What were your symptoms prior to diagnosis of bowel cancer?

Hi Lilo96x 

Try not to worry too much (easier said than done!). There are many possible explanations for your symptoms.  However, I think you are right to insist on seeing a doctor. 

If I were you, I'd press hard for a FIT test. A negative result will give you some peace of mind. 

I don't want to increase your worry, but I had similar symptoms prior to my diagnosis. It was vague stuff that wasn't enough to concern me or my doctor: intermittant pelvic pain and backache, frequent bouts of diarrhea (I'd always tended to diarrhea but the frequency was up), lingering fatigue, loss of appetite

Sorry for splitting the post..  I had a technical glitch:

My symptoms,  like yours had many possible explanations and in fact, my Dr and I had attributed them to a couple likely causes. Like you, I had no family history worth mentioning... a grandmother who had lung cancer after a lifetime of smoking... as a nonsmoker I felt my risk was low. I'd had a colonoscopy 6 years ago and it was completely clear... no polyps, nothing the least bit abnormal. Had we responded to the very first "symptom", we'd have gained maybe 6 months... in the grand scheme of things it wouldn't have made a huge difference but I am a strong proponent of trusting your intuition and seeing a doctor when you have concerns.

Once again, there are many explanations for your symptoms and most aren't cancer, the majority aren't even serious. But I'd get it checked out regardless.  

Good luck! 

Hi. I recently was diagnosed with bowel cancer in the hepatic flexur which has involved the duodenum.  

I didn't think of bowel cancer to start with.  I've had stress IBS since 1996 so whenever my bowel movements changed I put it down to that. However in 2020 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Had the treatment chemo radiotherapy and I'm now taking tamoxifen for the next 6 years. So when I started having really bad constipation  bowel movements were more like pushing a baby out it was that bad. I never had blood in my stools though they were almost black. Passing wind a lot and was told it was a really bad smell.   Then I started having pain in the right side next to my hip. I thought I had appendicitis the pain was so bad during July this year that a friend made me go to hospital but turned out it wasn't. Told to see my GP who done blood tests x-rays CT scan of chest area as I was worried my breast cancer could have spread as in Jan this year my oncology nurse noticed a large weight loss from day 1 of my breast cancer op. Then I was 15 stone. She now noted I was 11 and a half stone. So she kept telling me to get checked too. Anyway all tests came back normal. Docs happy that I had started to gain weight again this year so said they would do a watch and see on the weight issue. So saw my old GP who ordered a different set of blood tests a fit test and CT scan. Results came back I was anemic fit results was 379 positive. CT scan showed a mass in my large intestine.  Colonoscopy showed it was the size of a tangerine and pulling in the duodenum and had almost completely blocked the tube.  I'm now waiting to see specialist surgeons in Glasgow who have agreed to take me on as it's a complex operation needed now. 

I should also mention my mum was diagnosed in Jan  2012  with bowel cancer after attending doctors and hospital who kept telling her the pain she was having in her side was from other illnesses she had and just kept changing her pain meds.  As I said she was diagnosed in January 4th 2012. She passed away from bowel cancer on the 25 march 2012. Never even had 4 months as her cancer was inoperable due to her cot morbiditys of other health issues.  Which scares me now as I took also have the same diseases she had. I have COPD too. 

Hi 

Thanks for this page, I have found real answers so helpful and I’m hoping to get some myself! 
10 days ago I was enjoying a night away with my husband, we had been in the spa during the day, I came back to the room and got ready for dinner. We sat down at 8pm and by 8.30 I was in crippling back pain, it was a fancy place so I just took a cushion to support my back. The pain was so severe I couldn't eat my meal and as soon as hubby had finished I asked if we could go lay down. That night I was woken by severe and cramps and abdo pain, mainly right sided but could radiate around this continued for the next 48 hours vomiting once due to pain.

I Was taking paracetamol and when they were working I just slept, I couldn’t take it anymore so I went to ED. 
They did bloods and a urine dip, my CRP was 225, WBC high and blood, protein and ketones in my urine. Sent me home with suspected kidney infection told to return of it got worse. It got worse and back up & hours later, bloods and urine all the same and CT showed inflamed colon possible ulcerative colitis. I had A Calprotectin test and results were 1876ug/g so I have been referred for an urgent gastro review and Colonoscopy. 

1876, I have read and re read that number so many times, it seems mad! 

I have barely eaten since this happened, today being the most I’ve eaten, one slice of toast and small portion of spag Bol. 

I have been complaining of exhaustion for around 8 weeks and 6 weeks ago bought some vitamins for some more energy as I was struggling so much. 
complaining of back pain for a while but assumed being a working mum I was just tired and worn out. I do often have a small amount of fresh blood when wiping but just assumed piles, even though they aren’t painful or irritating. My bowel movements are fairly irregular not like my husbands but I just thought that was me. 

Anyway sorry for the long message but I just simply petrified what this could be, I have had cervical cancer, removed by surgery and full pelvic lymph node removal in 2016 and my nan had BC which she passed away from.

Any advice welcome! 


 

Hi BMC2307 and a warm welcome to the board. I’m glad you’re finding the posts helpful and hopefully you’ll get to the bottom of your issues shortly. 
That is a high reading and also a high CRP (when I was in hospital they told me it should be under 10) so further investigation is definately needed.

Hopefully you’ll get an appointment for a colonoscopy very soon - the nhs gold standard target is within 2 weeks of referral - if not then start pushing.

Please let us know how you get on?

Take care

Karen x

Thanks for this page I'm currently waiting a appointment due to having a few symptoms Ie stomach pain on the right lower abdomen, bad stomach cramps and a bad back and feeling sick. I've just turned 40 and lost my dad to bowel cancer in July this year. I'll keep you up to date on my appointment s . 

I'm sorry about your dad and also sorry you are having symptoms.  Hopefully they will sort this soon and get you some answers.  

Please do keep us updated. 

Thanks Susan I certainly will

All I had was odd bouts of fatigue that came and went tired for a few weeks, then felt great again for a few months. No untoward bowel movements, no loss of appetite, no upset tummy, no odd pains. Folks at work started to make complementary comments on my appearance which worried me so I got onto my GP. Started with a blood test finding I was anaemic, another chat with my GP led to a FIT 54 result so he referred us for a camera and low n behold came the answer. Got quite a lump in my Sigmoid Colon. I’m having my surgely next week, sadly urgency is necessary so I’ve literally had a week to “write down those any questions” and I’ve pretty much got to go with what their offering re my surgery. It’s really hit us hard especially the way it’s hit with very little warning. Anyhow, remaining very positive for now- that’s the best for one’s mental health.