New Member - Colonoscopy

Hi 

I joined this community in the last few days as I’m due to have a colonoscopy this coming Friday.

This is all very new to me so I apologise I can’t provide any insight, on what you can expect  but wanted to say hello and glad you found it here. It seems a good place to chat and get some insight and I am sure someone will come along soon who can provide that.

you’ve provided a little insight for me so I thank you for that.

with all good wishes to you.

Hi McLovin and a warm welcome to the board. The biopsies will confirm for definite if it’s cancer or not but the surgeons tend to have a pretty good idea from the colonoscopy. Size does not matter! They will check the CT scan to see if the tumour has spread outside the bowel wall to other organs and you may have an MRI as well. Once all the results are back then the MDT (multi disciplinary team) will meet and decide on a treatment plan tor you.

Rectal tumours are often treated with a course of chemoradiotherapy first to shrink the tumour as much as possible before surgery as it’s important for the surgeon to remove it all with a clear surrounding area. Whether the operation will be keyhole or open will depend on what the surgeon considers to be the best option. Some people have keyhole, others start as keyhole but then the surgeon may have to move to open? 
Ive attached a copy of a booklet that I was given at my first meeting which helps with treatment options,terminology etc.

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/YourPathway_BowelCancerUK.pdf

If you click on peoples name then their profiles may show their treatment to date and please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Hi, I was in the same position last year, I had a colonoscopy and it was found to be cancerous tumour, also near the rectum.  I had to have radio/chemotherapy to shrink the tumour and then several months later an operation to remove it, which was successful.  But, we are all different, and it may be best to wait until you see the consultant, because he may have a different plan for you.  I have noticed on here we all seem to have different stories.  I was an idiot as I left it and left it until I had to go to A&E, so hopefully with you, if it is a cancer, they have caught it early.  I have been told that bowel cancers are slow growing, and there is a great success rate for people with this condition.  Lets hope you do not have to wait too long before you are told what the plan is, its the waiting that is horrible.  Best Wishes Mary

Hi McLovin  not to give you false hope but to give an alternative to what others have said. I was in the same position last summer, my surgeon opted for keyhole surgery and removed 7.5cm of my colon. Thankfully he got good margins and the tumour was removed with no need for further treatment.

i wish you all the best! 

Hi, thanks for the welcome and any questions you have about it I’d be happy to try and answer :)

Hi, many thanks for the insight. Seems to put things into some sort of timeline for me :)

Hey, that’s great news that they managed to a sort it for you. Do you mind me asking how you found it after surgery?

Many thanks for your wishes :)

Of course not. I’m not gonna lie, I was in a lot of pain. Spent 2 days in HDU before being transferred to a ward. I was encouraged to move about but you don’t realise how many thing use your stomach muscles so was hard work. I went home on day 5 and it probably took me another 3-4 days before I was able to start doing little bits round the house but took a few weeks before I could do most of the tasks I was doing before the op.  The hardest part was wearing the stockings in a heat wave! 

Thank you , it really helps to come along here and be able to ask people who have been there, if you like..it’s so helpful to share 

with every good wish