Cancer aside - what could this be?

[dejags]

DH's young cousin (21 year old girl) has been having chronic Irritable Bowel Syndrom symptoms for a few months now (the past two months have been really, really bad).

Anyway, she was referred for a scope so that the surgeon could look inside the colon. He found a very large ulcerated mass and is in his own words "incredibly worried".

From what I can see on the www - it is very, very rare for a very young person to develop colorectal cancer.

I have been reading about Ulcerative Colitis - are there any Mnetters who suffer from this - and do her symptoms sound as if they may fit this?

Any help would be appreciated as the whole family is very worried.

PS: she is having a CT Scan and Chest X-Ray today, they have already biopsied the mass and await the results.

dejags I cannot help on the info but I hope it is not as bad as the doctor fears. Poor girl.

Is she bleeding from her bottom?

Do hope she'll be ok - it's horrid but it might not be the dreaded C. My mum suffered with Colitis for years from about the age of 30 it is treatable though and a high fibre diet helps a lot.

God, how awfully worrying. I don't know anything about U.C., but had colorectal cancer at age 40 and they told me that was unusually young, so if it's any reassurance it doesn't seem likely that she'd have it at 21.

The surgeon's comment wasn't exactly helpful, was it?

They may be doing the chest x ray as a precaution, as the first 2 places colorectal cancer goes to as a secondary is the liver and the lungs.

How long till she gets the results?

BTW, the only symptom I had before diagnosis was stomach cramps.

Are you ok now Mumblechum? Must have been very scary for you.

Yes, got the tumour whipped out within 7 days, back to work 3 weeks later. Had 6 months on chemo, during which I only had one day off.

I was v lucky they caught it in time.

You were, very lucky and I'm so pleased to hear it, nice to hear a good C story for a change

Thanks all.

She has had no bleeding but plenty of other symptoms.

In the past two months she veers from being incredibly constipated - to the point of vomiting to the other end of the scale with really terrible diarrohea (going to the loo up to 20 times a day).

I have seen her when she's feeling rough and she looks like death!!! She is in incredible pain.

Thanks for your post Mumblechum - how was it diagnosed if you don't mind me asking?

To be fair the surgeon made that comment to her mum, not to her directly. Although she's not stupid.

The results of the CT/histology should be in this afternoon.

My best friend's dd developed UC at the age of 11. The surgeon may be concerned about a nasty complication of UC called megacolon. My bf's dd went on to get megacolon and had her large bowel removed in an emergency op, and a stoma. She later had a pouch op to reverse the stoma and now, 15yrs later is in good health.

Hope you get good news.

Went to private hosp, had camera up bum (lovely!) and about half an hour later the consultant came to my room and said very bluntly that I had a malignant tumour about 5cms and he'd get it whipped out asap. Booked the op for the next week.

Thanks Suedonim - I'll google that. Glad to hear you friends' DD made a recovery. We can only hope that it isn't malignant.

Mumblechum - that's pretty much what has happened with her. They will decide what course of action to take today after the CT Scan and what the results of the biopsy show- I think the fear is, is that due to it's size that it's spread.

Did you see a General Surgeon or a Gastroenterologist?

Thanks for your input, it's very helpful and I am so very happy that you made a full recovery!

bump

Hi dejags
My fil is in hospital today have tests for a very similar thing.
How dreadful for the poor girl, and all of your family.
I really hope it's a good outcome for you.

i have colitis but i have never vomited from it

the sypmtoms you describe sound like a friend of mine, she was finally diagnosed with coeliac disease and is now on the mend, but she was shockingly poorly and lost tons of weight while they were investigating

not sure if they found a mass , but teh rest of the signs you describe fitted her to a t

gastro chappy

Thanks Lou. I think her GP ruled out Coeliac disease after her symptoms didnt get any better by removing gluten from her diet.

FairyJay - hope your FIL gets the all clear soon.

polyps?

I know you say the GP ruled out Coeliac Disease as she didn't improve on a glutenfree diet - but some coeliacs do not respond to the glutenfree diet and need steroids to start recovery. Just thought I should mention it. Hope there is some good news soon.

yes was just going to say that flaming

she shuld ask for a referral to a specialist

It's bad news.

She has a 10cm malignant tumour in her large intestine.

She is being operated on on Monday. She has been told that there is a risk, because of the size of the tumour that she may have to have a colostomy bag for the rest of her life.

How does this happen to a beautiful, clever, 21 year old girl. This world is so f*cking cruel.

As for the rest, I think she is clear in her other organs - they are still testing the lymph.

I am so sad. How much more can a family take?

sorry to hear the news dejags, Hopefully as they can operate they may be able to remove it, and it is good news that it hasn't spread.

So sorry dejags I can understand your anger at this so unfair she is so young.Sending all the good reiki vibes I can xx

Very sorry . It's so unfair.

Hopefully she will be ok and it hasn't spread, were I religious I would be saying a prayer for you but you'll have to have positive vibes instead.
Tip for colostomy, tell her to eat marshmallows and turkish delight, thickens the stools (sorry for TMI) but it makes life more pleasant for the stoma recipient.

Sorry to hear the diagnosis. Praying the operation goes well and the lymph tests are clear.

Thinking of your all, and praying for the best outcome.