This may sound silly but try not to think about everything at once.

Take them in order so your first concern is bowel prep. If you haven't already done so, read up about it especially about low residue diet a few days ahead. Bowel prep is unpleasant, there's no doubt about that, but it's doable. Mix the drinks with cold water ie from fridge rather than tap, cover glass with cling film and poke a straw through - I find the smell nasty and this method masks it as well as possible. Don't over-rush the drinking as it may make you nauseous. Definitely be very close to the loo at all times! 

I haven't had a virtual colonoscopy only the real deal so can't offer advice there. I have always chosen to have sedation which I found very beneficial ( though not beautiful as autocorrect suggested here!).  If virtual is similar to actual, then it'll take a while - maybe up to an hour from start to finish including sedation etc. People will be with you,  you'll probably be talking nonsense as a distraction.

Finally diagnosis. You won't change this by worrying so try not to overthink. It isn't cancer until you're told it is and many people either don't have cancer or may not get a definitive diagnosis on the day. As it happens I did but don't expect to know there and then.

You may think I'm over simplifying but almost 5 years in to this "journey" I'm just offering my thoughts and wish you well.

Helen

Thanks so much for your advice, I'm trying to stick to a mostly soft diet this week with just liquids on Friday and again on Saturday when I have to take the laxatives. No meat at all this week. The virtual colonoscopy is done with a CT scanner taking continuous scans of the colon using a contrast plus carbon dioxide pumped into the colon. I'm really dreading it but at the same time I just want it over, luckily it only takes 30 minutes or so. Are you in remission or are you still battling it? I thank you for your good wishes and offer mine in return

Jayne xx

Thanks so much for your advice, I'm trying to stick to a mostly soft diet this week with just liquids on Friday and again on Saturday when I have to take the laxatives. No meat at all this week. The virtual colonoscopy is done with a CT scanner taking continuous scans of the colon using a contrast plus carbon dioxide pumped into the colon. I'm really dreading it but at the same time I just want it over, luckily it only takes 30 minutes or so. Are you in remission or are you still battling it? I thank you for your good wishes and offer mine in return

Jayne xx

Presumably this is thought to be the best procedure for your personal situation?

During surgery (Aug 2020) cancer was found to have spread lymph nodes so I had a follow up course of chemo, despite which it progressed to mets in both lungs. They have been treated separately - stereotactic radiotherapy on right lung, ablation left. PET scan ahead of ablation led to diagnosis of endometrial cancer unconnected to original diagnosis so I had a hysterectomy in December 2024. Basically I 'm keeping the NHS busy!

I hope your procedure goes well and you get some answers. Let me know how it goes.

Helen

Yeah I've got a lot of health issues and the virtual was considered the best option for me....I keep the NHS pretty busy too one way and the other! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers

Jayne xx

Hope you coped with the bowel prep and that your procedure wasn't too unpleasant.

Hi Jayne ,Hope all went well today for you . I’m having the same as you on Tuesday,doing my prep tomorrow.Could you let me know how it went for you?x Hope it wasn’t to bad xx

Hi, the procedure itself was OK, nowhere near as bad as I thought it was gonna be the bowel prep however......worse than I expected, 24 hours of non stop diarrhoea! And I'd been sure to eat very little  the preceeding week and nothing solid the day before! I really hope everything goes well for you, I'll be thinking of you and keeping my fingers crossed  

Thank you for getting back to me.You must be so relieved that’s over now .Take care and I will try and get back to you in the week x

I'm definitely glad it's over and done now, just the nerve-wracking wait for results. Take care and talk soon x

Thanks for the update. Have they said when you can expect to hear results?

Yeah I think they said 7 to 10 days 

Hi, how was your procedure? Have you had any news or results yet? I'm still waiting.....the waiting is driving me insane, I can't make any plans or anything until I know what's happening and patience is not a strong point of mine!! Hope to hear from you soon, take care xx