Could someone please help me with some advice?

FormerMember over 5 years ago

3 replies
124 subscribers
1703 views

hi, really sorry to be asking this as I can only imagine you all have enough going on in your own life’s but i just need some advice and honest opinions because I am losing my mind I can’t sleep at night with worry.

So basically my other half has had some issues with his toilet habits for a long time now, he hasn’t had a solid stool in around 6 months and there is always blood sometimes black and sometimes fresh red, I have tried and tried to get him to the doctors and he finally went last week, they did a blood test and took a poo sample and had a feel, she said it’s normally something like piles/cysts that kind of thing but then said she couldn’t feel anything so now I’m just stressing out that it’s the worst, so I guess my questions are 1) if it was bad would he know by now or does it take a while in terms of blood and sample, 2) if it’s bad then what? 3) could it be anything else? Again I’m sorry to ask and bother anyone but it’s just getting too much! Thank you

Jools63 over 5 years ago

I had issues and had blood tests. Unfortunately, in my case they were all clear. Doctor asked me to do the “poo test”, and that came back with trace amount of blood. Next stage is seeing a doctor whfeels stomach and puts a scope thing up to get a better look. It’s not always cancer so encourage your other half to seek medical help. Fingers crossed for you both.

FormerMember over 5 years ago

Hi Lucy and welcome

Obviously I am not a Dr but I am happy to share my thoughts if it will help. Blood in the stools can have many causes including ulcers, diverticular disease, irritable bowel ulcerative colitis etc so there is a good chance that it is not cancer. If they suspect cancer they usually put you on the urgent two week pathway where you get a Drs appointment within two weeks and from there they refer you for a colonoscopy which is the only real way to diagnose bowel cancer (they can do scans which give them an indication but most of us found out after a colonoscopy). I was told I was being referred under the two week rule and was given a printed info sheet telling me about it by the GP so if your husband wasn't told this then they are clearly looking at a number of possibilities, not necessarily cancer.

Have you phoned up for the blood results? Most tests are usually back in a week or so. Many people come on here worried and it turns out to be something else, but having said this I would still be pushing for them to do more investigations until they find a cause. Will your husband let you go in with him assuming you go back to see the Dr? I would say to them that you are worried that it might be cancer and that you want him to be investigated under that assumption please. I am happy to play the neurotic wife with my own family under these circumstances just to set everyone's mind at rest and ensure that he gets the testing that he needs.

It does all take time but it depends on how urgently your GP is treating it and how much your husband pushes it.

Nicky

Knowledgeispower20 over 5 years ago in reply to FormerMember

I don't really like to say this but a colonoscopy is probably the only way to be completely sure. My mum had a year of blood tests and poo samples sent off by the doctor....very few symptoms....all came back completely normal. She had a chance colonoscopy ( long story here) done privately. Surgeon finds fair size tumour....which is malignant.....and sends for CT scan. Still....all bloods normal!!!! Now.......it might have spread to her liver.!! Still in complete shock! She is a healthy 71 year old...and looking at her, you would never think she had a hint of illness........get a colonoscopy done as soon as you possibly can.....the quicker something is found the better!!!