Should I worry? What do you think?

Hi mpb1963

i think it would be reassuring to speak to someone on your team. My colonurses were really supportive and gave me great advice when I was having difficulties pre op. You could speak to someone here if you’re stuck 

I had difficulty processing food so I only ate what I could manage easily low fibre and mainly beige three small meals a day and two meal supplement drinks. This gave me the energy I needed and didn’t cause stress on my bowel though I was close to blocking 

best wishes

Thanks Ann. If you don't mind me asking,  how long have you had what you now suspect were the first warning signs before the diagnosis? Going back, with hindsight  in my case it may be 2 to 3 years... very mild to start with... I am trying to understand if I have achance, with my symptoms and signs, that the very probable cancer they will find is at a, if not curable,  at least treatable stage...

Hi 

I don’t mind at all

I thought I had piles the GP said piles when I was 50 Move on ten years and I was finding it so hard to open my bowels. Doctor told me to take laxatives. All the time I had a tumour growing in my rectum. It was four inches in size so as you can imagine I couldn’t eat much though I was so bloated having to upsize my clothing and underwear for comfort 

It was a relief when a FIT test showed I needed more tests 

I had bloating discomfort in my sides I seem to remember but to be honest I was convinced that any pain anywhere was cancer  it really messed with my head

You can read my bio

I am really hopeful for you as you are under the medic’s that have treated you and if anything flags up they will bin it

Bowel cancers very slow so try not to overthink and contact your colorectal nurses tomorrow 

Sending you a hug 

Thanks Ann. And thank God there are places like this and people like you... 

That’s a sweet thing to say.

Thank you. 

I didn’t find this space til I had my stoma then I needed some advice. I had so much support here I was flying abroad in no time. There’s so many wonderful members 

You have a good day 

Hello Ann.

I know I should wait until Friday (colonoscopy) but all signs are so there and so obvious that I am really panicking, Do you mind if I ask you a few more questions ...

When you finally went to be checked, did you have numb pain in the abdomen? Why did the doctor think of piles? Was it because you were seeing blood? I had a few splashes in the past, which  I should not have overlooked with hindsight but always thought it was my fixtures ... 

I am trying to have an idea of whether I could be in a better situation than my feared metastasis scenario... Also, Now I either take cosmocol (finger-like stools) or I don't go ... 

I am so scared!

Thanks

Marco 

Ask away 

When I was 50 I went ice skating not a great thing for me to try. I was like Bambi and spent most of my time on my bottom. So I had lots of blood. The GP examined me and said I had piles 

I could feel them I pushed them back in. No pain and no itching which was odd. I feel she should of had me checked out with a colonoscopy 

To open my bowels was a struggle. Ribbon poo. Which I should have twigged there was something there 

I had pain but I think that was 

a. My diet was very ok high in fibre

B I could not pass wind, didn’t for three years as the rectal cancer was blocking. So I had wind pain 

Try not to be so scared, you will be checked out and if it’s cancer they’ll zap it. I was ten years and only stage 2 so please try and put it to the back of your thoughts if you read my bio you’ll see I had a LAR and it’s gone completely

Eat food that’s low fibre and exercise as best as you can. Pelvic floor are great  maybe fill your time with things you enjoy 

Music, walking or just a good movie 

Again, thanks so much. I am glad you resolved your cancer well. I wish you that it keeps that way for long time! I hope my outcome will be similar to yours and I swing like a schizophrenic from being hopeful to doom and gloom, back to hopeful and so on ...

I have read your story. Amazing. Hopefully in a few months I will be here writing mine ...

That’s the way. I know it’s hard but try and think positive it really helps. 
Have a good day today. Remember bowel cancers slow growing and the treatment they have now is pretty amazing 

Take care