Bowel cancer

My husband hasn't received and diagnoses of anything but has totally convinced himself he has bowel cancer he has blood in his poo pain in his tummy like he says he feels he needs to wee all the time (but he doesn't) says it like he's desperate to go even when he's just been no weight loss,after his first stool sample was rejected as it was the wrong bottle(!) and the second sample being lost we are know on day 17 of a two week referral, he has a telephone consultation this afternoon Saturday at 3 pm with a colorectal surgeon, why would this kind of appointment be over the telephone and not in person ? Many thanks 

  • Hello there

    I am sorry to hear about your husbands symptoms and hope the appointment on saturday went well.

    When patients are referred for symptoms an initial telephone assessment may be carried out to gather some more information and then decide what the next steps in terms of tests may be needed.

    Often in the case of change in bowel habit alongside other concerning symptoms such and blood and pain a colonoscopy and/or other tests may be needed to find out more.

    There can be a number of reasons for symptoms and most won't be the result of something as serious as a cancer but only further tests and time will be able to say for sure what the matter is.

    I hope your husband knows more soon but do get back in touch if needed and you have further questions.

    All the best to you both

    Naomi