Worries about bowel/ovarian cancer

Hi. In my case I had to wait a week to have the blood test and then a few more days for the result, which in my case was not high enough to alert anyone. However, because of my symptoms and my age (over 60) I was put on the 2 week cancer pathway for an appointment because my GP said that was faster than waiting for a scan. It all went very quickly for me as a result - I had the ovarian cancer staging operation and hysterectomy (because I had a very large ovarian cyst) within 5 weeks. If your GP considers you not to be at high risk I am afraid you may experience a longer delay before you get the scan. It is a worrying time, I know, but once you start having tests etc then at least you are moving forward. Hope it moves ahead for you soon.

Thank you for your reply. Was this the ultrasound scan? 

The waiting is just hideous. I'm already struggling to function with fatigue and anxiety and terrified for my 4 young kids.

And I hope you are doing ok. Are you having further treatment now? Really appreciate your support x

Hi. This is inevitably a worrying time for you, however being on the 2 week wait list is helpful. The timescales from my CA125 result coming back high were 2 weeks for an ultrasound scan then 5 days later an appointment with the gynae consultant, who couldn’t see anything abnormal from that. She ordered a CT scan to take place a few days later and I had my appointment to deliver the news of my cancer two weeks later. In that space my case was discussed by the multidisciplinary team to decide on the best treatment options (chemo to reduce the cancer cells followed by surgery followed by more chemo). From that meeting to the start of chemo was a 2 month gap. That may seem long, however for me it was necessary to adjust to the knowledge that I had cancer, for a while I felt I was talking about someone else when I said “I have cancer”. It meant that I was mentally ready to start treatment. The two months were filled with tests, pre chemo assessment meetings, a biopsy and also an exploratory laparoscopy to assess whether I should have a colostomy immediately or wait until part way through chemo. The benefit of the laparoscopy was that painful Ascites (a liquid) was drained from my abdomen. 

 as hard as waiting is, it is also of value to help you adjust. IF you have cancer then it has probably been growing for many months, so these few more weeks are unlikely to be critical in your long term outcomes.  Use the time to become as fit as possible (it helps with coping with post surgery and chemo side effects), doing things you enjoy and spending time with people whose company you enjoy. IF you have cancer and start on the treatment route you will have a big project to manage and for several months  won’t be able to enjoy the things you enjoy now in the same way. 

Best wishes for your future, whatever it looks like. 

Thank you for sharing your journey with me. I hope you have less pain now and treatment is going well. 

Thank you especially for the reminder to stay fit and healthy. I'm 2 years sober and determined not to go back to that but stupidly the cigarettes are calling me. I will ignore. I need to be aware of my tendency to catastrophise and believe everything is futile and not indulge that way of thinking.

So will focus on the simple things, nutrition, exercise and taking care of my kids. I'm ADHD and already struggle but gotta focus on what matters most.

 I was referred for a non urgent ultrasound in the community as young but with maternal history of large ovarian cyst. I don’t know where you are but if you are prepared to travel it could be much quicker than you expect. I took the first one offered which was about 2 weeks later and about a 40 mile round trip. I was called 2 hours post ultrasound by the on call GP (not even out of the car) to say its urgent referral to gynae with large complex ovarian cyst and ascites. As has been said, the 2 week wait is very helpful in speeding things up. Also again as has been said the wait for what’s next can be useful as if it’s hysterectomy etc then you are pretty out of action. My to do list was about 80 things long and it gives you lots of other things to focus on - sold stuff online, filed payslips, did tax return, cleaned the oven, defrosted freezer etc. All the stuff you might put off! I also started counting my steps as both chemo and surgery teams like you to be walking. Again I found it very useful. Gave me a target to get back to post surgery and now during chemo. What I wished I had done was get passport photos pre chemo just in case I needed to renew something in next 6 months. I’ve lost most of my hair and officialdom don’t allow a head covering.  I just hadn't thought that far ahead. Good luck! 

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, sounds like you are on it as much as you can be! 

My tests are all negative so I think I need to just let go of trying to tell the future. I am feeling better than I was a couple of weeks ago so trying to be patient and believe there is a simple explanation. 

Love and strength to you x