Bowel cancer? So terrified.

[MagicVanillaBeans]

Is anyone up? I’m so scared. I’ve had diarrhoea on and off for 6-7 weeks and have lost a lot of weight (nearly 4kg in 4 weeks). First FIT test was negative but I didn’t feel the sample was that great so they took another and it came back positive at level 12. I also have a very specific, nagging pain on the right of my belly button. No visible blood in stool but a lot of mucus and when the stool is solid it is quite narrow, which I’ve just read is a sign of a tumour :( I have low iron too, but not anaemic. Doc said haemoglobin levels were normal - actually raised a bit over the past few days.

Can anyone tell me about their experiences? I don’t know if I’m over worrying but it feels like a lot. I’m supposed to be on the two week wait for a colonoscopy but the hospital have said it’s more like 4 weeks! I don’t think I can wait that long - I’m not sleeping :( and have a young child to look after.

Please rest.
Please stop.

Stating you have a little to care for...
From experience,your symptoms are not fun....
I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy done.
ONE hr results were in.

Sorry to hear about the problems you are having. Its important to remember that your symptoms could be caused by lots of things and the tests will quickly give you answers. Are you able to get any psychological support with the uncertainty of waiting for tests. I am struggling myself waiting for tests on a different issue. Maybe speak to your GP about any help with sleeping while you wait.

I had exactly what you described about six months after having my daughter. Even down to thin stool, I know exactly what you mean by that! I couldn't eat without being near a loo as had an immediate reaction to food. Anyway had all the tests, colonoscopy etc and they just couldn't explain it. After about a year it started to improve and this was seven years ago now.

Thank you each for replying. @silvershark22 I hope you get good results. @2kids2catsnolife I’m sorry you went through that but it’s comforting to hear - thank you.

Don’t take any notice of anyone criticising you for worrying about your health. It’s frightening.
I have just come out of hospital last night after having biopsy for another type of cancer. I now have a two week wait for results but I feel so much better having at last been in hospital for the diagnostic work.

i had to go private to get anyone to scan me and that scan resulted in me being put on fast track 2 week wait cancer pathway. This turned out to be over a month of trying to get an appointment and having them cancelled and re setting 2 week wait.

the chances are that you will be fine and find a different reason for your symptoms. However I really dislike any sort of belittling or demeaning of people going through these invasive investigations. It’s painful mentally and physically.

all I can say is once actually admitted to hospital I have been looked after really well. But my god it’s been hard. And cost a lot of money to go private because I have no insurance. But I had no choice in the first instance.

I did post here and had some very helpful kind people offering me their encouragement and personal stories so that can be helpful too.

there is always a higher chance of something not being cancer but biopsy is the only way forward. I hope you get booked in soon and that you have good news.

Thanks @Stella123456 I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time. That’s half the problem - I just need the diagnostic procedure but keep getting told that NHS backlogs are putting it back. Private colonoscopies are about £3000 and, from the ones I’ve called, not much faster as they’re all getting booked up too.

I was in your position last week. Finally got admitted for biopsy and feel so relieved just to get to this point.
if I’m strong enough I will go through with a negligence complaint but at the moment I’m in bed and trying to stay well.

you’ve probably already done this but keep calling the hospital and asking about cancellations. That’s what a poster on my thread suggested. She said work out how long it would take you to get to hospital and then keep trying to call them.

another point is will you need a general anaesthetic for biopsy? I did but the doctor didn’t book me for pre assessment so that even when an appointment for biopsy became available I wasn’t able to take it and had to wait a further 10 days.

you maybe going under local anaesthesia so this might not be an issue for you.

call today. Call tomorrow. Good luck and I hope you get an appointment very soon

And also know that it is not always a worse case scenario. But I wish screening could be easier. It just seems to be luck of the draw. I’ve been treated terribly up until yesterday when I finally got cared for.

I’m really sorry to hear you are going through this. You are doing absolutely the right thing in pursuing testing and it’s terrible you have to wait so long. I’m in a different country so I only had to wait a few days for my colonoscopy. I am currently being treated for bowel cancer and am happy to offer whatever support I can. Feel free to pop along to the Cancer support thread where there are lots of lovely people who are very understanding and nobody would ever belittle you.

But remember there are lots of possibilities that aren’t cancer. Please don’t google, just look after yourself and follow up the hospital for any cancellations.

Just an update, as I know I appreciated these when searching back through forums for people who shared my symptoms. My colonoscopy was clear (never have I been so relieved!!) and I had a CT scan which also showed no anomalies. The diarrhoea cleared up (with Alflorex probiotics) though I still have pain, but it’s probably IBS (and the original problem was possibly a bacterial imbalance post Covid) or my endometriosis playing up. I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist still to come, but not urgent.

I was finally given a colonoscopy appointment because I literally went to the department desk in the hospital and asked. So, if, like it was for me, you can’t get through to anyone by phone, it might be worth going in person. But I later found out that I would have had an appointment only shortly after the two week wait anyway because the NHS had arranged some appointments at a private hospital to clear the backlog.

Ace news