7 months of bleeding, being sent for a scan

Hi Mpop1504

Welcome to the Womb group.

I am sorry to hear of your bleeding and understand what a worry it is. 

I think the main thing is that you have gone to get checked and hopefully should get some answers soon.

A scan is the normal next step and for me it was a tummy scan- similar to a pregnancy scan and then also a transvaginal scan. They are simply having a closer look. Do you know if this has been done on an urgent referral? If not I would perhaps query this as your symptoms have been going on for some time now. An urgent referral means that they aim to do the testing within a couple of weeks. For a more routine scan, you could, depending on your hospital, be waiting a fair amount longer. 

CA125 is a blood marker that is routinely done where there are gynaecological symptoms. It is however only part of the picture and it does not either diagnose cancer or rule it out. 

My cancer was endometrial and bleeding was my only symptom and it came on quickly and heavily. I was sent for an urgent scan that picked up an issue and due to that I then was sent for a biopsy. 

Something is causing your symptoms of bleeding and bowel/bladder changes and it is normal for them to want to rule out the most serious potential causes first. There are potentially other causes for your symptoms but cancer needs to be ruled out. Hopefully the scan will give a better idea of what is going on. 

It is a worrying time going through the testing so if you feel talking things through would help, then please do give the Support Line a call. 

I hope that your scan can be done quickly but in the meantime, we are here if you need us. 

Jane

Hi Jane, thank you so much for replying. She didn't tell me if it was urgent or not unfortunately. Maybe I should ring and ask. These symptoms have been going on for so long that I just don't know what to do. I feel there's a lack of urgency around it. My family aren't very supportive and I'm concerned it's cancer. There's cancer on both parental sides of my family. These symptoms are just so odd to me that I'm at a loss of where to go next x

I've read the scan letter and she ticked routine not urgent xx

Have you got the NHS app? I wonder if it would show on there. If not, I would call and ask. Your GP may also be able to help. Mine chased things up for me several times. 

In my own experience the ultrasound showed straight away something was wrong. I had the scan at 5pm one day and was called by a nurse the following morning. 

Ultrasounds can pick up thickened endometrium, fibroids, polyps etc as well as potentially cancer. If the ultrasound picks something up then it is usually a hysteroscopy/biopsy that is done for endometrial cancer. 

Do you have any other symptoms that would suggest a gynaecological problem? For endometrial cancer it is often ladies who have gone through the menopause and then have a bleed. It can affect younger ladies though.

Definitely chase it up though- you need this scan to be done. 

Jane

My feeling would be to query it. Perhaps ask directly- could these symptoms be a sign of cancer and should you not then have the scan urgently.? Express that you are worried about cancer and emphasize the bleeding and change in bowel and bladder habits. 

Hi Jane,

I've sent a triage this morning as it's all done online now asking for an explanation as to why it's not classed as urgent. I've emphasised my incontinence and bleeding and how it is affecting my daily life. I have three sons 5 and under and to put it bluntly don't have time to be soiling and wetting myself.

I'm hoping they come back to me with a better response x

Well done.

The urgent pathway is to rule out cancer where there are symptoms that in some people could mean cancer. The ultrasound will give a much clearer picture of why there is bleeding and whether something is causing the bladder and bowel effects. It sounds really miserable for you and I hope you can get some answers soon. I understand it is tough when you are also a Mum. 

During my diagnosis I was told by my nurse that if I had any very heavy bleeding - that needed me to change a pad once an hour, that this would be classified as a haemorrhage and to call NHS 111 or go to hospital. So if you get any heavy bleeding or any other unusual symptoms this may be an option and may lead to further testing. NHS 111 would be able to point you to the right place to go, urgent treatment centre or A&E. 

When I had my heavy bleed, I needed to go to A&E and that lead to the ultrasound and 2 week pathway. 

Let us know how you get on. 

Jane

The GP fobbed me off again. So I've directly rang gynaecology and explained the situation as I'm under them for something unrelated after giving birth in feb last year. The secretary was lovely and realised ai wasn't being heard and sent the consultant an email straight away. She's hoping to ring me back today x

Sounds promising- hopefully they will move the scan to urgent list. 

Rang gynaecology this morning to chase response. They said hopefully today. The past two days I've been struggling to eat, lack of appetite and feeling really full and nauseous like I've already eaten a meal. Pressure and discomfort in my abdomen on and off. And just feel a bit woozy. I've been debating just going to A and E. But getting childcare and organising it around school and my parents is a nightmare for everyone involved.