Hello

Hi Harry300a5bc36 and welcome to this chat.

I’m still awake as it’s only 8.30pm here, and others will definitely come along to chat as the evening goes on if they can’t sleep. Feel free to chat about anything here as there’s usually someone around who’ll join in, and there are all sorts of things to chat about. I can see you’ve already joined a couple of groups and been posting, but if you want to say a little about yourself for those who haven’t read your previous posts, please feel free to introduce yourself and dive right in.

Sarah xx

Thank You,  Sarah...

Yes I'm a member of Prostate Cancer group. And the colon cancer group..

I will add abit about myself..

I'm 67 years old. Had a high PSA 7.8

Haven't had much except a pain in lower back. Had a MRI performed. Found some trouble areas.  Urologist said they were all contained within prostate gland. Going for a biopsy on Dec 16th...

I am worried about Colon Cancer since I have been constipated for nearly 4 weeks. I've been to the ER five times due to the constipation.  They prescribe laxatives and performed an enema once last Sunday. I don't have any other symptoms except the constipation and the occasional lower back pain 

I'm worried more about the colon cancer at this moment.  I have a colonoscopy scheduled for Dec 12th.

I'm petrified....

Hi Harry300a5bc36 

I can appreciate you’ll be anxious about symptoms which haven’t been explained yet, but until they are, you seem to be letting your mind run away with itself with negative thoughts.

I don’t know too much about prostate cancer, but I had a personal friend (not from this forum) who was diagnosed with his prostate cancer in 2017 with a PSA of over 1500, so yours seems to be at a much lower level, even if it is raised. Of course the medics will need to investigate any raised level, but he had extensive metastases and lived a decent life for a good many years. 

I am a bit more familiar with colon issues as I’ve had my rectum removed, though not because of colon cancer. What I do know is that bowel issues can have many explanations, and not all are cancer. The colonoscopy is the gold standard investigation, and you should be told on the day if anything suspicious is found from what they see with the camera. Benign polyps are common and can usually be simply removed for example.

Our digestive system can be pretty sensitive to stress and anxiety so your constipation may have a simple explanation. Back pain can also have many reasons-I’ve been through cancer twice but my back pain is caused by arthritis and nothing to do with cancer.

I have to say that I tend to be a positive person in general, and find that helps immensely to cope with life in general, and it certainly helped while undergoing cancer treatment and surgeries. Until you have your tests done, you don’t know if you have cancer so things might feel better for you when you have more information.

Sarah xx

Thank You,Sarah, for your kind words.

I'm really on an mental and emotional rollercoaster.

I have so much anxiety from my prostate cancer issues which I haven't been diagnosed yet...I have my biopsy on the 16th....

But now I fear stage 4 colon cancer blockage..... I really can't find any other viable reason for month long constipation.  I just hope it hasn't spread too much. If it is a tumor blockage, it came about suddenly. I would imagine that it would gradually narrow the colon....I see my GP on Dec 3rd.... Perhaps he can give me some insight..

And if it means a colostomy bag, well I will have to live with that...

Harry, please take a big breath and try and try to calm yourself down if you can.

You haven’t been diagnosed with colon cancer yet, far less stage 4 and a blockage….stage 4 would mean cancer had spread from a primary site in the colon to other parts of the body and a bowel blockage could really make you very ill, very quickly as nothing would pass through at all. You’re imagining it’s cancer, and now that it’s spread with no facts to back this up. 

Colon cancer is usually a slow growing cancer and has many treatment options, and by no means everyone needs a colostomy even after surgery. They may simply have the affected piece of colon removed and the remaining portion rejoined. Life then returns to normal.

I’ve lived with a permanent colostomy for nearly 6 years, and a urostomy because I had my bladder removed at the same time and the thought of these things is very different to the reality.

But you’re rushing ahead with self diagnosis, and all that will do is increase your anxiety hugely the more you let it consume you. Members in the community are all patients and carers so we are not medics, we just try to give support from our own experiences. None of us would know if you had any type of cancer so try to sit tight until you have more information.

Sarah xx

Hello Harry (Harry300a5bc36) 

As i have said on the Prostate Group and I will say it again here:

* You need to take a chill pill and let your medical team deal with your problems without your Self Diagnostics.

* You are making your own and your wife's lives intolerable by the constant worrying and anxiety is helping to pile on the stress probably causing some of your issues.

* Leave Dr Google well alone - leave it to the professionals.

We are here to help you but you do need to let the medical professionals deal with the testing and diagnosis process.

Yes you have a few health issued and problems but there are plenty of other things that can have caused these - you need to stop jumping to conclusions whilst the jury is still out.

Sarah's with me here:

SarahH21 said:

Harry, please take a big breath and try and try to calm yourself down if you can.

Please for your own health and your wife's peace of mind - and for me, wait for a formal diagnosis.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hello Brian,

You are the voice of reason.

You absolutely correct on all points.

Actually, I'm embarrassed at how I am behaving.

And you are spot on about my wife.  She has even taken to sleeping in the guest room not to hear my incessant ravings "... could it be this..." 

Thank You again for your common sense words and advice... 

Thank You, Sarah...

As I mentioned to Brian, I appreciate the sound advice.

And you are correct in that this is a support group and I need to see it that way... I need to stop panicking and just deal with the facts as they come. 

Thank You again