Awaiting biopsy results for rectal cancer

[bookwormbeagle]

I'm a week post colonoscopy where they found an anal tumour and ulcerated area on the border of rectum and anal canal. Biopsies taken to detetmine what cell type and if cancerous. I've got mri and ct scans booked for this week and am waiting for an appointment with the colorectal consultant. The waiting is agonising. Can anyone relate?

Sorry to hear you are going through this. The waiting is horrible but necessary. If it's any consolation I was diagnosed with stage 3b rectal cancer in 2011. It was successfully treated and I am fit and well 14 years later.

Yes, I can relate, but as @WeaselsRising says it's necessary for them to get all the info possible via MRI, CT, biopsies etc before your case is considered at a MDT (Multi-disciplinary team) meeting to discuss and agree the best course of treatment.

Whatever that is, people often say that once they know what is going to happen it becomes easier to manage - it's the waiting and not knowing that is the really hard part.

I've had bowel cancer (successfully treated via surgery) and endometrial cancer (unfortunately incurable but controllable following surgery and radiotherapy) so you have my sympathy - if it does turn out to be cancer it's a roller coaster of a ride, but in many cases with a positive outcome at the end.

Thank you @WeaselsRising that's reassuring to hear. It's honestly been such a shock as my blood results and fit test were fine - I thought it would just be piles. This has knocked me sideways.

Thank you @P00hsticks Agreed, I need to be more patient and wait to see the full picture.

@bookwormbeagle have you had your biopsy and scan results yet? My mum is going through something very similar at the moment. Consultant has said highly likely that its rectal cancer after an examination, she has her colonoscopy tomorrow. She too has clear blood and fit tests.

Hi @Suzb33sorry to hear your mum is undergoing similar.

I've had all the results back and it's a mixed bag. MRI and Ct show no spread to other organs or lymph nodes thankfully. They could only samples from the surface of the tumour, they're pre cancerous. My consultant wants me to have a GA so can get better biopsises, I've also agreed thst they can form a colostomy at the same time.

It turns out that it's anal not rectsl (different cell types) snd even if not malignant it needs to be sorted as it's affectibg the muscles and I'll become incontinent. So. The op is booked then 2 weeks later I'll start chemoradiotherapy. All the best to you and your mum

Glad to hear there's been no spread, that's really positive news. Hope your surgery goes well, my dad had a colostomy for years and it's not as bad as you imagine

My dh (52) had a colonscopy today (following positive FIT) and they had to take a biopsy as found a 25mm growth.

I am absolutely in pieces as they haven't said it is definitely cancer, but I don't know what to think.

His notes say they want a CT and MRI before anything further and he has a follow up telephone app next Wednesday. Will they tell him the results of the biopsy then?

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm not sure if they would give the results over the phone or not - I think it's more usual to discuss results with people face to face but it may be that they don't want to delay things any further over the holidays. I'd be very surprised if they actually had the biopsy results back by then.

If it does turn out to be bad news, can I just reassure you and your DH, as someone who's been in the same position myself, that bowel cancer is very often easily treated - I had the section of the bowel containing the tumour removed via surgery 18 months ago and now just have routine follow up blood tests and an annual colonoscopy. The waiting to find out exactly what's wrong and how they'll treat it is seen by many people as the worst stage....

Also in the waiting room - trying to plug up courage to join the threads.

@bookwormbeagle, get yourself over to Bottom Line on FB. It’s a very informative and supportive private group for UK anal cancer patients.

@FootleThank you so much for signposting the FB group, I'll have a look for it. I've mainly been looking on the Macmillan cancer forum hut it's pretty quiet as the cancer is quite rare - it would be great to chat with people who understand. Thanks again

My friend had rectal cancer about 15 years ago. She was told it was quite rare and the survival rate was something like 15%. She said she was going to be in that 15% and she was! I do know you can't overcome cancer by mind setting, but hoped this might help you. All the best for your treatment.

Good morning all, its certainly been a different sort of Xmas for me and my family, but I have to say that the first week of radiotherapy has gone pretty well. The chemo radiation is intense so on day 1 I had the first dose of chemo then the 2nd dose via a pump over 5 days. Only on the last day or so have I started to get a sore mouth with ulcers and was sick yesterday. I'll be glad to have the pump taken off today - next dose not due until mid Jan so just daily radiotherapy until then. For anyone else who's waiting for confirmation or has been recently diagnosed, I wish you all the best. Its intense but definitely manageable and my hospital staff have been very responsive with prescribing meds to alleviate symptoms. All best wishes to you

I can recommend the Bowel Cancer UK website and forum. It’s a moderated site where you will likely find similar cases and support.

@bookwormbeagle, it took us ( I’m not the patient) a while to realise that anal cancer isn’t really counted as bowel cancer. It’s a rare outlier, so there aren’t many specialists or special sources of advice.

@Freysimo Survival rates for many types of cancer have increased dramatically over the years, both due to earlier screening and detection and research into treatments, so quoting figures from 15 years ago is probably inaccurate now and unnecessarily pessimistic for the OP.

Thank you @Footle, and I hope your loved one is doing well on their treatment journey. A lot of the time anal cancer can develop from the HPV virus which can cause cervical cancer, vulva cancer etc. And the treatment is very different to bowel cancer - ie for me, surgery to remove the tumour would be absolute last resort and I've had an end colostomy formed (to ease symptoms) and a relatively short round of chemoradiation. Stats show my type of cancer is effective to this treatment and only 5% of cases are not helped by the chemo radiation. Extremely good statistics and im still hopeful that in 18months to 2 years time that I might be eligible for a colostomy reversal. The radiation does inevitably do a lot of damage to the surrounding areas so im conscious that if the muscles are too damaged this won't be realistic.
In reality, I think that a lot of people with AC say that they have bowel cancer instead, as it sounds more acceptable and less embarrassing- I know I have, childish but true!

Thank you @P00hsticks the advancements in cancer care and treatment options are incredible and have made such a difference to people's lives. I'm lucky in that mine has not moved as is stage 2 and seems to be responding well. By end of Jan my treatment will be complete.
@AbbieLexie how are you doing? I'm sorry to hear that you've been worrying - is this for you or a loved one?

I feel the same about telling people it's anal cancer and sometimes want to say bowel cancer as it feels more acceptable somehow which I know is ridiculous! Given that it's caused mainly by the HPV virus and most women wouldn't have an issue saying that they had cervical cancer caused by this virus. But I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is a bit embarrassed to say what kind of cancer it is. I think that, in my mind, I assume that people will instantly think that I've had lots of anal sex throughout my life which has caused this when, in Iact, I've only ever done this once. Also, people get a bit uncomfortable talking about an anus, even though, like opinions, we all have one