Just found out

Hi PubLandLady, sorry to hear your news. I have just had something similar as well. Been going to my GP since last Easter with abdominal pain, sweats, bowel issues and fatigue but no bleeding so GP not interested.

Was in work last Thursday and had been bleeding since Tuesday when I wipe myself, so called 111. Ended up in A&E was examined and they said they could feel a lump so I have gone straight to having a CT scan tomorrow because they do not want to wait for a colonoscopy. 

Hi PubLandlady,

I was in your position at the end of January. I attended hospital for a colonoscopy following a bowel screening test. I went there thinking that, as I had none of the symptoms, that it would be clear. It was a shock when they told my husband and I that there was a suspicious area within the bowel. An urgent biopsy was sent off.

I went through a CAT scan and a further colonoscopy followed. The MDT met and then I had a meeting with the consultant surgeon. It was a relief that there was a plan and hope for the future. Don't despair. I am willing you on. x

Hi PubLandlady  it's such a horrible shock, your mind will be all over the place. I was told on the day of my colonoscopy in December that it was almost definitely cancer. I did suspect, had no symptoms aside from anaemia but my FIT test was v high and my doctor was v open about her concerns. I was booked in for a CT straight away before any biopsy results came back.

Things will happen quickly and soon you will have a plan when things feel easier. My heart goes out to you I was blindsided by it all.

Hang on in there. Xx

Hi Simon, so sorry you weren't fully listened to by the GP, very scary to end up in A and E. It sounds like the team are on it now, good luck with the scan tomorrow. Very tough managing the anxiety but in my experience things move fast and feel easier when there is a plan . Best wishes x

Hi Arial88, thank you for your kind reply. To be honest, I will just be relieved to get an answer and will take it from there.

Ironically I ended up in an A&E in a different county to where I live because I was at work not home when I called 111.

I was given the option of continuing through that hospital or being referred back to my GP at home. I said I would stick with them for now and see what the outcome is.

I will also update here when I get a result. Take care everybody

Hi PubLandlady 

Can I ask if you had a scope at all or was it purely a physical examination ?

They normally like to get a visual on the mass before committing to a diagnosis.

Do you think they might have used a small camera ?

Take care ,

Court 

It was definitely just an examination. I’m having a colonoscopy on Wednesday. He was pretty clear that it’s colon cancer. Gave me all the info, my own specialist cancer nurse and info on what to do if I can’t go to the toilet etc. it was more of a shock because I only had a physical examination so surely they can’t be definite that it’s cancer until other tests and biopsies have been done? Not sure if the fact my mum had bowel cancer 2 years ago has played a part in the quick diagnosis

Hi PubLandlady, 

sorry to read your post - it’s such a shock getting that news, especially when you are not expecting it . I also had only one small symptom but had been aneamic on and off for a long time but Drs just said because I’m vegetarian and have heavy periods. I’m no expert on this having just had the news myself recently but I think the colonoscopy is definitely the ‘gold standard’ for looking for these things. I found this group so supportive and it was awful waiting for results when you have already been told what they think it is. Everyone said to me you will feel better with a plan in place and for me thankfully although bad news, it wasn’t as bad as I had been imagining in my head. So I suppose what I wanted to say was try and stay positive and take the support around you to get through it. Take care xxx