Husband referred for more tests

[Lightuptheroom]

Husband put in a urine sample to the GP today, got a call this afternoon that she wants him to do a stool sample thing and a blood test for prostate and bowel cancer. He's 70 and has a lot of underlying health conditions. She used the words 'i don't want to worry you, but' but then hasn't fast tracked the blood test, which was a routine one due to medication he's on. What are we looking at here? We're terrified

I am sorry to hear you are in this situation. It is terrifying.

Saything this, GP understandably want to rule out cancer. I was referred to the oncology department last year. It wasn't pleasant. However, no cancer was found.

Please do follow with youe GP recommendations and don't be scared to pester your GP for clarification/updates on tests etc.

I hope it helps

These are just screening tests, not suggestions he has cancer. Good idea to get them done

Thank you, so why the heavily loaded wording about prostate and bowel cancer then leaving him to worry for nearly 2 weeks? His dad died from prostate cancer so understandably he's very scared.

Hi there I appreciate your husband's worry. Family history of prostate cancer would have been one of the reasons the GP ordered tests. I believe there's a physical examination a GP can perform in relation to prostate cancer. I suggest you call your GP surgery on Monday morning and request an urgent appointment. Not because I think the requested tests indicate cancer is definitely on the cards. Personally, I think your GP is taking precautions (do bear in mind i am not a doctor). However your husband is clearly suffering mentally so some clarity on what's going on would help

It sounds like to me she’s just ticking boxes. My guess is when she went to check on the urine results she saw that he’d not been called for these other screening tests, so now she’s getting them done. Prostate and bowel cancer are simply two easy ones that they have existing screening tests for and which are most likely to affect men his age. I wouldn’t worry this is anything other than just making sure everything is done like a health MOT.

Thank you to all of you, it's helped to ease the stress, we have my father's funeral on Monday so adding this really wasn't helping !

Very sorry about your father, I bet you are on high alert and more than stressed out, so this ordering of tests by doc has you in a spin.

Sounds to me like routine screening and was not prompted by any symptoms.

Was there a specific reason for the urine sample?

Yes, he's been having an urgent urge to pee then not passing much , I think it's been triggered as they couldn't find a bacterial infection in the urine sample x

Did he have a PSA blood test? (Prostate specific antigen) which shows up prostate issues. That would be a key indicator of something going on with passing urine, and in this case might be an enlarged prostate which can be treated very successfully. Of course there is the C word to think about, but step by step.

What was his PSA result from his urine?

No PSA test as yet. He's type 2 diabetic as well as other health issues. He's got a blood test booked for next Friday (a routine one that normally happens because of the other medications. )