Hi Jason, 

I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with some health issues on top of your major life changes recently. It's unspurprising that you're feeling so anxious. 

Waiting for tests and results can be a difficult period of time.  You mention that your GP has signed you off work at the moment. Have they suggested anything to help with your anxiety? If not then making an appointment to speak to your GP about this issue would be a really good idea. It sounds as if your anxiety is impacting hugely on your life at the moment. 

Ask them if there is any counselling or support they can offer you.  It might also help to look at the NHS Mood Zone and Anxiety UK for further tips and support.

I hope this helps. 
Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator

Thanks Jenn.

Well this just seems to run and run!

Got tests results back 'all Normal  no further action required.. I was happy to accept this until I get a call back from the doc saying that one of my liver enzymes was slightly high, she wasnt 'overly concerned' (the doctors favourite phrase which it time causes me great concern.! ) However I looked into this... as I do and raised Alkaline  Phasphatase can only come from liver or bones... mine wasn't from liver as ggt levels were normal so it could only come from bone. Again freaked me out as my dad died from lung cancer with secondary bone cancer, which was found first when he broke his leg playing football... he was only 24. So I now became obsessed with  researching this online, reading clinical studies and demanding a re test to see if it had come down...it did by one. Doc said if itwas anything sinister in my bones it would have shot up. During this 2 week period of being obsessed with bone enzymes I'd seem to forget about my toilet troubles... No blood, no stomach gripes...nothing! I mentioned this to the doctors and he joked well at least you cleared that up! :D. Anyway feeling quite happy with myself and trusting my doc's opinions. Iyrotted out of the surgery But as you might guess the blood from the A hole came back, quite subtle but noticeable to me. Gross part coming up:- I got one of the bloody stools out of the water and it dawned on me that it was not bright blood coating the stool (as in classic piles style) but almost drizzled on and it stayed on even when it had been in the water...in sort of mucus I though..again a few quick doctor Google consultations got me down to 3 possibilities...the big C, Polyps (which rarely bleed unless latge) and ulcerative colitis. Which I didn't think I could have due to no inflammation in stool tests..Hmmm.

In the mean time the referral for colonoscopy came through and it said Urgent, which freaked me out even though I asked it to be put through urgent!

Then I thought, they're gonna read the doctors note that basically says:-  Man with health anxiety had a bit of bright red from his bum, doctor found piles etc. Even to me that doesn't sound urgent or particularly true anymore considering the amount of time this has been going on and the nature of the bleeding. 

The hospital said it could be two weeks before I even get a date for the initial meeting with the GI! 

I'm going out of my nut now... part of me just wants to cancell it all and say **** it, pretend it all happened to someone else, everyone keeps telling me they don't think I have cancer so sod it! I've not seen any blood for 2 weeks now... however I know that when the bloody mucus comes back I'm gonna freak and so it will begin again.

So today I go down to doc's to try and see if I can rush it along, told her (and showed her ) the mucus, mentioned family history of polyps etc. Again she didn't seem 'overly concerned ' and said I should just wait for my appointment. Again I was told I was too young, didn't fit the fast track referral. 

I asked what she thought what this type of bleed could be? She said maybe a tear in the rectum or a polyp.

I dismissed it being a tear as it has been going on over too months! So it looks like it's 50/50 That it's cancer? She said more like 5/95 That it's not! This made me feel better for a while and she gave me some sedatives to help me sleep and cope with the anxiety.

So I remain in limbo, not knowing what's going on in my back passage, waiting for an appointment. My anxiety is crippling... although this sedative I just had is helping! 

Jason.

Hi

I've had bowel cancer twice in the last 5 years.

My old GP's were treating me for IBS for 18 months.

You need a colonoscopy! It's the only way to rule out bowel cancer and ANY age can get it.

The many symptoms you describe could be other things but also are bowel cancer symptoms.

Once you have the test, hopefully will be ok, your anxiety will improve because you can cross this off your list. If it is anything serious, the earlier diagnosed the better the chance of a cure.

Both times I was diagnosed, a month before I had poo samples come back ok so don't take the results of that as meaning everything is fine.

Ask for the test and don't settle for anything less, please don't be fobbed off, stand your ground until you get one. It's very important you find out one way or the other.

Good luck

Hi there sorry to butt in and I'm sorry you have had to suffer bowel cancer twice, could you please tell me if you had a ct scan how long did you have to wait for results? I had a ct last Tuesday though the 2 week pathway I've still not heard anything I'm thinking I'm OK cause surely if they fount cancer they would contract me by now thanxs for reading x

Hi

After CT's they usually give me an appointment in 2 weeks.

I would think if they had found something they would have contacted you but be aware, they do sometimes ring you to go in like the next day and leave you in a right mess thinking the worst and when you get there in tears they look at you gone out and tell you everythings fine! They did this to me last week.

Hope everything is ok for you.

Have they done a colonoscopy?

Scared. You honestly sound exactly like me! I’m panicking I have bowel cancer at 23 too. I have done a FOB test which has come back as negative and my blood tests show no sign of anemia and my liver and kidney functions are perfect. I’ve been researching loads and I’m honest to God convince I have cancer as I have every symptom of it. I had really bad abdominal pain about a month ago but that thankfully hasn’t come back. I hope we are both OK.

Thankyou for reading so glad your last scan was OK, I'm feeling less nervous us the days go by so fingers cross xx

No haven't had a colonoscopy us yet, I had a ultrasound 4 weeks ago showed something of head pancreas, also couldn't see adolmon cause lots of gas which happened few months back, my iron levels are rearly low us newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, anyway doc referred me 2 week pathway,had phonecall next day to see consultant following Mon wanted me to have full body scan, next day had ct which was Tuesday last week also one poo sample, I have rang twice been told scans still with radiography no report done yet!! I think my consultant waiting for report then will decide if need more tests, it's hard not to worry so I no how you feel keep busy that's what I'm trying to do xx

I honestly don't know how to cope. My main worry is the bloody mucus. This hasn't happened for a couple of weeks now but it's the fact that the blood is contained in mucus that's got me. All my other symptoms could be in my head. I think I have pain in my right side ribs and chest but I don't know. I've been constipated for a week now too. I need a strong coffee to get me to the toilet. I've read people with ulcerative colitis get bloody mucus but there stories don't sound like mine.  I just wish that the doc's had a long list of things it could possibly be but they don't. I know piles can cause blood and mucus but the internal pile I have (I've been up there and found it if you know what I mean) is so small, I think there are 2 but so small like pimples. I find it hard to believe it's the cause. The only thing going for me is that I'm not anemic. I've lost loads of weight but hopefully that's because I haven't eaten for 4 months due to stress. I pray this is just health anxiety but the blood and the mucus have been real.