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Original poster

Bugger… on the two ww referral for bowel cancer

23 replies

Flippinghecklike · 20/12/2022 19:20

V grateful as Gp been fab and grateful for 2ww but without sounding like a spoilt child also bloody terrified tbh.
I have anal pre cancer and I was given a cream for that called aldara which I tolerated ok the first few weeks then started to make me really burn and at the same time I got loose stools. I went to the GP to see if the area was infected as I couldn’t really see and mentioned the burning. She asked about if I had bled from the back which I had, and also the loose stools and whether I’ve lost weight which I had and asked me to do a FIT test (stool sample) That has come back positive (anything over 10 is positive and I got 34) so am being referred for a colonoscopy.
I’ve been a mad clown this year with health anxiety but this time when I went in was really just asking if I could / should continue the cream or not and was not anticipating this at all. I think the bleeding could have been caused by the cream and also the loose stools too, but I have been so so tired recently and just so worried now. Want to be cheerful and fun over Christmas but feel about as fun as… well something not remotely fun.
Had anyone been in this boat? Can I be cautiously hopeful that if there is anything they’ve got it early maybe? Looking in the dark for positives!!!

OP posts:
SweetSakura · 20/12/2022 19:23

Oh no, I hope someone will be along soon with better advice but in the meantime just wanted to send sympathy must have been a horrible shock to go in with what you thought was a simple question and come out with whole new worry.

daisydoods · 20/12/2022 19:30

Just to say I'm thinking of you and hope for positive news OP

Original poster
Flippinghecklike · 20/12/2022 19:55

Thank you. Physically feel ok tbh other than nagging tailbone pain but that could be because of loads of stuff like sitting badly at my desk… really want to call my parents and cry on them but that will only ruin their christmas too and hopefully might come
to nothing. DH sorting out the kids who are predictably playing up and just feel alone and frightened.

OP posts:
Afterfire · 20/12/2022 20:03

I have a very strong family history of bowel cancer - mum, Gran, uncle etc all died of it. The one thing I will say is blood in the stools doesn’t necessarily indicate bowel cancer. Crohn’s and colitis - which is far more common- will give you a lot of blood in your stools (my mum had Crohn’s as well). I know it’s really difficult and scary but please try not to panic. Lots of things could be causing your issues especially if you’ve had anal issues and some sort of reaction to the cream. It’s good they’ve referred you so quickly and even if it is the worst case scenario most people with early stage bowel cancer do go on to make a full recovery now. Have faith. Try and enjoy Christmas and hopefully it will be positive news.

Whywhywhywhy3 · 20/12/2022 20:10

Sorry to hear this OP. It must be scary to be in this situation but there are many other things it could be than cancer. Best wishes, I hope you get good news, and hope you are able to put it from your mind a little to enjoy Christmas x

Original poster
Flippinghecklike · 20/12/2022 20:30

Thank you all and so sorry to hear that history @Afterfire . I am just so so tired - the health anxiety all just feels daft now but it has really exhausted me and I don’t feel match fit for this. The kids are 7 and nearly 4 and so brilliant and full of energy and I am down here hiding whilst I hear them playing up way past bedtime because I dont want them to see me cry. Need to buck the hell up!!!!

OP posts:
SweetSakura · 20/12/2022 20:38

Oh gosh yes that's pretty much the most intense age for pre Christmas excitement ! Take the time you need and then once you are ready they will hopefully be a good distraction

Fedupandanxious · 20/12/2022 20:56

As a fellow health anxiety sufferer I just wanted to send a hug. I know how hard it is to focus on the kids and anything not related to health when you're struggling, never mind after a shock like this. As PP's have said, there are so many other things it could be, even the nhs website says 'most people who have these symptoms do not have bowel cancer'.
Try and use the kids as a distraction, throw yourself into Christmas and tell yourself you'll deal with whatever comes after Christmas. Remember, you don't know anything for sure yet 💐

spaniellove · 20/12/2022 21:03

Hi, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I was put on the 2ww wait for colon cancer after severe anaemia, a positive fit test, abdo pains. 3 polyps removed and all tests recently came back clear. I have no reason for the bleeding but its not colon cancer, colitis etc.
It's a scary time and of course you will worry, but more often than not, it's not colon cancer. Stay away from Google and look after yourself. Praying for good news for you. Big hugs your way

Borntobeamum · 21/12/2022 17:06

I was on this pathway 4 years ago.
I saw the doctor on New Year’s Eve and he recommended an endoscopy and colonoscopy.
The endoscopy showed I have Barratts Oesophagus and they were unable to do the colonoscopy due to severe pain.
I waited a further week for a colonography and this indeed showed I had bowel. Cancer.
Good luck - there are lots of reasons why your test was high, so please don’t expect it to be the worse news x x

MotherofPearl · 21/12/2022 17:17

I just wanted to add one positive story to hopefully make you feel a bit better OP. My DP's mother had bowel cancer 14 years ago. She was pretty unwell with it and I was quite sure she wouldn't make it, but she had the treatment and recovered and is now absolutely fine. She gets a check every year and has been all-clear each time.

Of course in your case it may well not even be bowel cancer - I certainly hope not - but I wanted to share a good outcome story. Wishing you well.

Original poster
Flippinghecklike · 21/12/2022 21:14

Thanks all - so pleased you’ve come through @Borntobeamum and really appreciate all the encouraging stories - will
let you know how i get on xxx

OP posts:
TheEvening · 21/12/2022 21:23

If it is the QFIT test 34 is still quite low, an indicative positive (ie over 60% chance) would be over 400. You are a long way from that threshold plus have age on your side.

No matter what you're on the right path now. Good luck.

Original poster
Flippinghecklike · 21/12/2022 21:26

Thanks @TheEvening - trying to stay off google but husband looked it up and seemed to think that was the case. Thanks for posting x

OP posts:
teachermummyme · 21/12/2022 23:09

Oh you poor thing. You don't sound like a spoilt child at all and it's no surprise you're finding it hard to keep it together. I recently had a very difficult health situation and like you have young children and, once the initial shock was over, found it helpful to try and compartmentalise my fear and worry. When I was with the children I'd allow myself to feel the fear but try and 'put it in a box' and tell myself I'd think those thoughts later. And then, when I wasn't with the kids, I'd go back to them and allow myself to feel whatever I was feeling. I'm not saying it was easy, but it helped me to maintain some of my sanity! I wish you all the best and hope it's not what you fear.

seasidemum1 · 23/12/2022 10:12

I had this earlier this year, that's actually a really low fit test positive, and likely to be caused by the bleeding you're already aware of as any blood will be detected by the test. Mine was very high, and in my case it was colitis. I also had tailbone pain which I thought was from pregnancy but turned out to be caused by the inflammation in my bowel and it resolved when the medication kicked in which was a huge relief. I know the wait it so, so difficult, I was in pieces, but it's really likely to be nothing sinister.

Frazzled2207 · 23/12/2022 10:22

I would be panicking just as you, but the pathway is there to get people who do need treatment to get it quickly, it doesn’t mean the doc thinks you have cancer.

as pp have said there are lots of other things it could be, I will cross fingers for a straightforward diagnosis for you soon.

Original poster
Flippinghecklike · 24/12/2022 05:40

Thank you everyone for being so kind. I was lucky enough to use the insurance my dh gets with his work to be seen yesterday and was piles!!! Also, have to say for anyone in this boat without that privilege the hour after we booked that the cancer nurse specialist from uclh (nhs) called and was so lovely and said I would have been seen before the end of the year, I’m just meant to be travelling to see family today and was desperate to sort before Christmas day. The uclh nurse said although the official cut off on a fit is 400 she has seen scores of 8000 which puts things in context. Feel so so lucky and grateful to you all for being so lovely, also places the anal pre cancer in context a bit - not the most fun ever but nothing like as difficult as some people are managing right now. Thank you all so much and merry merry christmas! Xxx

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DwightShrutesGlasses · 24/12/2022 07:56

Great update OP! ❤️

SweetSakura · 24/12/2022 09:30

Ahh I am so pleased @Flippinghecklike ! Hope you can now relax and enjoy Christmas

Afterfire · 24/12/2022 09:42

Merry Christmas op 🎄🎄🎄❤️

Great update.

Frazzled2207 · 24/12/2022 11:55

Aw pleased you got good news just before Christmas and credit to the uclh nurse for calling you too.

happy Christmas 🎄

Original poster
Flippinghecklike · 24/12/2022 12:39

Exactly - we are so lucky to have access to this and feel a bit funny about it as I know not everyone does but I would have been just putting on a show for everyone and panicking silently inside. Wishing you all a brilliant Christmas and thank you again so much for the brilliant support x

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