2 week referral

[Corbynscat]

Saw the GP just before Christmas and he’s referred me under the two week rule but asked me to come in and see female gp for rectal examination to back up referral as he was concerned they’d cancel it without this

Symptoms have been getting worse which are
Worsening constipation,nausea,pencil thin poop,weight loss (2st12) and a folate deficiency which is not getting any better with folic acid.

I’ve had this horrible sense of foreboding too I can describe it but it’s just this sense of bad news. But should I be freaked out? I’m dreading this examination tomorrow if I’m honest.

Didn’t want to read and run. I was once referred under the two week rule for another suspected cancer so I can understand your feelings now. I don’t know the answer but at least your GP has been proactive and quick to pick up on it. Keep us posted as to how you get on. Take care be kind to yourself.

Thanks @amazonian27

Listening to DH snoring whilst silently shitting myself but as you said gp is proactive and is very good in general so I’m lucky there

Really good your GP is on the ball. Good luck for the exam - not that you need it but definitely not on anyone's list of fun things to do over xmas . Fingers crossed it isn't cancer but do feel free to come onto this thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3444551-cancer-support-67-waiting-for-tests-just-diagnosed-or-needing-a-handhold-through-treatment - there are quite a few of us with colon cancer on there. The good news is if it does turn out to be cancer colon cancer is one of the more easily treatable ones with generally good survival rates.

I two was referred under the two week rule back in November. I was clear. They are very vigilante about certain symptoms but it isn't a given that it will be bad news.

Let us know his you get on. I know the wait is scary.

The two week rule is worse case scenario. I went through it a year back and all clear. Worst case they find whatever they find quick. This is a good thing

Out of interest do you have any issues with your BP or feel fatigued / faint when standing as except for the folate deficiency your symptoms are pretty much how mine started and I was diagnosed with Addison’s . Hope you discover what’s wrong soon and it’s not too serious .

I was also shitting myself fingers crossed. It turned out I do have a cancer but not the aggressive one they thought. I am ok living a normal life and have been on W&W for 5 1/2 years with regular check ups. Do you have one or two good friends you can confide in or a supportive DH when he’s not snoring? I found Reiki and Reflexology helped me also like an inner positive cuddle for me to give me strength and courage whilst waiting, worrying and enduring all the various tests and before my surgical biopsy etc take care

I'm currently sat in hospital waiting room after a 2w referral. Gp said to me 9/10 people they refer on this it isn't cancer. I hope you're ok.

Fingers crossed for you OP and NicoAndTheNiners

Morning all

Next to no sleep which was partly dh fault 😂 he’s a good egg though so I won’t hold it against him.

Thank you for your kind words and sharing experiences they’re very reassuring especially about colon cancer being treatable.

In answer to fatigue/faint yes I do but I have fibromyalgia so it’s already a thing I live with but I’m knackered with permanent dark circles.

Thinking of you @nicoandtheniners

@amazonian27 it’s so good to hear positive well as positive as it can be with a cancer diagnosis news. I’m going to get back into my yoga I think in the new year to help at least avoid my sense of foreboding

Thinking of you, I know several people successfully treated so even if bad news please do not panic. Top tip is to take someone with you to take notes (perhaps not your dh as he's going to be upset too) and take each step as it comes, a journey is a good analogy. But my mum had similar symptoms and it wasn't cancer at all - just an infection apparently. Take care

@anniehm

Wish I did have someone to take but sadly not. You’re right about dh though I’ve tried not to talk about my sense of doom cos I don’t want to freak him out.

Well I definitely have a growth of some description, probably a tumour. It's just whether it's benign or not which is the question.

So have been referred for an urgent MRI so should get that in the next two weeks. He said he's probably going to refer me to the local sarcoma team but I think wants to wait for the mri result. I'm not sure what he's wanting to see from the mri because I don't think the mri will say whether it's benign or not. He said I'd need a biopsy for that and he doesn't want to do the biopsy but wants the sarcoma team to do it.

Oh @nicoandtheniners

It sounds though you’re in very good hands and things are in place quickly to see whether or not it’s benign. Here’s hoping it’s just benign. Thinking of you lots

Good look Nico is your tumour in your lung? Different teams do different things. They often have multi disciplinary team meetings to decide on best way forward ie which team will take it forward.

Copycat - Having a hand bag sized notebook to jot questions down in when they come to mind or to make notes during the appointment is helpful (as otherwise I forget). Talk to your DH he will be worrying anyway. My DH was brilliant. Also a good friend really helped then an excellent counsellor I asked for through work before I returned to work.
Take care and do the yoga or anything else that helps you.

Thanks @corbynscat, hope you're not waiting too long. I think the waiting is the worse. I know I just want to know one way or another.

Is the rectal exam with the GP today. Any idea when you're likely to be seen at the hospital?

Tumour is in my ankle not my lung. So guess, worst case scenario they can chop my foot off!

@nicoandtheniners

Yes rectal is today and I’ve got to take the kids with me so will be fun 😂

No letter yet I’m constantly jumping at the door going it’s ridiculous.

Ah well that’s something I’m pretty sure they can rebuild bone in ankles now. I was asked to donate bone when I had my hip replacement but turned out it was too damaged.

Agreed the waiting is the worse.

@amazonian27 I will do I’m very forgetful due to the fibromyalgia so I have lists and screenshots galore 😂 I will do once I know more at the moment it’s just a big unknown except that I feel dreadful and he already knows that. He’s a good egg though and if push comes to shove il talk to him about it all. I have some great online friends who will be invaluable support so that’s good

They were really quick with my initial letter. I saw the GP Friday morning and letter arrived from the hospital with appt date on the Saturday. They cancelled the first appt, made me a second one (phone appt) and never rang me and then third time lucky today which was just outside the two week window. But they cancelled my initial referral and re did it so it box ticked the two week wait target.

Hope your appt today went ok.

@ninaandtheniners

Oh bloody hell Just what you needed eh

But they’ve got form for that I’ve had it done with other appointments in the past.

Well it was painful but she was lovely and kind about it. Said it felt ok but she’s going to document things and chase up the referral. I’m guessing because of Christmas/new year that’s held things up!

How are feeling after seeing them?

Glad it went as ok as these things can.

Feel a bit flat. I'm not normally one for being weepy and I haven't cried but I feel a bit close. Not helped by the fact dh is an arse. Didn't offer to come with me, didn't ask how it went when I got home and went out shortly afterwards to drive somewhere nice and go for a run. Said not to expect him back till late.

I'm going down the pub with a friend later and to be honest feel like going to bed.

I think I was hoping for some more answers today and haven't got them. I wasn't sure if they'd do the mri today and was hoping I might get that done but obviously not.

I've also come to the conclusion that I don't think a sarcoma would be the worst option which I know sounds odd. Best option would be a non cancerous lump which they remove. Worst case scenario is a non cancerous lump which they decide not to remove. I asked if it was benign would they still remove it as it's causing me so much pain and mobility problems and he said it would depend but didn't expand. So now I'm really worried they will just leave me incapacitated and limping for ever. I'd rather have cancer than that (because if it is it sounds an easily treatable one). But then I feel guilty for thinking that.

Hello Nico and Corbyn so sorry you are both going through this. Waiting and wondering is such a tough stressful time. It often feels better once you know what is going on and have a plan. Good wishes to you both and hope you have answers soon and hopefully both get good news. Nico if it does turn out to be a sarcoma there are very good surgery options now that don't require chopping off your foot! DH had a sarcoma on his ankle 6 years ago. They were able to remove the tumour and reconstruct the ankle all in one op and he can use his leg perfectly normally. for you both

@turningupsidedown can I ask if it was a bone sarcoma or a soft tissue one? If mine is a sarcoma they seem to think it's a soft tissue one which google tellls me is the better one to have as not aggressive.

Glad your dh is ok now.

Hi Nico , it was a soft tissue one, the type was a myxofibrosarcoma. They are quite rare, so if it does turn out to be that, I recommend Sarcoma UK for more information and support.
www.sarcoma.org.uk so that you do get accurate information. And thank you, DH has done well. I know two other people who have also done well with surgery for this too. Surgery can be really effective for this.

Hope you are feeling ok after your exam Corbyn

Definitely agree to take someone with you if you can to appointments or at least write things down. DH would forget what was said in the appointments going on his own, very common when you are naturally anxious. We also found it helpful to have a typed sheet listing key information ( symptoms, dates, who already seen when etc.) as you do keep getting asked to go through it all again at different appointments. It was easier to hand over the sheet!
Good luck both of you

Hey @nicoandtheniners

Oh man that’s not fair on you :( maybe he’s anxious but just expressing it badly by running away from the situation. Did you manage to go out with your friend in the end?

I totally know what you mean about feeling abit flat. Don’t feel guilty about all the feelings you’re experiencing right now they’re all valid and understandable given what you’ve been through in the last 24 hours alone. I wish I could give you some sort of comfort but I don’t think I’m much use myself atm! Lots of unmumsnetty hugs

I’m feeling ok this afternoon had a swollen tummy and nausea all evening but it’s died down to Just nausea and exhaustion now so that’s better than nothing I suppose.