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Cancer cells found

bettyb1987
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Hi everyone, 

Having a bit of a tough day after a tough few weeks. I started experiencing rectal bleeding in July 2021 and in late August I requested a doctors appointment. Over a very rushed phone call I was told by a locum GP that it was likely piles due to my age (34) and they prescribed me suppositories. They didn't work and by October I was back at the Gp, who put me on the 2ww pathway after a positive fit test and raised fecal calprotectin. On 26 November I had a traumatic colonoscopy - I found it so painful and I had to have a large polyp removed with endo mucosal ressection. The EMR surgical machine broke during the colonoscopy and I woke up from my sedated doze to alarms ringing off, and doctors fighting to stem the bleeding. I had to have 7 clips put on my bowel, but I was told by the endoscopist at the time that no bowel cancer was found and that I could be removed from the 2ww pathway. It says as such on my report. 
Fast forward 2 weeks and a receptionist from the X-Ray department called me to come in for a CT scan on 15th December. Despite asking she couldn't tell me why i needed one. I tried my best to stay positive (and with the help of this forum!) and tried to put it to the back of my mind for the sake of Christmas. Still no communication about either procedure or any results over Xmas and NY but I put this down to covid and holidays. 
Yesterday in the post I received a letter about me being eligible for coronavirus treatment and it was sent from the Oncology department. This put the fear of god into me. 

Fast forward to today I was called by the endoscopy team again to come in for a repeat colonoscopy. I broke down and said I refuse to come in for any more procedures until you tell me what's going on, I feel in the dark about my own health. I got passed from receptionist to clerk, all saying they couldn't tell me any results on the phone but that they would call me back to get an appointment with a consultant this coming Monday. 
 

I then get a phone call from a colorectal surgeon this afternoon, giving me his apologies for feeling kept in the dark, but that they wanted to run some further tests to give me the full picture. They said that unfortunately the biopsies showed cancerous cells in the large polyp retrieved from my rectum, and the other two polyps were ok. From there I went completely blank and started crying. I can't really remember what he said but I do remember him saying that the CT scan came back clear and that through the endo mucosal ressection of the polyp that they think they got it all, however they want to do a repeat colonoscopy and MRI scan to be sure. 
 

I don't know why I've written this long post, but I just feel I needed to get this off my chest. I just feel like I've been banded around, on this proper rollercoaster, and some people I speak to saying it's positive news that it's contained and some people are panicking for me. I don't know how to feel and I'm so scared for my consultants appointment on Monday. 
 

Has anyone been told they didn't have bowel cancer to then be told that there are cancerous cells within a polyp? 
 

sending love 

Betty xxx

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    Poor you Betty you've been through a rather traumatic time with it all! I can imagine you felt you were left in the dark and you did well to insist that you needed to know what was going on. You really have been going through a rollercoaster of emotions and I hope that you get some clarity soon on all this. I also hope that you will hear from other members of the forum who have been through a similar experience before and that they will come and share it with you.  

    Luckily it won't be long now until your appointment on Monday which I hope will go well. All you can do in the meantime is wait which is the hardest thing and I hope that you won't be feeling too anxious this weekend. Try and do what you've done before which is to put everything at the back of your mind over the weekend and focus on doing things you enjoy, staying well away from Dr Google who is famously unreliable. 

    I am keeping everything crossed for you for Monday . I hope it all turns out to be something easily treatable. Don't hesitate to give us an update when you've seen the consultant if you get a moment.

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Thank you so much Lucie for your kind words which really calmed me down on a tough day. 
     

    I had my consultation yesterday and it was clear going in that the team had no idea I was already told they found cancer last Thursday. There were 3 nurses in the room and the consultant - it all felt so formal and massive overkill given I already knew about the c word. The news was much the same but the consultant went through the range of facts and possibilities / possible outcomes with much less positivity than the person I spoke to on the phone last week. He did say it was positive that I've had no further symptoms since the polyp was removed, and that the "seed" of cancer within the polyp has no lymphovascular invasion which is also a good sign. He said that the cancer was removed with margin by EMR during my colonoscopy but that the margin is less than 1mm so they have to be vigilant going forward. He said at the moment the stage is T1N0M0 but that the MRI is the real gold standard for staging rectal cancer and kind of seemed to ignore the good news that my ct scan was clear? I now feel like I'm on a wait til 20th for my MRI scan. He said if it's spread to the outside of the bowel wall or to any of my lymph nodes that I'll need my bowel taken out and my nodes and to have a bag. Im only 34 :(. 

    Since the consultation I have been so teary and depressed. Some moments I can stay positive as everyone says, but then the reality reminds me again and I keep breaking down. I suffer from health anxiety anyway and til a few years ago i couldn't even walk near a hospital or be near anyone who is sick. This therefore is my worst nightmare playing out in real life. 

    I don't know how I'm going to cope long term and this all seems so overwhelming :( I feel sick all day everyday and jusf completely heartbroken  

    All my love goes out to anyone else going through this, it's awful the waiting

    Betty x 

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