Hi
i have been fighting lung cancer and I have two chronic illnesses. My gynae noticed something not quite right on my anus. I am devastated. I bleed. Feel full of poop all time. Ache badly and very uncomfortable. I put it down to piles but she said no it needs investigating. I am going to colorectal first appt Monday. I am cringing with embarrassment and dreading it. What should I expect please?
Hi Yvonned & welcome to our little corner of the MacMillan Online Community although I’m so sorry to hear of everything you’ve been going through.
I can only offer my own experience at my initial colorectal appointment so here goes. I was referred via my GP following a visit regarding an external polyp that had bled a couple of times when wiping after using the loo. My GP had given me an internal examination & said whatever it was seemed to be growing inwards & put me on the 2 week pathway to a local colorectal team.
At that first appointment I was given another rectal examination by a registrar who suspected I had an external polyp that had led to an internal ulcer forming, he went on to say I’d receive an appointment for a flexible sigmoidoscopy & a day case appointment to go in & have the polyp removed & the ulcer repaired, the wait time would be approximately 3-4 weeks. I went home relieved that it was nothing more serious. I then got a call from the colorectal consultant later that evening saying he wanted me in sooner rather than later & could I come in for the surgery on the Monday morning where they’d do the surgery & the sigmoidoscopy at the same time. During that surgery he took a biopsy instead of doing what was planned & the rest is history so to speak!
I know it’s only natural but try not to be embarrassed, these doctors deal with peoples bottoms & everything colon related all day every day so they’ve already seen it all. I feel that after being diagnosed with anal cancer in February 2018 & going through surgery, treatment, recovery & 5 years of surveillance appointments that the world & his wife have seen my nether regions now so all feelings of embarrassment have long deserted me.
I hope your appointment on Monday goes well & it turns out to be nothing of concern, you have enough on your plate by the sounds of things. Please let us know how you get on.
Nicola
