Scared i might have bowel cancer..have had symptoms on & off over fifteen years

FormerMember over 5 years ago

4 replies
24 subscribers
1344 views

I am a 67 year old lady who is obese and in poor health.I have a very restrictive poor diet due to lack of money...I don't eat meat,veg,fruit,salads etc as I cannot afford it..i live mainly on breakfast cereals covered in sugar,egg or beans on toast and loads of drinks of sugary tea/coffee.

I am on a very low basic state pension..i get no private pension and my household bills plus three phone contracts take up so much of my pension that there isn't enough money to feed a healthy diet for myself and my adult son who still lives with me..he only gives me £100 a month,if i'm lucky, towards his keep and he treats me like dirt and walks all over me.I have to put up with him bringing his girlfriend over here to my council flat to sleep with her often when i'm ready to go to bed at night plus in daytimes if neither of them are working.I am very stressed 24/7 and its affecting my mental health..am thinking of asking the council to re house myself and my son in separate places as its so stressful having him still living with me.

Anyway,to add to my stress I am worried I might have bowel cancel as occasionally have been seeing blood in my poo and on the toilet paper.I am always constipated due to my poor diet with no fruit & veg and I suspect living off eating eggs everyday.I have a phobia about having hospital tests like a colonoscopy and rectal exams..i have a very low pain tolerance so I end up passing out and vomiting if I have to have any kind of internal examination,so I haven't told my doctor about this problem cause I know she'll proberly want to do a rectal exam AND sent me for a colonoscopy and I dread the thought of both..i cant tolerate any pain or discomfort and i'd end up fainting and vomiting during these exams..i'd need to be knocked out so I didn't know anything about it,and then i'm afraid I wouldn't wake up again due to my health issues,as I have a heart issue,obesity,have pre diabetes,and am asthmatic.

I am so terrified I might by now have advanced cancer but I cant pluck up the courage to mention it to my doctor as I dread both rectal exams AND the much dreaded colonoscopy.I've kept it all to myself for well over fifteen years now,its been more likely over twenty years.It may not be cancer,it could all be due to my poor diet etc but if I carry on been too frightened to mention it to my doctor and it is cancer,it could be too advanced to do anything about it,and I am frightened I could die before ive got out of my debt.

Thehighlander over 5 years ago

Hi and welcome to the Online Community, although I am sorry to see you finding us and so sorry to hear that you have been dealing with many health issues and concerns around the possibility that you may have cancer.

As I was the one with cancer and I am not a medical professional, the only thing I can advise you is to go see a medical professional as soon as possible.

You are dealing with a lot of family and financial issues so you do need to talk with someone and get some direction to move this forward.

It would bi good if you use our various Macmillan Support Line Services to be helpful - call them on 0808 808 00 00 This free service covers Emotional Support, Practical Information. Clinical Information, Financial Support and Work Guidance mostly open 8.00 to 8.00 but check the link.

Your final sentence “I am frightened I could die before ive got out of my debt” is so upside down. I would put my heath way before anything else.

Yes, some of the investigations are challenging (I have had some of these) but they are a means to and end so please go and see your GP and get them to start moving this in a more positive direction.

Always around to listen

Mike (Thehighlander)

It always seems impossible until its done - Nelson Mandela

My cancer story

FormerMember over 5 years ago in reply to Thehighlander

Please help this poor lady, she so very needs someone to care.

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Morning

Sounds a tough scenario to get on top of

Do you really need 3 phone contracts, maybe try and merge a couple to only have 2 contracts, or get the least used one switched to 'pay as you go' When cash is tight every £ you can shave off helps.

Is there a food bank nearby you can take some help from ?

Hugs, G n' J

FormerMember over 5 years ago

It was really heartbreaking to read your post and I have great sympathy for you but you don't need sympathy from me or anyone else you need practical help and I would thoroughly agree with Thehighlander your first place to call should be your GP he is not only there to look at your medical issues but also your social issues as well as he can arrange for help from other agencies to improve the quality of your life.

With regard to your son it is a joke that he paying just over £3.25 (as you say, if you're lucky) a day for his keep what does he expect to get for that except a key to the front door and a bed but certainly no cooking, no meals no laundry in fact nothing domestic.

I don't think that asking the council to rehouse the both of you is not the answer, the answer is that you stay put and he finds somewhere else to live for his £3.25 per day.

Why do you need three mobile phone contracts that's healthy chunk out of your incoming, can't you get rid of them all and get a pay as you go phone instead.

You say you are on basic state pension only but I assume you get housing benefit and council tax rebate (having your son living with you might not be a good thing) but do you get Pension Credit. I would suggest that you contact either AgeUK or Citizens advice and ask them to help you complete a benefits eligibility assessment to identify what benefits you are entitled to.

AgeUK

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/in-your-area/

We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 140 local Age UKs.

About the Age UK Advice Line

Find your local Age UK

Citizens Advice

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Contact your local Citizens advice office

Most local Citizens Advice can only help you if you live or work in their area.

You can contact an adviser through our national phone service, Adviceline:

Adviceline: 03444 111 444

Text relay: 03444 111 445

Adviceline’s available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. It’s usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day. It's not available on public holidays.

Not only can they help with your benefits needs they can offer advice any debt problems and help you find a solution.

From your name I am assuming that you are from the West Midlands and you should contact your local adult social care team and you can find information here

https://www.gov.uk/apply-needs-assessment-social-services

There is help out there but you do have to ask for it, we keep hearing that there is millions of pounds lying unclaimed because no one has asked if they are eligible, please start to make contact with the above organisations you have nothing to lose but a lot to gain by doing so.

You know that your eating habits are less than satisfactory as you are diabetic and obese both conditions go hand in hand and you should ask your GP to refer you to a dietitian to review your diet, I could make a few suggestions but I really think you need professional help and I know you think so also.

Can't afford to eat properly think son is he helping your case or hindering it.

As far as your concerns about bowel cancer do you have any other symptoms apart from seeing blood in your poo or on the toilet tissue, I'm not going to mention them to avoid you possibly having phantom symptoms but if you have any symptoms I'm afraid it is a trip to your GP a few minutes of discomfort for rectal examination will put your mind at rest, also having a colonoscopy can be a discomfort but whilst you are having it you will either be given a sedative to help you relax or gas and air, commonly used in childbirth, which will numb any pain and it wears off very quickly after the procedure and you have no after effects.

Your examination might find nothing at all or it could just be haemorrhoids which can be easily treated but you do need to speak with your GP and you need to do it very soon.

We are always here to give you advice and help but you really do need to take some urgent action and ask for help from any of the above before anymore time passes on.

Ian

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