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Worried about my mum

Tasha89
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Hi 

I'm really at a loss and need to talk to someone about my mums recent visit to the doctor.

To cut a very long story short, my mum has always had issues with her bowels. I'm not sure of the correct term for it but it was found that she had access bowel after a very traumatic period of time in and out of hospital. She had an operation where they used a meshing to re shape the bowel in a hope that it would make the movements smoother and stop blockages occurring. They said they didn't like to remove healthy bowel.

 

fast forward to now. She made an appointment to see her GP last week as she had suffered a couple of falls and wanted to know if there was anything she could do to help herself as she was feeling tired and had gone down to around 7 stone. As she has lost weight and is having issues with toilet movements, the doctor decided to perform a rectal examination. She asked if my mum bleeds when she passes stools to which my mum replied yes, at times. But this is nothing new...she has always suffered with her bowels as I mentioned previously. 
 

Adding all these factors up...the weight loss, tiredness, bleeding and lumpy stomach ( she felt her stomach also), she took my mums hands and said she was very sorry but these all pointed to cancer. 
 

she has had bloods and will be taking her stool sample to the doctors tomorrow. We are literally worried sick. I think more so as the doctor was being very comforting and sympathetic which to us means she is certain it is cancer.

 

I suppose the point to my post is can doctors get it wrong? I mean, I think I know what the answer will be and yea f course they can. But the way she came across it is like she is almost certain that my mum will have a diagnosis of cancer. Has anyone else had these kinds of symptoms and it not be the case? I'm worried sick right now and I know I need to be strong for her. She is 68 which doesn't go in her favour either. 

Thanks for reading x

  • Hello Tasha89

    I'm sorry to hear that your Mum has had some health problems recently and that after her recent appointment, the GP feels that her symptoms point toward a cancer diagnosis. It's understandable that you're feeling anxious and worried about things. 

    It's good to hear that the GP has requested some investigations and presumably they have referred your Mum for an urgent appointment with the specialist. Hopefully, your Mum won't have to wait too long for that appointment and the Consultant will be able to give you all some firm answers about your Mum's health before long. 

    We know that this period of waiting and uncertainty can be difficult for many people. Often it can help to talk things through with someone. I wonder I you might find it helpful to chat with one of our team of nruses? I'm sure they would be happy to offer any advice information and support that they can as well as help you think about the types of questions your Mum, or you may want to raise with the GP/specialist. If you'd like to chat with them they're available Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm on 0808 800 4040. 

    Keep in touch Tasha and let us know how things go. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Jenn

    Thank you for your reply it means a lot.

    she has had her bloods taken and has sent in a sample but we haven't heard anything yet in regards to a colonoscopy. She has had many of them over the years due to her problems with her bowel, one being less than 12 months ago so we are hoping that if it was a cancer diagnosis that it would be early stages. 
     

    Both of us are up and down with our emotions at the minute. Some days we feel optimistic that it could just be due to her ongoing bowel problems, then sometimes we do fear the worst. I agree that the not knowing is the hardest part.

     

    my mum means the world to be and I just want her to be okay.

     

    Thank you for listening x

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