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 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...

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

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

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

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

Oh he's doing so well Sue..yes it got a bit much after a while..but is not as bad as I thought it would be..yes I was up at 5ish the next morn. Altho most had worked by then..they did say to me not everyone does the prep properly so they really like it when people do as they can see everything.. am guessing they will either remove them all or take biopsies...

Good you had similar and I hope you found it helpful? I am definitely going to practice techniques this eve and tomorrow xx

I had sedation and to be fair if I didn't know I'd had it I wouldn't have known ,within 40 mins I was walking out of the hospital albeit I wasn't driving but I felt I could have but I do realise everyone's different ,I hope it all goes very well for you both tomorrow Sue x

I was the same and was perfectly sure I could have driven home but guess they know best..x

Maybe lol x

Yes it gets a bit sickly the more you have. I gagged a couple of times. The wife thought it was hilarious though!