Awaiting Colonoscopy For Potential Bowel Cancer

Hi, 

I've been having severe diarrhea for 74 days now, stools can either be pale and ribbon like or mud/tar like and on average 6 times a day. Other symptoms are fatigue but I put this down as having a near 2 year old and my symptoms mainly occuring between midnight and 6am.

I also get the feeling that I haven't finished going, lost about a stone and a half but this seems to have stabilised recently and in the past week a tender stomach.

I've had multiple stool and blood tests that have ruled out viruses, coeliac and chrons and the last test FIT has come back with an elevated outcome. Now the Dr has advised this could just be because my bowels are inflamed by the constant diarrhoea but I've now been referred for a 2 week colonoscopy.

I know the chances are low of being cancerous and there could still be other causes but as much as I try I cannot shake off the thought of it being the C word. I only got the results and knowledge of the referral yesterday and I'm probably putting too much thought into it but the wait is already been too long.

I'm 32 years old and posting as I don't want to make family and friends panic and hoping this forum would be a great place to discuss and just acknowledge what's going on

  • Hi Fez90,

    Welcome to Cancer Chat. Hopefully the forum can be of some help to you while you wait to hear more - I can see you have already reached out to others on here which is great.

    It's good to hear you have a referral in place as this will mean you should get some answers before too long, although I appreciate the waiting and uncertainty is difficult.

    I hope it's not too long to wait until you can get the information you need, and in the meantime take things a day at a time and keep busy where possible to help keep your mind off the worries.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi Ben,

    Thank you for your reply. Just updating this thread as more of me noting things down and trying to offload and keep a diary.

    Had a call with the the Gastro specialist today. Next steps are :

    - update blood test 

    - colonoscopy

    - CT scan 

    Which should all happen over the next week and a half. So good news is that I should have some answers soon even if the wait is giving me to much time to think 

  • Hi Fez90

     

    Just came accross your post, have you had any updste?. Hope you are doing well 

  • Hi [@MrsS18]‍ 

    Thank you for replying.

    So no real updates other than I've got a date next week for my CT scan and waiting for a call to confirm a date for the colonoscopy.

    My fatigue is getting worse and I'm getting more pain in my abdomen but I'm not sure if it's psychological or actual symptoms but hopefully know soon.

    Thanks again for checking in 

  • Hi Fez90

     

    Hope you are doing ok and the ball is rolling with your tests.

    I got my fit test results last Wednesday and told I would be on the 2WW . Still waiting to hear from Gastro but unsure if I will get a letter or a phone call.

    I have been fine up until last week symptom wise and now ive started getting diarrhea and stomach discomfort all over. I have been in a full on stress and thinking the worse of the worse so dont know if I have done this to myself or what. I am trying to be level headed but I have panic disorder, ptsd, health and generalised anxiety...so yeah its not easy. 

    Please keep me updated on how you get on with everything.

  • Hi Fez

     

    How did you get on with your CT? 

  • Hi [@MrsS18]‍ 

    Thank you for asking, CT scan went well and now have my date for a colonoscopy which is next Saturday.

    Hopefully in between now and then I might hear my results from the CT but again it's just a case of waiting.

     

    How are you getting on now ? Have you got any dates for anything.

    I'm sorry I didn't see your earlier reply until now, I completely understand I've been getting more symptoms but fighting with myself every time if they are psychological or actual but I'm trying to just note everything down and try and take some comfort that things are moving.

  • Im glad your CT is out the way and you have your colonoscopy date.

    How are you coping mentally ? Im also in my 30's with a young child and im not coping well. Not helping that ive had diarrhea everyday for coming on 2 weeks which is very unusual for me so that along with the positive fit is making me think the absolute worst.

    I got a letter yesterday for a phone appointment with general surgery on Saturday, I guess that will he to go over symptoms and get me booked in..I really dont want to do it but at same time know I have to

    Im really hoping all is well with your results and you get to the bottom of whats causing your issues. Please let me know how you get on.x 

  • Struggling mentally tbh, it's all I think about and trying not to burden anyone else at the moment.

    Putting on a smile for my soon to be 2 year old and trying not to tell my wife about every new or change of symptom as it's still could be something else. However I am finding comfort in these forums and using a diary on my phone to note everything. So if it does come back as the worse I have a record or if it is not the C word then I have more information to go back to the doctor's with.

  • Hi [@MrsS18]‍ 

    How are you doing? And have you had any updates? 

    Update my side - 

    CT results came back with a potential diagnosis of Chrohns disease.

    Colonoscopy has been done and there were no scares but several biopsies were taken. I only had gas and air, I recommend having sedation it was a tad uncomfortable.

    So just waiting for biopsy results to confirm diagnosis. It is a bit of a relief but i understand with Chrohns there is an increased chance of developing bowel cancer so may have to have regular checkups