Hi all,

Having gone through a bowel cancer scare recently, finding it extremely stressful, and spending a lot of time reading through posts in this forum, I wanted to share a detailed account of my experience from start to finish and some key takeaways (in the hope that it will help others):

1) Do not go down rabbit holes on the internet – researching may point you in certain direction (even if viable medical journals and other research papers) but everyone’s body is different so you really can’t know what is going on without consulting with a specialist.

2) Whatever happens, all you can do is put your best foot forward – if you are diagnosed with cancer then you must do everything you can to fight it and go on to live your life; and if you aren’t diagnosed, learn from the experience and change your habits to ensure you are as healthy as you can possibly be to reduce any future risk.

3) Speak to people about it – whether that be friends, family, or even close colleagues, you would be surprised by how many people have gone through a similar situation.

Detailed breakdown of my symptoms, and what the investigative process that entailed:

3^rd December (Symptoms begin):

Travelled to Asia to visit family, upon arrival I had a spout of loose stools (uncommon for me) which lasted 3 days. However, simultaneously I began to experience a worrying amount of bright red blood when wiping (much more than just a streek or two). I was not particularly worried at this point, as I had experienced a single instance of this previously (a number of years ago) and assumed that it wouldn’t last.

7^th December (Symptoms continue):

Although my stools went back to normal after a few days I was still finding bright red blood every time that I wiped after going to the toilet. Still at this point I was not too worried; I have one small external haemorrhoid so assumed the blood was from internal hemorrhoids that were flaring up due to a fairly boozey few weeks in the run up to December and Christmas holidays.

26^th December (Symptoms continue):

Still finding blood when I went to the toilet I had read on the NHS website that if these symptoms persisted for 3+ weeks you should speak to a specialist.

28^th December (Initial video consultation with doctor):

Fortunately, through work I was able to have a video appointment with a specialist, I ran through my symptoms and he referred me to a gastro specialist.

5^th January (Initial consultation with gastro specialist):

I met my gastro specialist and talked him through my symptoms. His view was that due to the colour of the blood it was down to internal hemorrhoids potentially flaring up due to long haul flight I took earlier in December (air pressure changes, dehydration, and extended period of time sat down), and my increased alcohol consumption. He recommended that I have a flexible sigmoidoscopy (camera test of the small bowel) and do a FIT / Calprotectin test (you provide a stool sample for analysis – FIT looking for blood and calprotectin for inflammation) the morning before the flexible sigmoidoscopy. I had also decided to do dry January to see if that made an impact on my symptoms.

24^th January (Symptoms stop):

No longer finding blood when wiping and feeling fairly reassured that the theory around hemorrhoids' / drinking was accurate.

1^st February (Flexible sigmoidoscopy and FIT / calprotectin test):

I took my stool sample at home and headed to the hospital, handing the sample in at the nurses’ station before prep began for the flexible sigmoidoscopy. The nurse took my weight / blood pressure and talked me through what would happen, I would change into a hospital gown, be given an enema, and then taken in for the short procedure. The procedure lasts five minutes and you are given the option of being sedated or receive gas and air. I opted for gas and air as someone would be required to take you home if you choose sedation, you would also be unable to work / drive for the rest of the day. The procedure was uncomfortable at times but manageable since it was over quickly, afterwards I was able to get changed and chat with my consultant. The consultant gave me an envelope containing the pictures that were taken and told me that he had noticed some internal haemorrhoids that were not engorged at the time, and otherwise everything else was fine. We agreed a follow-up conversation in a few weeks to discuss next steps.

12^th February (Follow-up consultation):

Surprised to hear that despite my flexible sigmoidoscopy showing nothing serious my stool test was significantly positive with a faecal calprotectin of 793 and a FIT test positive at around 200. The Doctor’s view was the results were “slightly surprising as he has got no other symptoms currently and he has certainly no blood or diarrhoea to account for this”. We agreed to repeat the FIT / Calprotectin test in 3 weeks, and if results remained high I would be booked for an MRI to look at the rest of my bowel (areas not covered by the flexible sig which only looks at a third of the large bowel).

19^th February (Feeling worried):

Having admittedly spent too much time with Dr Google I was extremely worried after reading about FIT / calprotectin results and what they indicate. Particularly because if these symptoms were caused by inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s / Colitis) I would be experiencing other symptoms such as diarrhoea which I was not. Due to this I was extremely worried that my symptoms may be caused by bowel cancer. I contacted the doctor’s assistant to request we run the MRI in parallel to the repeat FIT / calprotectin test, they agreed to do so.

9^th March (MRI):

I was told not to eat for a number of hours prior, and arrived at the hospital an hour before the scan where they informed me of the process and I was sat down for an hour. During this hour I would drink a cup of oral contrast drink every 10 minutes. This allows them to better see the bowels during the scan but also acts as a laxative so I was going to the toilet regularly after half an hour. Following this I was given a hospital gown and prepped to receive an injection (that would be administered during the scan) of a contrast liquid into a vein in your arm was to enhance the MRI’s imagery. I was then told to drink 2x more cups of the oral contrast prior to getting into the MRI. The MRI lasted around 30 minutes, you are given headphones playing the radio which pauses now and then. You are given instructions to breathe in, our, and to hold your breath for 20 seconds or so. Post the MRI my vision was blurry (due to the injection) for around 10 minutes, I got changed back into my clothes and headed home.

18^th March (MRI and second FIT / calprotectin test results):

Relived to hear my FIT result was no longer positive, my calprotectin had dropped down from 793 to 7, and the MRI results showed some inflammation where the large bowel meets the small bowel, but no cancer. Agreed next steps would be a colonoscopy to investigate inflammatory bowel disease, and some blood tests to highlight potential celiac, gluten intolerance, etc.

Happy to answer any questions anyone may have. Do try your best to take note of the takeaways highlighted upfront rather than worry / panic if symptoms arise (appreciating this can be easier said than done) - from my personal experience knowing these points from the start would have been extremely beneficial.

Wishing anyone reading this all the best.