Welcome to the forum Paul although I'm sorry for the reason you're posting.

Unfortunately no-one here will be able to answer your questions as we're not medically trained but if you make a note of what you've asked us and get in touch with your doctor or nurse, perhaps after you've found out the results of your blood tests, they will be able to tell you more and answer any others that may come to mind whilst you've been waiting.

Fingers crossed the blood tests come back clear Paul.

All the best, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Here goes, my blood tests came back with some vitamin deficiency, mainly Vitamin D and Folic acid. All my white blood cell, red blood cell and iron levels were fine.

However, the pain in my left abdomen persisted to the point I needed to get it checked. I'd become constipated and had poo in my blood for a long time, I had been diagnosed with haemorrhoids so always put it down to that.

I attended my GP who reacted with utter shock that I had been bleeding for so long. They did a rectal examination where she said she found a 'cluster' of some sort internally. I was referred on a two week cancer referral, the GP's words, for a flexible sigmoidoscopy. Understandably, I came out of there in a complete mess. 

i simply couldn't wait two weeks for the results so I opted to go private. I saw a colorectal specialist the very same day who also did a rectal examination with both finger and a proctoscope. He explained all he could see was internal haemorrhoids which was utter relief, he is the specialist in the field after all and explained the proctoscope could see much further than a finger. All of that coupled with my ok blood tests, specifically my iron levels being ok really reassured me. A proctoscope isn't the worse feeling in the world but having something invasive inside is never ideal. To rule anything else out and to be 100% sure, I was booked for a flexible sigmoidoscopy. 

It's not necessary to have a sedation with a flexible sigmoidoscopy, however, I was extremely worked up about the whole process and this procedure so it was deemed I needed it to relax me. I had 2 enemas which I was expecting to be horrific but they were actually quite pleasant after being constipated for 2 weeks. Following that I was taken to theatre and sedated. Sedation can work many different ways for different people. It really chilled me out and at no point did I fall asleep whilst the procedure was done. Upon completion I was told there and then by the specialist there was no cancer, just internal haemerroids that he banded. Utter relief. The sedation wore off about 00:00, it's now 02:30am and I have a feeling of constantly needing to go to the toilet and release wind which I cannot do, it's quite uncomfortable but a small price to pay for the reassurance.

I hope this finds anyone with similar symptoms with lymph nodes and potentially bowel cancer or going through the flexible sigmoidoscopy process, the flexible sigmoidoscopy really is a piece of cake. 

Thank you for posting this thread! I too have found 3 lumps in the exact same places, and although I have yet to contact a doctor upon googling theses and stumbling across this my concern levels have dramatically reduced.