temporary one.
He did have a course of radiotherapy after but other than that he was fine. He was in his 70's and led a vey active 22 years after the surgery ,
Wishing you all the best xxx

@Incypinchy I hope you don't mind but I have sent you a DM regarding pre op assessment. (Sorry to derail)

I'm sorry to hear your news. I've been in a very similar position - a positive routine FIT test led to a colonoscopy whcih revealed a cancerous tumour - they tattooed the bowel there and then in preparation for probable surgery. A CT scan follwed within days and within six weeks I had a left hemicolonectomy. They did a successful resection although I had been warned I could come out of the theatre with a hopefully temporary stoma. I didn't need any further treatment - I've jsut had my first annual follow up with a clear CT scan and now waiting for a date for my first annual follow up colonoscopy.

In addition to this board, I can recommend the forums on the Macmillan website and bowelcanceruk.org.uk for talking to others who are going through or have been through similar.

Thank you all

Still terrified but it sounds like I can try to calm it down atleast one setting.
I just want the scans over to know the plan.
Being in limbo is hard

Plus I’m exhausted from the months of pain, fighting DRs to listen to me, the lactose and then the everything else intolerances. I’m now only allowed white rice and scrambled eggs, with a tiny bit of poached chicken. So the exhaustion is worse as I’m starving but have no desire to eat. Peppermint tea with real sugar is about all the is keeping me upright.

In addition I have a history of SA, some violent and some while sedated.

i refused the first offered colonoscopy as the hospital could not guarantee all female staff. They managed for CT colonoscopy, but provided no pain relief so it was agony and I was just told to breathe through it while crying in pain from the gas.

Ended up paying privately for the colonoscopy and polyp removal as that was the only way it would be all female staff. And did have sedation but still felt and heard everything, only slightly dulled. Next appointment and surgery is private too as I simply have no faith in the local hospital any more to listen to or respect my wishes.

Hi OP

I had a positive FIT test and I had a colonoscopy last week. I was unable to get the prep down so they could only do half of it, they have found some polyps so I have another booked with a longer prep. I was offered an MRI but as the polyps have to be removed I would need a second colonoscopy,

So I'm going through the process and I totally get where you are coming from. \the not knowing is, well nice is it? They took a biopsy so I'm also waiting for that.

It was an all female team for mine and they were so lovely with me. It was at Cannock Chase hospital if you are within striking distance and want to go back to the NHS.

It's a small hospital and I think that makes a difference.

we met the surgeon
all is positive after scans, no mets, surgery to be scheduled as soon as possible, all lymph nodes in area to be removed and checked, hopefully no chemo.
I’m positive as she was

NHS did scans, quickly and in beautiful semi private setting, but despite promising didn’t accommodate my request for female staff.

Hi op. Thank you for sharing.

I had a positive fit test result yesterday and I'm on the 2ww referral. I'm not sleeping well and I'm reading everything. The friends and family I've spoken to have been quite relaxed about it and said all will be fine and the procedure is fine, but the waiting and worrying is awful. The symptoms are a constant reminder that something is up.

sorry to hear that, but be reassured that 9 out of 10 positive FIT tests turn out not to be cancer. And even if it is it is usually very treatable when caught early.

I was in the same position as you just over a year ago and although in my case the colonsocopy did reveal an obvious tumour it was quickly removed via surgery with no further treatment needed and I've now just completed most of my yearly follow up successfully - just awaiting the colonoscopy.

I found the colonscopy to be uncomfortable but not painful, although they should offer you sedation if you think you need it. In my view the preparation is worse than the procedure itself.