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Waiting for a colonoscopy

Millmoss
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I have a colonoscopy booked and I am going through a rollercoaster of emotions. In my head there can be no other diagnosis but cancer and I am thinking and wondering what on earth lies ahead.  What is the prognosis if it is bowel cancer? will my life be taken up by a series of rounds of chemotherapy? What do I do now while I wait for the procedure?

I am hanging on to the thought that the symptoms were recent - a national screening was clear in May and apart from blood in my stools and a very recent slight change in bowel habits, I have few other symptoms. But the GP and consultant did seem to act as thought it was unlikely to be piles or an anal fissure.

I think this prediagnosis phase is so hard to go through. At the moment I just feel depressed. Part of me wants to hope for another explanation and part of me knows I need to prepare for the worst. It is a very frightening thing. Wondering if anyone else is going through it or has gone through it recently?

Sorry - just needed to blurb as I'm feeling a bit alone with this

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    I've been in the situation of awaiting a colonoscopy (and just after our health system here in Ireland was hacked so was waiting over 2 months from the referral to the colonoscopy) and while I knew bowel cancer was unlikely, it was still on my mind almost constantly.

    Do keep in mind that there are many more options apart from bowel cancer, piles or an anal fissure and most of those are significantly more likely than bowel cancer, especially with a recent negative screening. While that might not make bowel cancer impossible, it does mean it's probably unlikely.

    Apart from anything else, polyps can cause similar symptoms whether they are cancerous or benign and the vast majority are benign or at worst, precancerous. Given a recent clear screening, it strikes me as far more likely, you'd have a benign polyp or even a polyp that might eventually become cancerous but only if it's left unnoticed for a number of years than that you would have one that has already become cancerous. Then there is divertculitis, IBS (which I don't think actually directly causes bleeding but if the changes in bowel habits include constipation, that could cause bleeding), Crohn's, ulcerative colitis... 

    Cancer really is one of the less likely options.

    I had rectal bleeding, some weight loss, occasional loose stools (maybe once a week?) and trapped wind and...it turned out to be hemorrhoids. 

    But yeah, cancer isn't the next most likely option after piles or a fissure. There are many others.

  • Offline in reply to MargaretMary

    Thank you Margaret Mary,

     

    That's very grounding and reassuring! I appreciate it.

     

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    Hello, waiting is so difficult and it does make our minds think of so many different scenarios. Going through symptoms at the same time is so unpleasant and scary.

    When I first had symptoms back in March, I was consantly googling my symptoms and reading other people's stories. I was so scared and overwhelmed. It was a sudden and new health concern and it's natural to be frightened and think the worst. I definitely thought the worst was going to happen.

    With time, I realised it's a good thing that I'm on a referral list as it means I'll find out soon what is wrong and hopefully it can get treated. I just thought that the only thing I can do now is to keep track of my symptoms and keep my GP updated.

    Of course it is easier said than done. I still do get frightened but I try to think at least I'm going to be seen soon and that it could be so many other things. When cancer comes to mind, I try to think that bowel cancer grows very slowly so hopefully it is in the early stage if I have it so then it can be treated and cured.

    When I think the worst, I try to think that there's people who die unexpectedly so maybe it is good to have a warning. I am religious so it helps me to think like that, but I understand that other people may find this thought doesn't help so I apologise if that was upsetting. 

    Also talking through your feelings and worries may help aswell. Whether it is on here or to someone you trust. I used to talk to my friends but quickly realised they didn't like me constantly talking about my symptoms, especially because they think nothing's wrong. So I thought it would be better to talk to people going through similar situations instead.

    I hope some of what I said helps. 

  • Offline in reply to amelia98

    Thanks Amelia98

    That seems like a good philosophy to have!  I'm glad you got your referral. Hope all goes well for you - you have had a long and anxious wait!

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