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Original poster

severe anaemia and weight loss = bowel cancer???

32 replies

nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:04

FIL has been taken into hospital with severe anaemia (7) and weight loss (half a stone since dec approx)

he is having endoscope done as we speak

what could it be?

i keep thinking its bowel cancer

his stools are black

sorry if TMI

OP posts:
georginarf · 28/03/2006 13:07

could easily be an ulcer

DH had this, lost about 2 stone and I think his anaemia was bout 2 or something ridiculous - doctor couldn't understand how he was still on his feet. Stools similar too - it's the blood loss via the ulcer. So no necc. cancer, no.

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:08

what other symptoms did he have? did he have treatment? or just medication? hope you dont mind questioning Smile

OP posts:
desperateSCOUSEwife · 28/03/2006 13:10

agree on the could be an ulcer

if stools are black
the blood is lost from the stomach or small bowel

thinking of you
xxx

georginarf · 28/03/2006 13:14

don't mind questioning at all!

well he did have cramps and other things but he didn't say anything (typical man, ignoring it all). He felt knackered, ill, depressed, digestion was very bad etc. He was 35 at the time (last year). Eventually he went to the doctor becasue he was being sick every day (he thought he had a virus) and she sent him for the blood tests, and then rang up in a panic because of how anaemic he was! I though about cancer too, especially as his cousin got bowel cancer in her thirties, but it was a gastric ulcer.

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:21

yes, FIL has mentioned cramps (he said hes had them for a fortnight but is just saying now)

he is knackered all the time, out of breath, but i just thought it was cos he had a pacemaker and heart problems Blush the breathlessness was his anaemia and i didnt think

maybe the tiredness is lack of good digestion etc

thanks georgina, im hoping the scope now comes back as an ulcer

OP posts:
desperateSCOUSEwife · 28/03/2006 13:23

np the tiredness would be through the anaemia too
as it is makes you very lethargic

culottee · 28/03/2006 13:24

NP - do hope its not bowel cancer, but I have to tell you these were exactly the symptoms my Mum had when she was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer. (Not sure about black stools but all the rest were def the same.)

Hoping for positive result for you.

(Usually sassy BTW)

georginarf · 28/03/2006 13:26

being that anaemic would make him extremely tired indeed.
Ulcers are mostly treated with drugs, plus he'll prob get iron pills and maybe some sort of pill for stomach acid.
Hoping for good news for him.

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:27

yes so it would scousewife, ta.

hi sass

is your mum ok now? oh i do hope FIL is ok, if only for dh's sake. his mum died 18 mths ago of pancreatic cancer when i was 8 mths pg

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:27

could warfarin give you stomach ulcer? i know asprin does, and he takes warfarin cos of pacemaker

OP posts:
georginarf · 28/03/2006 13:29

PS DH knew it was an ulcer during the scope as they showed it to him when they found it (lovely)So hopefully you shouldn't have to wait too long.

Sassy, sorry about your mother

culottee · 28/03/2006 13:30

No Np, she died about 8 mo after diagnosis.

She was only 49. Sad

Terrible time for us all. 7 years ago now.

Just hope your family get better news.xxx

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:31

OH sassy im so sorry Sad

what a terrible shame, 49 is very young

Sad
OP posts:
georginarf · 28/03/2006 13:32

I don't think warfarin would neccesarily be able to acutally cause a stomach ulcer, but it does have side effects doesn't it, and you can't have certain food/drinks (my parents take it). think it can cause bleeding to so it might be a factor

georginarf · 28/03/2006 13:34

so sorry Sassy. It's a horrible disease. DH's cousin still going (she's early 40s) but having a terrible time.

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 13:37

Sad for your dh's cousin georgina.

OP posts:
Chapsmum · 28/03/2006 14:04

warfrin willnot give you a stomach ulcer however it would exacerbate the symptoms of one. If you had a bleeding ulcer it would be less able to heal itself as warfein inmpairs the bloods ability to clot. Hope it thing imporve for him np!

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 14:05

thanks chapsmum

he was due to go for the scope at 1pm, but they are delaying it til his INR comes back

argh

he probably wont get the results today either

waiting game as usual

OP posts:
mazzystar · 28/03/2006 14:09

np

could be lots of other things - crohn's or coeliac, as well, all very manageable. thinking positive for your FIL.

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 14:11

can crohns strike at his age?

OP posts:
mazzystar · 28/03/2006 14:17

think so - if it was either of those things, as i understand it, they can go undiagnosed for a very long time. friend of my mum's diagnosed with coeliac in her early 60s.

Original poster
nailpolish · 28/03/2006 14:19

hmm good point mazzy - he could have had it for a long time undiagnosed. he is like a rake and has been losing weight slowly i suppose over a long time (despite fairly decent diet)

OP posts:
Original poster
nailpolish · 03/04/2006 16:19

he had his scope and they didnt find anything

he was sent home with the line "we think its a small pile"

i heard "we need the bed get lost" Sad

how could it be a pile when he hasnt seen any fresh blood in his poo?

he was sent home after 2xblood transfusions and an Hb of 9 Angry

he went to the drs friday and his Hb was 8

dr said "lets wait and see what you are like monday" Angry

he was pale and shaky friday, what the hell are they expecting monday?

he went back to the dr today and he has gone back to the hospital for more blood

i hope he has more tests

i dont even think they have taken a poo sample - would this not be routine?

will they just give him more blood and send him home again?

i think they have admitted him

for anyone interested and/or can help TIA xxx

OP posts:
desperateSCOUSEwife · 03/04/2006 16:23

nailpolish have no idea re the anaemia
at least the scope hasnt picked anything up as they are quite accurate
hope your fil gets better soon
xxx

mazzystar · 03/04/2006 16:27

hiya np, was wondering how he'd got on. at least they didn't find anything immediatley sinister-looking, but poor FIL, it is stressful when you know there is something up but you don't quite know what. i have found that the only way to get things sorted is to be VERY insistent that other tests are pursued. is your FIL the type who can do this or is he of my mum's generation who think they mustn;t trouble the doc? hoping for the best.