Hi there, I am new to this board but would really like some information.
I just turned 50 this past September. I decided I would go ahead and schedule a colonoscopy and it's scheduled for next Friday.
I guess the reason I am here is this...I have had a couple of the symptoms of colon cancer. I have found blood on the toilet paper and in the stool. Not much mind you, but it was there. Not after every BM, but 2 times I have seen this. For awhile, a few months ago, I noticed that stools were narrower than usual, but now, they look like they alsways have. (I know this sounds disgusting, but I don't know what else to do or where to ask)
Also, I have lost a bit of weight, maybe 4 pounds in a month and have not been doing anything different diet wise. I have started having back pain, in the upper back between the shoulders.
What I am wondering is this, for those of you who unfortunately have been diagnosed with this cancer, did you at any time before the diagnosis have any of these symptoms?
Hi, For 2 years I had terrible abdominal pain, gas, bloating, constipation. My Dr. said it was just irritable bowel, even though he knows that my mother was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 48 and died a couple years later. I begged for a colonoscopy and he kept saying "lets look at other things first, we're not at that point yet". I didn't notice any blood in my stool until last December, and when I did, I called and made an appt. with my dr. Of course he decided then that I needed an URGENT colonoscopy. The surgeon that did my colonoscopy noticed a tumour immediately and I had surgery 2 weeks later. Stage IV colon cancer, which means it has metastisized ... 2 positive lymph nodes and also spread to my abdominal wall area. I don't want to scare you ... even if it is cancer, it could be early enough for you .. as long as it hasn't metastisized it is very curable. My prognosis isn't good. Narrowing of the stools is not a good sign, but I would suggest that you don't panic...just wait and see ... and remember that this is the most curable cancer there is if caught in time. Jen
I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I can't imagine how devastating it had to have been. You say your prognosis isn't good...but sometimes good stuff happens. Keep a positive attitude and have a bit of faith.
Now, when you said you had blood in the stool, was there a lot, or just a little smear? (I realize blood is blood no matter how much)
Also, did your stool remain narrowed, or did it return to normal after awhile?
I am pretty freaked by the little symptoms I have had. I told my gastoenterologist 3 weeks ago about what I had been seeing, and he seemed to be in no real rush for the procedure, so in one week I will know.
Did they give you the results right away?
Hi, it wasn't blood that I would have noticed had I not been looking for it. Kind of a smear within the stool.
The narrowing of the stools came and went; different every day but I think that they were narrow most often. I had 2 bowel obstructions also, and was hospitalized, last fall and at the beginning of December last year.
Re: the colonoscopy, it depends on the Dr. that does it, but often they will come in and see you in recovery and let you know what they found. But, if they have to remove polyps and send them in to pathology etc. then they will not know if they are benign or malignant until the pathology report comes back. (if it's just polyps you don't have to worry anyway... caught WAY early)
In my case, the surgeon was ignorant and came over and said "you and my husband in my office tomorrow at 9am!!" I said "what's wrong, do you think I have a tumour?" and he said OF COURSE I think you have a tumour...don't YOU think you have a tumour?" It was horrible.
I had been hearing from doctors all along - even the ones in Emergency at the beginning of December - that I couldn't possibly have cancer considering all the tests I'd had done. So imagine the shock for me.
To be quite honest, it sounds to me like this is nothing for you to get too "freaked" over. I know it's hard, but honestly, even if it was cancer, it is the most curable. With mine, I could actually PALPATE my abdomen and feel my own tumor. I told my Dr. to feel it and he said "oh, it's nothing...just inflammation of your intestines". When it got much larger last Dec. I literally DREW around the edges of the mass with permanent marker before seeing him one day and said "now feel this". This is when he realized there was something horribly wrong. I mean, during my surgery in January they removed 3 feet of my colon. It was so far gone.
From where I am coming from and hearing about your situation, honestly, I would pour myself a glass of wine, take a deep breath and think as positively as I could. My situation had gone on for 2 whole years...where the pain was absolutely unbearable. I could barely make it through a day at work. I was also severely anemic ... when you have cancer you almost always become anemic. My hemoglobin was 1/2 of what it should have been. (the dr. just said it was my heavy periods ... imagine that)
So, try to calm down, I have a very good feeling that things are going to be JUST FINE for you. Honestly.
My step mother was having some blood in her stools a couple of months ago and she had a colonoscopy ... they did find a couple of polyps but both were benign.
I know it's easy to get yourself all worked up, but just thank God that your doctor is listening to you and you are having this test done when your symptoms are fairly new. Everything's going to be just fine. Please let me know when you hear the GOOD news. Jen
Your words do bring me a bit of comfort. I'll have the procedure this coming Friday. I'll be sure and post after it is complete and let you know what the doctor says.
Thank you so much. I'll keep in touch!
Hi, I'm glad to have provided you with some information. Yes, it would be great to hear the good news after your procedure, so please do post and let me know how you are doing. Good luck ... the colonoscopy is nothing really...they sedate you and most people almost fall asleep during the procedure. You will be fine. Jen
i just read you post,my sister has stage4 with mets in the liver and i must say that it sounds like you have the classic symptoms for this cancer, those are the signs my sis had but there are 2 questions i would like to ask,one is about fatigue, do you feel unusually tired? and the second is about the color of your stool, is it a lot lighter in color? or clay colored? if so you may have this cancer i pray not, do you still have your gallbladder? this could account for the pain since it is located behind the liver it also mimic a heartattack,please let me know what the doc. tells you because i also have these signs and symptoms and i don't want to go to the dr.i'll be waiting...GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU SIGNED, ANNIEO
Well, I had my procedure last Friday, and I have to say am so glad it is over! The fear of the unknown is what the hardest part of the whole thing is.
The doctor found 2 small polyps in the sigmoid, removed them and they are not cancer. No cancer. Everything is fine. I have an appointment to go over the results in more detail with him Monday.
For those who are scared of the procedure...don't be. There is absolutely nothing to it. Even the prep is not really all that bad. Like I said, it is more the fear of the unknown. But you need to go and get it done!
Thanks to all who helped me with thoughtful words. My prayers are with all of you who are battling this disease.
Hi Jen - I have been having symptoms for about 8 months now, and after about 2 months I saw my doctor, who has been doing pretty much nothing ever since. Wait times in my area for a colonoscopy is anywhere from 1 to 2 years for people who are not having symptoms. I have been having these symptoms, and they have been getting progressively worse (almost every day) and it is getting really hard to just ignore. After my doctor tried treating me for acid reflux?? I returned after a week with no change or relief and she asked me why? I simply said these pills didn't help. I tried to tell her that I didn't feel like I had anything like acid reflux, but she kept trying to find other explanations for it all. At that time, she finally said she would contact the gastroenterologist and get me set up for a consultation. This took over 2 weeks, then the appointment was scheduled for 2 months after that! Well, I've had my consultation (5 minutes worth) and was told it's probably IBS. I'm scheduled for a barium enema in January (another month from the consultation date). Why is it that everything I read about IBS doesn't seem to fit my symptoms and the doctors don't seem to spend enough time listening to what I'm trying to tell them?! Do they not read the same information I'm reading. My mother has had colon polyps and it seems to me that with my symptoms, age, family history, etc. I should be considered for some speedier testing. Can you tell me more about your symptoms, such as what other things you have noticed other than in the abdominal area? Do you have other pain in other areas of your body (like chest, back, hips, etc.)? Thanks for your input.
Shelley,
I don't know what to say except that I believe you need an URGENT colonoscopy. Are you in Canada or in the States? (I'm in Canada, near Toronto).
My mother died of colon cancer, diagnosed at age 48. I am now 44 and my family doctor refused to send me for a colonoscopy too...even with my symptoms. He said that it would be appropriate beginning at age 45. Well, the surgeon told me that if he had done my surgery 2 years before he did, that my cancer would not have spread and I would therefore not be "terminal". I am so angry with my doctor for ignoring my symptoms ... he also kept thinking it was acid reflux, irritable bowel etc. By the way, I did have a barium enema in December '03 and it showed nothing but a spasmotic bowel. Meantime, one year later they removed 3 feet of my colon ... cancer. I learned that a barium enema is not the "be all and end all" of cancer detection, which my doctor thought it was. Only a colonoscopy can determine what is going on.
I had lots of cramping, trapped gas, doubled over in pain many days. I was also severely anemic. Have you had blood tests to determine if you are anemic or not? Mostly my pain was abdominal - maybe a little in my lower back as well.
You cannot ignore these symptoms...you need to be very firm with your doctor...tell her my story if you like. Colon cancer, when it spreads, often goes into the liver and lungs. I'm concerned about your chest pain. If I were you I would also ask for a chest xray.
If you are in the states you can probably pay to have a colonoscopy right away. I know in Canada that the waiting list goes on forever. You may even need to pretend that you are doubled over in pain and go to emerg at the hospital and tell them you can't take it anymore. They will do tests etc. (make sure they do a CT scan WITH CONTRAST) At emerg last year they gave me a CT Scan but not with contrast...so my cancer didn't even show on that.
Please tell me where you are located. It is very unfortunate that the health care system is so bad and that you may have to show up at emerg, but it may be the only way you can get an urgent colonoscopy. It's worth it...they will give you pain meds...tell them the pain is excrutiating...or they won't do anything for you. Tell them you're not leaving until you have a colonoscopy. This could be a matter of life and death and you need to be your own advocate.
Please don't take crap from the doctors...you need to yell and scream, whatever...to get them to listen to you.
Please give me an update.
Jen