Gastroendoscopy and colonoscopy?

Hi, I'm a 20 year old female and I am terrified out of my mind. I've not been able to swallow properly for 2 years, I think I have advance oesophagus cancer that has spread to my stomach, colon etc... I am getting abdominal pain 24/7, constipated, constant nausea, sensitive stomach, bleeding from back passage, weak, in bed all day with the fatigue and nausea. The list goes on on Thursday I have an Endoscopy (that looks at my oesophagus stomach and upper intestine) and colonoscopy I am so scared of what the doctors are going to find, so so scared. I haven't been able to swallow for nearly 2 years it's probably completely in operable or treatable :( I also just had a missed miscarriage and life is so awful at the moment. Guys, do any of you know is it possible to have very very advanced cancer and your blood work (except iron as I've always had an iron deficiency) come back normal, every single blood test was normal. I just know they're going to put the scope in and that's it life over, death in a few weeks. Please help me :( 

  • Hi there RDee, welcome to the forum, but sorry you're feeling so ill. You have talked yourself into a death sentence without any evidence to support that assumption. I know when you feel so sick that its' not hard to imagine the worst. I do think that you've really jumped the gun on this though. Low iron in your blood work is not the only marker for cancer as blood work has many other factors that are looked at that would raise red flags possibly pointing to possible cancer. Apparently, your blood work doesn't show anything out of order, other than low iron, which of course you indicate that you have always had an iron deficiency. It sounds like your medical team is screening you for any possible indication of a serious illness. Let them do their tests and wait for the outcome before jumping the gun on this. There could be any number of reasons for the issues that you are having in relation to your digestive system. You have your youth in your favor, so whatever is causing your issues, hopefully these tests that you're scheduled to have will turn up whatever the problem is causing them. What they do discover, if anything, will give them what they need to know in order to put things right for you.

    Be sure to come back on to the forum and let us know how you get along with it all. Here's hoping that everything will turn out okay for you and that it will not be anything too serious.

    Sending you hugs

    Lorraine 

  • Hello RDee and thanks for posting,

    I would expect someone with a very advanced cancer to have some sort of abnormal result in routine blood tests, and I agree with Lorraine, there could be any number of reasons why you are feeling poorly. Oesophageal cancer would be extraordinarily rare in someone of your age. 

    Being ill is scary and reminds us that good health can’t be taken for granted, but try not to let fear run away with you. There are textbooks full of medical conditions besides cancer that doctors can sort out. I realise that you are due to have your endoscopy today and may even have already have had it. I do hope it goes well and that the doctor is able to tell you something afterwards to put your mind at rest.

    Do get back to us if you have another question. 

    Take care,

    Julia