May I ask what peoples symptoms were before having a colonoscopy in terms of pain or bleeding or anything else? Was your bleeding small or large amounts? I’m having large amounts of bright red blood. It’s not just when I wipe it turns the whole toilet bowl water bright red and sometimes there’s blood clots. Pain is severe in my back passage too like a burning stinging and that’s not when I go to the toilet that’s just all of the time. If anything when I go to the toilet I get a relief from pain afterwards for a short time but then it returns. Ive also been anaemic for a while. I’m only in my 30s so GP has been sending me away for quite a few months despite me going back over and over again but I’ve finally been referred for a colonoscopy and waiting for an appointment now. Thank you 

Hi Daisy,  hopefully you won't have too long to wait for the colonoscopy now you have finally been referred..

A small amount of blood in the toilet bowl can look very alarming being bright red means it's fresh and not old [ dark coloured] blood. Haemorrhoids can be internal and external and capable of producing blood when having a BM...hopefully you will get some answers after the procedure. 

For me it was a marked change in my bowel habits, accompanied by distended stomach, low down period-type pains  [ hysterectomy 45 years ago]  sensation of needing to pass motion even after a BM. Five positive qFIT results and referred to Colorectal Consultant. Appointment for colonoscopy last June which had to be cancelled.. follow up appt missed until Nov colonoscopy 17th Dec 24 ...20 week waiting list for results.  There has been no change,  multiple BM,  pain, loss of appetite,  blood ( not all the time) the feeling of needing to have a BM.. seven times since 10 am..now 4.15 p.m

Thinking of you..

.

James4000. Hi James thank you for your up date. So pleased every thing is going as planed  been thinking about you  you will get stronger every day one day at a time. You sound to be doing really well  you are so right James there is hope and like you say there are lots of amazing people in the world. Lots of healing love to you looking forward to more up dates. Xxx

Hi James, hope you can feel the love, best wishes and positive vibes coming your way..

Everyday is a step closer to recovery xx

Thank you. Feeling better day by day. Was in hospital 8 days. Back home now.

Eating fairly normally, but low fibre.

Managing to walk a little further each day.

Have hundreds of different meds but only taking some of them. Painkillers, blood thinning injections (ugh), and something to protect stomach/bowel lining.

Hoping for good news when theyve done histology. I think they'll give me chemo tablets in a couple of weeks to sweep up any traces possibly missed or spread.

It's a massive amount of info to absorb.

Mostly just tired, not too much pain. Bit easier each day. Im amazed really at the surgeon and team and their work, and at how relatively quickly im recovering.

As far as I understand, the tumour and all such tissue is out, but I dont want to get my hopes up completely. Still, a massive step largely complete in the journey to being cancer free and a strong chance still of total recovery.

Being back home is wonderful and terrifying at the same time, I've always found.. great to have home comforts around along which comes with the loss of security from the medical team..

The surgeon and his team are part of the journey, you, your hard work and dedication make up the the other part, they go hand in hand towards recovery.

Staying positive and realistic is vital and as you say, a massive step in your journey, well done James, you should feel proud of yourself..I am xx

Morning James.. thinking of you and sending gentle hugs xx

I was just thinking of you yesterday. I hope youre doing well. Any update on your own tests and treatments?

My update. Physically doing quite well, not too much pain now,.able to walk around few thousand steps every day.

Just had a post.op MRI today, which was stressful but ok. The hospital spoke to me recently after histology analysis was completed..they said it.was good news, that they think all.the tumour is out with clear margins. They also said they removed 82 (!!) lymph nodes, most of.wuich were fine, but 2 had some cancerous cells. So i thjnk theyll want to do another round of chemo. Great! That will delay this.whole.thing another 3 months, including the reversal surgery, so it really.upset me (even though i know on some levels, it's almost as good news as it could.be)

Mentally im a bit of a wreck. As you know, I try to stay positive, but its hard right now. My employer got bought after months/years of shenanigans, and I found out on Monday they're making me redundant (plus a few others). Its really callous and cynical, and right now it's devastating as I am very close to several work friends, and Im worried about money etc on top of everything else.

My dear James, it is so good to hear from you, I really appreciate you taking the time..

Regarding the work situation, I can only imagine the added strain and stress this has caused for you and your family...but.. I always believe things happen for a reason. You say this has been a long ongoing situation and now it's finally settled. On a positive basis..the inevitable outcome has now been reached , meaning no more worrying about when and how long before you were going to be faced with this outcome.. there is financial support available to help you, this information can be found on many forums, so please enquire about any financial support you are entitled to.

Removal of 82 L.N does sound alarming but we have an average of 600 so enough to take care of you in the future

As for the reversal being delayed for a while, again I see it as a positive step in ensuring your future wellbeing.

Well done for getting thru the MRI , I have yet to conquer my horror of the procedure and again, it's a means to an end and vital for diagnosis and prognosis for us all.

With regards to your work colleagues, in my experience, whether or not you see each other on a daily basis, in the workplace, has little impact on a good relationship. It's even more important for your mental wellbeing and health to maintain good, positive relationships.. empathy and understanding from those who have travelled the same journey can be really helpful and reassuring but...we all need a life apart from the overwhelming impact of severe health issues ( in my opinion and experience)

So good to hear from you, I'm sending huge buckets of positivity and best wishes along with a gentle hug if I may xx

Take care and be kind to yourself please, your body and mind has undergone an  unimaginable onslaught and needs peace to rest and recover x

Hi James, wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and sending gentle hugs and positive vibes x

Afternoon.

We must have a connection as I as thinking about you today. How are things?

James4000 hi James how is things going. Always thinking of you  hope your improving every day lots of love  Geri x

James4000 hi James how is things going. Always thinking of you  hope your improving every day lots of love  Geri x

Morning Kate, Geri and everyone else still reading.

Quick updates from me (most details above).

I've had a couple more scans (MRI and CT, I think). Yesterday I had a port fitted under sedation (I'm told this may be better for me than the Picc line I had before). It aches a bit but I think that should pass. It does stress me out though.

On my way to hospital to start new load of chemo. Cycle 1 of 6 today (or 7 of 12 in my case). It should just be a 'belt and braces' approach to make sure no dodgy cells are left. I guess I just have to get through it, but it's all getting a bit relentless.

Trying to keep myself distracted, and enjoy other things, and to get fitter again after surgery etc - mostly lots of walking, as Im worried to exercise too strenuously.

Hope everyone else is doing ok, getting along the paths of treatment.

Morning James, relentless and overwhelming are descriptions used by so many people in your situation.. I am sure once the post-op trauma from the Port settles down you will feel a little more comfortble. Walking and any mental distraction ( within your comfort range) really are vital for your well-being. Be kind to yourself and know I am thinking of you, sending love and healing hugs

Sharing a little positivity with you and those on this journey..

A 5 year old member of my extended family, will be ringing the bell   on Saturday, to mark the end of her treatment.. 30 gruelling months.

My precious cousin had an 'all clear' from her latest PET scan yesterday following months of chemo, surgery, radiation and many C.T and MRI...

So hang on in there, it is a long dark tunnel but keep looking forward to emerging into the sun again xx

Morning

Onto round 3 (or 9/12) of chemo. Forst 2 pretty tough. Meds dona bit but they say they'll reduce my dose for r4 as my symptoms are pretty bad

Hi James good to hear from you, been thinking about you.. really hope a reduction in the meds will ease your symptoms and you will soon be feeling a little better.. will be thinking of you and sending love xx

Hi James really good to hear from you  hope every thing turns better for you   I’m sure you will soon be feeling a lot better  you will get there James   Sending lots of love and you are always in my thoughts.    Geri 

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!

I hope you are all doing well and that 2026 brings you health, good news and happiness.

My journey has been almost exactly a year. I was diagnosed on New Year's Eve 2024 with a colonoscopy. A year and 3 days later (tomorrow morning) I will be in hospital for maybe the 50th time to have my stoma/ileostomy reversed by rh wonderful surgeon who removed my tumour back in July.

It's been the hardest year of my life, but I am so grateful to be where I am now, and for the incredible support I've had, from over 100 medical professionals, from my family, friends and colleagues, and from this forum- which was a Godsend in the early months.

I am apprehensive about tomorrow but looking forward to being back to 'normal' very soon.

Wishing you all the very best in your own journeys. If anything I can share from my own experience might help you in some small way, please do reach out.

Much love

Happy New Year to you to James4000,. Sending you best wishes for your bowel reverse opperation ,hope it all goes well for you you will be looked after very well. Just take care ,and dont push ypurself too hard you will get there ,youve beem through sooopo much  and this will hopefully be the last hurdle to get through ,and get back to feeling like yourself again. X

How wonderful to hear from you James, I have been thinking of you and trying to give you some space over the holiday period..

It's been a long year for you with many hurdles to conquer BUT you have with courage and dignity.. the stoma reversal has been #1priority for you and that day is just one more sleep away..

You will be in my thoughts..

Sending you love, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

May 2026 be incredible, filled with health and happiness for you and your family  

Much love 

Kate xx

.

.

Hi James 4000 lovely to hear from you  you have always been in my thoughts we started our journey together I’m so happy you are one step away to be back to a normal life I will be thinking about you tomorrow but you have got this James you have been through so much  and yes like you say the medical and nursing team are amazing  I have nothing but praise for them   So I leave you James with my love and thoughts for tomorrow  lots of love  Geri 

Thank you all so much. Lovely to hear from you, and I hope you are all doing well?

Op seemed to go well. I've been in and out sleep since midday. A bit of pain - more than I'd expected, but that (i think) is because there aren't such intense painkillers as I had with the major surgery in the summer.

Should be here 4 or 5 days.

It's a relief to be where I am now, though it won't all fully sink in until I've spoken to surgeon, made sure there are no complications, antibiotics and painkillers finish, and get discharged.

How is everyone else doing?