I'm told the MDT should be discussing me today as they have my biopsies and 2 scan results.

The cancer nurse offered to call me later today with an update post- meeting.

I know lots of people say this waiting is the hardest part and it gets easier, mentally, once you have a plan. But I'm terrified what they'll tell me. Wish me luck.

James4000 hi James I wish you all the luck in the world  I was thinking maybe this is the hardest waiting to hear your results and what can be done for you as I know it will be for me. I’m still waiting for a scan but it’s still in the 2 eeek pathway  please keep us informed  lots of love  x

I do care and am here for you,  always remember that tangoPotter.. not amazing just someone who cares xx

Aw, thanks Tango. You, Eastend and all on here are amazing people I'm so glad I found this community. The kindness and support here is truly wonderful, and helps us all be stronger.

Thank you all for your kind words, camaraderie and love.

We've got this.

X

James4000...

United we stand ️

Stronger together .. I always feel that to know we are not alone can make a real difference... xx

Can I just ask does any one bleed when trying to force out a BM I was a bit scared I felt I needed to force to poo but I got a lot of proper blood it scared me a bit I feel sore there now maybe I shouldn’t force it  as any one else had this. It makes you scared to do a b m now  sorry for too much info 

Hi tangoPotter..just saw your message to James.. sorry if I'm butting in but.. 1st of all it's not TMI surely this is the place to offer and get support and advice

When anyone strains to have a B.M it can cause bleeding even for those without any colorectal issues..

It can be very alarming .. the bleeding usually stops when you stop straining or when motion is passed.. 

The vital thing is to keep motion easily passed,  through keeping well hydrated and sometimes with laxatives.. many people are prescribed laxatives by their specialist .. I have a friend with bowel cancer..she is prescribed laxatives but waits until she feels constipated and then strains to pass motion..I have tried so many times to explain that taking the meds before she gets problems is important but...

I use wipes and zinc and castor oil cream after every BM... the damage caused to the anus/sphincter can lead to fissures which are very sore and can bleed..

You need to take extra care of your bottom much the same way as we do with a baby.. nappy rash etc..

Take care xx

Eastendgirl thank you for your reply I haven’t had the blood this bad before it was alarming to see as I call it real blood   Feel a bit scared of going to toilet now  then you think is my tumour got worse probably me over thinking again  xx

I know you're scared and that can make the problem worse, if you wait/don't go to the toilet the motion will be harder to pass.. do you have a specialist nurse caring for you it is helpful to talk to her about the situation.  When a tumour is low in the bowel, motion can be trapped behind it, making it more difficult to have BM...this is the case for my friend..which is why it's so important not to become constipated ... please get it touch with the Nurse or consultant in charge of your case, they will be able to offer reassurance  x

The rectum and intestinal tract generally are very blood rich so small tears can produce a lot of volume of blood. My brother was passing a lot of blood, went to a&e, but it was a fissure and hemorhoids. What you're going through, tango, is really scary and symptoms should be reported and examined. I'm just saying that it can appear a lot worse because bleeding is so scary from there, especially when you have a tumour. I hope you find that it is a benign tumour when the biopsies come back. It's really hard what you are all going through. Though I wish you were all healthy and not going through this I'm glad you've got each others' support.

Lyns/21 thank you for your reply  I was told my tumour is a malignant one so I’m so hoping it’s treatable when every thing comes together biopsies and scans it’s all a waiting game x

Eastendgirl I don’t seem to have a nurse and I don’t know who is in charge of my case so I feel a bit in limbo at the moment. Maybe when I have the scan next week I will know who is in charge of my case I don’t have any one at the mo.  Xx

Eastendgirl I don’t seem to have a nurse and I don’t know who is in charge of my case so I feel a bit in limbo at the moment. Maybe when I have the scan next week I will know who is in charge of my case I don’t have any one at the mo.  Xx

Okay...in that case please contact your G.P  practice who will have all the details of your diagnosis.. they will be able to offer support and advice.. if you haven't been assigned a nurse as yet then your practice will have N.P or ANP who may not specifically trained in cancer care but they are Nurses ..

( NP :  Nurse Practitioner  ANP : advanced)

Eastendgirl thank you for your reply I guess if I need advise then your right it would have to be my gp I just seem to be having things done at different places  my colonoscopy was at a clinic not too far away from me  then I was told my scan would be at one hospital then that was changed to another hospital so every thing just seems here and there at the moment  xx

Seems to be the case across the UK  at the moment.. my sista has a 2.5 hour journey for her treatment ♀️. and I know she's not the only one.. your G.P practice will have the info needed to put you in touch with the Oncologist team  x

If you have a good GP it's great to keep them on board throughout care if it's cancer because having a medical advocate is priceless. It can feel like too many cooks but being able to discuss things outwith consultant's immediate teams can help you feel more heard, they can be a sounding board for what you need to say during appointments with the consultant and if you have questions before you're assigned a Macmillan nurse they can liaise with the hospital. Increased bleeding should definitely be discussed, you could become anaemic etc. any change in symptoms needs to be reported even if the professionals just reassure you it's worth them knowing. I would never replace a doctor's advice with anything said online but you can get supplementary info about what other people experience to help gauge what you might have to expect and how to handle living with conditions.

Every time my partner engages with any of the medical professionals caring for him they ask about anything new and ongoing. It isn't worth carrying it alone.

I agree with you IF you are fortunate enough to have a good G.P practice...

Unfortunately the experience of 2 family members,  in different parts of the UK,  both with different cancer... have received neither care or support from their individual practice.. seems to be far more a case of.. you've been referred,  had a diagnosis,  treatment plan and now it's up to the MDT who has specialist knowledge of your case and cancer...

I sincerely hope this in not the case for anyone here who needs and deserves the reassurance from the G.P 

Hi Tango

A couple of thoughts:

1. Totally agree with others. Always worth asking the cancer nurse or your GP. I've called mine loads of times. Might be worth contacting your hospital and trying to get a number for the cancer nursing team (if they have a similar set up to my hospital)

2. I had 3 days of a lot of blood a week or so ago, but it's settled down again. Was very scary but it passed. I think maybe it's not too unusual and others have had that experience here too, it seems. But definitely do ask a medical professional.

3. There is also the option to ask a cancer nurse on this website we're all on. Here's the link to that section of the site:

 Ask the nurses 

They also have a number you can call 0808 8004040. Though of course they won't know all the specifics of your case.

4. Hoping the extra blood is just a temporary thing. I think your GP can also look at any recent blood tests or arrange one and check things like your iron levels. I was (am?) anaemic, so am taking iron tablets. I think it's due to blood loss. I have more energy after 2 or 3 weeks of the tablets.

Take care. X

James4000 great advice and support as always

James4000 I think the extra blood was because I was straining to do a BM I couldn’t pass  but eventually I did bleeding stopped  I know in future no straining  it was a bit scary  mainly because with these kind of tumours you don’t know what to expect  as like all of us this kind of thing is new to us   I had all my blood tests at the onset of this problem and they took five tests for different things and all came back normal  full blood count was normal you would have thought with this been cancer there would have been some markers to show if any thing was there. But I understand blood tests only show certain cancers like breast cancer and blood cancer  xx