Hi hope you don't mind me jumping on your post. I've just seen your post Steve. I'm 50 and I've been having abdominal pains now for 8 weeks. I've also had weight loss, tiredness and my bowel habits have changed. I've just had a FIT test and that has come back abnormal. So I've been told I need a colonoscopy for suspected cancer. I've read this post and it has given me some relief but I am worried as you can imagine. 

I know exactly how you feel as does everyone else on here. You just need to remember that there's multiple things it could be. Using Google can be worse as well as it makes you more paranoid! I was the world's worst for it and it drove me round the twist.

9 out 10 people get the all clear so that's something you need to remember as well.

I would give them a call Helen and have a chat with them I bet they will be able to do it soon for you and they might be able to do the CT scan for you too so you don't have to wait for that either x

I had a call from the colorectal team today..a nurse specialist..she said CT on Sunday vital as they know what they are dealing with..she said week after next their MDT decide what surgery ie extent needed..she says prob likely end Nov and that not too likely would be any quicker privately. She said likely keyhole and a 5 to 7 day stay in hospital..

But once I know thr CT scans I can ask..she will find out right people to talk to..

She said any polyps that look suspicious they leave in as if they are malignant they don't miss any cells..

She did say this is point of screening programme to pick things up hopefully before they go deeper or spread and that I've no symptoms and am generally fit and healthy but of course no promises at all whatsoever  xx

Hi Laura, hope you are doing OK.. am guessing you are here for same reason as rest of us? Hoping is going to be quicker...I agree with you though just want it out of me ASAP!!! X

At least things are happening now. I'm sure my mate at work had to wait a couple of months for surgery. He said it made no difference to the cancer growth. It was keyhole surgery he had. He said they were Fantastic with him. He's made a complete recovery. 

Oh Helen I so wish it could have been better news for you, I’ve read though and I’m sure you will have done that bowel cancers slow growing. Things seem to be happening now and it’s not long till November. Keep in touch with us all, HUGS xx

Hiya..that's good to hear..did he have a polyp too? They said 5 to 7 days in hospital but not sure what time is needed to recover at home..think u mentioned a couple of months in all for him?

Thanks Sue..yes I wish better news..they did say today that is is a small polyp at 15mm so I do hope is caught early.. and your husband's is very similar I think too..not long till his colonoscopy now x

He had 3 polyps. 1 was cancerous. He was off work for 3 months in total. I'm sure he said he was in hospital for 4 days. 

Now he's back at work he wishes he was off again!

Lol re being off..

Was he off after diagnosis or from surgery and after? I've got couple of weeks off at moment but not sure if I'll get signed off for longer as not unwell as such..

Stupidly googled survival rates earlier.....I wish I hadn't!!! The nurse did say not to...

Stupidly googled survival rates earlier.....I wish I hadn't!!! The nurse did say not to...

That was definitely a bad move googling Helen, there’s so much they can do now and yours isn’t all that big considering I’ve read big ones, let’s hope they can just take it off with a bit of bowel and nothing else is needed, I’m sure it’s found early as not all that big compared to some. Yes my husband’s biggest is 16mm so more or les the same as yours and like you no symptoms at all, start the prep at 5 tomorrow how he’ll manage that with no stomach I don’t know or it could work in his favour. Stay strong lovely xx

Omg I can't believe you did that 

And now it's made you even more paranoid?

Tbh I can kind of understand why you've done that as it sounds like the kind of thing id of done.

Bless you, your really going through the mill here aren't you.

Helen most of those Google Stats are way out of Date ,as we know cancer treatments have improved so much over recent years so I wouldn't pay too much attention to them ,in an ideal world you would be having your surgery next week so you could quickly get on with your life but because of backlogs  shortage of staff and Doctors strikes you are having to wait for quite a long time ,I would let them know that you are available at short notice if there are any cancellations that's a possibility or as you say you could possibly get seen quicker if you can get a private appointment .

How has your husband got on with drinking the stuff x

Yes it was..I must not do again..how is your husband getting on with the drinks this morning? Xx

Yes it has you're right.. and this has really had a huge impact on me as so totally unexpected...and I'm finding it all so scary tbh

Yes exactly re wanting it just done and sorted..its the waiting and uncertainty that is so hard mentally..I think yesterday having spoken to the colorectal nurse who said about the CT scan finding out the Stage of it did set me off on a whole chain of worrying.. 

He doesn’t start it till 5.pm the nurse said yesterday that he could do it a bit earlier to give him more time so like 4pm. He has a morning appointment 9.45 so will have to get up early to drink the stuff and 3/4 drive. He’s just so positive and says it’ll be ok he’ll manage it. He’s not having sedation as I can’t drive but I’ve told him if he needs it to have it, we’ll get home somehow.

Thanks Helen and Amanda for asking and I hope you’re feeling a bit better today Helen xx

Hope all going OK so far Sue...thinking of you and your husband and hope he is doing OK.

I have had an hour with a good friend of mine who is a mental health nurse and she's taken me through 2 different calming techniques to help calm the panicky thoughts..she is going to do a session every week with me so I'm very fortunate to have that clinical support.

Your husband can have gas and air I believe even if he is driving and that I think would be helpful.. even tho I was sedated I honestly did not feel one second of any pain..it just felt like someone rummaging around in there..not even when they cut out the very small polyp or took the biopsies.. xx

That’s lovely about your friend helping you through it Helen. I paid for someone when I was going through bladder cancer and stop smoking at the same time,  I hope you feeling a lot better now Helen x

Mart started his moviprep just after 3.30 finished the first 1ltr  at 5.30 now waiting for it to work. He said it was ok but towards the end was getting a bit much, got there though and to do it all again 4am oh the joys. 
Im dreading getting the results though..xxx