Worried my symptoms and how quickly things are happening mean I have bowel cancer. I have an appointment with a consultant this coming Tuesday

Hi there

Just feeling a bit anxious and stressed at the minute. So for a few months now I had been feeling tired and lethargic with lots of headaches. Bowel habits have changed alot where I can be constipated to have diarrhea as well as not passing anything for 3 days. I've had blood on my toilet tissue a few times and have issues with being bloated and heartburn. 

I recently went to the doctor's and asked for my bloods to be taken. The next day I received a phonecall from my GP to say my hemoglobin levels were at 83 and my iron levels were extremely low so I was admitted to hospital overnight and given an iron infusion X2. 

The next step was to then find out why this has happened so my doctor gave me a qfit test to do and hand back in. So the next day (Thursday) I handed my test in and by Tuesday I got a phonecall to say my test was positive and was being referred. 2 days later I've already received a letter to have an appointment with the consultant on this coming Tuesday. I'm very worried this is all really quick and was wondering if this is really serious by getting this appointment so quickly as I've read other people are waiting weeks for appointments. 

  • I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms Ducky80 and what has happened since you went to see your GP.

    I know this must be a very stressful and worrying time but hopefully the appointment you have with the consultant today will be able to give you some answers and much needed peace of mind.

    Hopefully some of our members who are, or have been, in a similar position will be along soon to share their experiences and advice but if it would help to talk things through with one of our cancer nurses they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very easy to talk to and they will do all they can to help.

    We're wishing you the very best of luck for today Ducky80, and will have our fingers crossed everything will be o.k.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator