Cancer discovered late despite the signs

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Hello,

I've been diagnosed with colon cancer last month and I'm very disappointed because I feel let down by the doctors.

I started to have stools with blood back in 2023 (49 years old at the time) and I went to the GP. He examined and he said I've got hemorrhoids that's where the blood is from. I had to provide a stool sample and I don't think I've heard anything back so I presumed was all fine. I was given a cream for hemorrhoids and since then the stool blood was inconsistent, I only had it every now and then.

In 2024 I had some severe pain and went to A&E. I had a CT scan that night and I was diagnosed with kidney stones. They did pass on naturally after a week or so. Luckily I bought some tablets from Germany to dissolve the stones. About 1 month later I went to the hospital for a follow up and the doctor told me that something came up on the CT scan and could be cancer. He send me to have a blood test and after another month he rang me to let me know that the results came back fine and it's nothing to be worried about.

In February this year I had some stomach pain and bloating along with stool blood again. I rang the GP and the appointment was with the same doctor as I had in 2023. I wasn't happy so I've asked for a different one as I knew she's more empathic towards patients. She did say it could be the hemorrhoids but considering my age she will refer me for a colonoscopy. I also had to provide a stool sample and after a week or so a nurse rang me to say that the doctor who saw me in 2023 wants to have a telephone appointment. When he rang me he said it's nothing to worry about but something came up on my stool sample and I have to go to a colonoscopy. Soon after I went there and I was diagnosed with colon cancer as they found a malignant tumor. I was referred to a CT scan with contrast and unfortunately the tumor was confirmed, the cancer had also infected the lymph nodes.

I feel so let down by the doctors because they could've referred me to a colonoscopy back in 2023 knowing that at my age stool blood could be colon cancer. He didn't even mention it at all, at least I could've gone for a private one instead of waiting for NHS. Same thing in 2024, if the normal CT scan had shown something why I wasn't referred to another CT scan with contrast or a colonoscopy?!

Because the doctors were careless I now have to go through all the pain caused by the cancer discovered 2 years and a half later.

NPDarren 20 days ago

Same here. I chased the Doctors for nearly a year. Got told a few times your to young for bowel cancer. Now I'm stage 4 spread to liver and lungs and have been told it's treatable but not curable.

F**king Drs should sometimes listen to what they are being told.

kokolino23 19 days ago in reply to NPDarren

Sorry to hear this, doesn't make me feel better about my situation but if we don't raise somehow these issues other people will be affected. After 40 they should offer a referral to colonoscopy for patients with stool blood.

Samantha7 19 days ago

Same. Over a year of testing. All negative including a biopsy about 12 months ago which didn’t gather a lot of tissue but wasn’t called to retest. Paid for private consultation. Had another biopsy in February 26 which confirmed a type of cancer today but waiting for further results for full diagnosis. Was initially told, 12 months ago, my swollen lymph node would reduce over time. I’m just glad I persevered and advocated for myself, whatever the prognosis, I no longer feel like I’m being patronised.

kokolino23 19 days ago in reply to Samantha7

Well done for not giving up.

My case was different because nobody mentioned the cancer risk otherwise I could've paid for a colonoscopy. Their ignorance is the most frustrating thing.

Samantha7 18 days ago in reply to kokolino23

Hey no one mentioned cancer to me either. I was told lymph nodes sometimes swell and I was like yeah I know, and sometimes because of cancer. I wasn’t convinced it was cancer but didn’t want to ignore it because all the guidance is ‘don’t ignore a lump’. I honestly think medical staff were going off how I looked and felt (‘healthy’) rather than the fact I had this symptom. Very frustrating but now trying not to think about the ‘what ifs’ and get a treatment plan.