Terrified I have Bowel Cancer and feeling hopeless

Hi to anyone who reads this , I'm 27 and a mum to my 7 year old boy and since summer I've had bleeding with stool. I'm posting now because it's just happened again after 2 weeks of nothing when it had completely stopped and I was finally starting to think nothing bad was going to happen to me... I had 2 times where there was streaks of blood and some mucus covering the top of the stool, (its never been when I wiped) It wasn't mixed in with the stool and I thought as the stool was a bit hard it could of been a tear or something, I called gp who did bloods that were normal and then a physical exam and said it wasn't hemorroids or a tear, She referred me for a colonoscopy and said if it happened again to go to A&E with a sample - it happened again 3 weeks ago and I went to a&e, They said it wasn't an emergency so I was sent home after hours of waiting. This morning I've gone to the bathroom again and the stool looked normal ( I've been having a quick glance now and then before I flush just to make sure) but floating beside the stool was something i thought was just a piece of food but when I used tissue and picked it up it was actually mucus with blood, it looks like a mucusy red stringing vein and this is the first time its been separate from the stool, whats scaring me is if it was hemorroids or a tear it would be on the tissue when I wiped , If it was hemorroids then the gp would be able to feel it, they did blood tests for inflammation so if it was an ibd it would've shown, I'm just distraught. In 2017 I had a colonoscopy after am xray for another reason showed my bowel was thickened and they were going to check for colitis bu that seemed to be all clear so that would rule out something like ibd.. anything I've googled or read says that my symptoms can only mean the big C, and I've mylittle boy to think of , I've been so positive the past few months trying to just make myself beleive its all alright these things happen its something normal, but theres never anythinf when I wipe so it must be higher up..I lost my friend 2 years ago to melanoma and her 4 young babies were left without a mum so I know that the worst case scenario can happen. I did have a bit of diarrhoea yesterday , and then this morning I had slight cramps but felt a bit constipated,  although it happened easily enough the stool was a bit lumpy but I cant explain rationally to myself what other reason apart from Bowel Cancer would cause it to be floating next to it incased in mucus, All I'm thinking is how long its been going on for and if its something bad its been untreated..My nan died during the first lockdown with bowel cancer and it was awful, I just keep thinking the worst , I rang the consultant secretary who is suposoed to be doing my scope and she said that I could be lookig at a 9 month wait and she couldnt even see my referall on the system... I really feel like I cant cope with it anymore to wait to be told theres nothing a doctor can do and its too late ..how does it makes sense that the thing I fear the most - leaving my son without a mother is going to be caused by myself because I really can't do this anymore 

Parents
  • I'm so sorry that you're having to face such a long wait, I know how scary it feels when you look at your wee ones and imagine the worst. I'm similar to you in that my symptoms started this summer too. My Dr tested and found inflammation present, but it was the positive fit test that allowed her to write again to the consultant and get me into the "two week wait" route for colonoscopy. Has your Dr given you a fit test? If not it would be a good idea to ask for one to be done, a positive result will help your case for a more urgent referral. 

    Try not to worry, I know it's hard not to but it is so very unlikely to be cancer, there's lots of reasons for similar symptoms. 

  • Hi thank you for your message , I know It's awful looking at my son and worrying that something is wrong especially as he's an only child ...Yes I had a positive FIT test, not that I needed it though as the blood is visible, Its usually on the top of the stool and then yesterday was the first time I noticed that there was blood mixed with a bit of mucus in the toilet , Im just so worried.. I really thought it would subside again and that maybe it was just another once off.. but I seen it again today about an hour ago and its so upsetting,  Its not like its something I can ignore or not look at as its something our bodies need to do every second day! I cant find anyone online whos symtoms were like mine , usually the normal things is on the paper or when you wipe, Mine theres nothing which scares me theres something really higher, Did you have your colonoscopy yet ? X 

Reply
  • Hi thank you for your message , I know It's awful looking at my son and worrying that something is wrong especially as he's an only child ...Yes I had a positive FIT test, not that I needed it though as the blood is visible, Its usually on the top of the stool and then yesterday was the first time I noticed that there was blood mixed with a bit of mucus in the toilet , Im just so worried.. I really thought it would subside again and that maybe it was just another once off.. but I seen it again today about an hour ago and its so upsetting,  Its not like its something I can ignore or not look at as its something our bodies need to do every second day! I cant find anyone online whos symtoms were like mine , usually the normal things is on the paper or when you wipe, Mine theres nothing which scares me theres something really higher, Did you have your colonoscopy yet ? X 

Children
  • I'm due to have it this Sunday. One of my symptoms is blood on stool and occasionally in the toilet, nothing that was on wiping if you know what I mean; I think it sounds like perhaps a similar experience to yours. I was checked too, for hemorrhoids, and I know how you feel,  how worrying it is when that doesn't seem to be the issue and that it's a higher up bleed.

    But I am keeping telling myself that you know there's many things it may be. In my case, I'm thinking it's possibly diverticular disease because you can have bleeding with that, and I'm finding it difficult to eat with pain right after I do eat something. I've had the mucus thing too, myself. I think it may be a sign of irritation? Could be a benign polyp that's bleeding. Honestly I know how difficult it is not to panic, but really we have statistics on our side; it's very highly unlikely to be something sinister. I have two little boys, and my ex was just horrible...I cannot be ill, they need me. You just have to see the positive side, you know? 

    I really wish you the best. And please get back to your gp and push for an urgent referral! ( I know what you mean about the fit test; it was obviously bloody and it felt a bit silly having to do one, but it is part of the diagnostics for who will be referred on the 2 week pathway) 

  • That does sound similiar to my own symtoms and it did feel so disappointing and unnerving to hear they didn't think it was hemorroids.. I've been distracting myself trying to focus on everyday routines which works for a while but its one of those things that you cant ignore when you need to go , Tiktok really doesn't help , I'm unsure about whether or not the videos that show up are  related to your search history but a woman came up on mine shes 28 from another part of ireland  and got diagnosed with stage 4 bc after being investigated for bleeding that they were all convinced was from hemorroids, I just felt of all the videos that had to pop up ! It is really good to hear that you are getting your colonoscopy this week I'm hoping that all goes okay for you , My gp has said they can more or less tell you straight away if all was normal and what they found , I hope you get answers too and its all okay, If you get good news or anything I would love to hear how you got on, I'm having anxeity even thinking about the prep but only if you feel comfortable sharing how you got on , thank you for your kind messages I'm hoping things work out for us x 

  • Hi hope you are both ok, currently having the same issues myself and it's awful! Im early 30th with a young child and it's just so hard to hold myself together right now in the unknown. Xx

  • Hi hope you are both ok, currently having the same issues myself and it's awful! Im early 30th with a young child and it's just so hard to hold myself together right now in the unknown. Xx

  • It's absolutely fantastic to have this wee space as an outlet to express some of your anxiety isn't it?

    I've been made feel like an idiot irl for even suggesting that there may be something seriously wrong, but it's only natural that you worry and feel scared over something like this. I'm finding the level of support I feel from chatting to others on here so beneficial right now.

    Wishing you all the best and I hope you get some positive answers soon x

  • Hi I was thinking of you over the weekend , Did you have your colonoscopy this weekend? I hope all was okay x 

  • Hi, thank you for thinking of me. No sign of anything like diverticular disease or colitis, colon perfectly healthy, but a large polyp in my rectum. Endoscopologist didn't remove it at the time because its a bit of a difficult one, but took 3 biopsies; 2 of it and one close to it it seemed. He's referred me over for a pelvic x-ray he said, because he did a digital examination after the colonoscopy and said he felt a mass or a fullness that he couldn't quite identify and so he just wanted to be thorough and get that checked out while things are being investigated. So at the moment just waiting on biopsy results (which should be within 3 weeks) and the letter for x-ray appointment. 

    The colonoscopy itself was grand, wee bit uncomfortable at the acute turn in the colon; that was really the only painful part. Had some Entonox and opted not to have sedation. That was just a personal preference, and I'd say with it it really isn't anything to worry about. 

    I am feeling quite a bit anxious I must admit, and thank you for giving me an opportunity to talk about it, that does really help to reason it out. Reading all the academic articles and whatnot that I can find, it's like 5% possibility of malignancy...that's just me roughly estimating from the characteristics, location, my age etc...basically me giving myself a solid thought to hold onto until I get results. And sure if it is something to worry about, thank goodness I'm in the position I'm in now and something can be done to sort it.

    How have you been getting on? I hope you haven't had too much anxiety to deal with and have been able find yourself a bit closer to answers. Take care x

  • Hi, that is good news that you have had your colonoscopy! You must feel a bit of relief knowing that it's done now and your on the right steps to getting sorted. That sounds similar to my dad's expierence, He had a large , I think even 2 very large polyps that were not removed during a colonoscopy but done a different day, I think they said sometimes when they're that big it can take over an hour to remove it so they do the biopsies first while waiting to fit you in .. My dad's ended up being benign and they were pretty big ones. 

    I'm thinking I probably have a polyp too as I know from reading our symtoms were similar. Did the doctor seem like anything was wrong or just that it was a more than likely benign polyp ? I think they can tell by looking so if hs seemed ok thats a good sign I'd say and if he did the exam staright after the colonoscopy it could maybe just of felt full from air used during the scope or else just a bit inflamed from having a scope .. thats the way I would try think of it was me x

    I'm still no closer, my gp sent in another referall specifically addressed to the gastro specialist since the last one went to a general surgeon who decided it was routine, however it has somehow ended up in the hands of that surgeon again and so far I haven't heard anything since, My Partner sent an email to a patient service thing in the hospital asking why after a positive fit test and a&e attendance was it triaged as routine but I haven't heard back from that either , My gp said he might send me to the hospitals medical assessment unit to speed things up but so far no word back.

    It's my sons birthday on Saturday hes turning 8 so I have been distracted and busy most of the week but I know after it passes I'll feel panicky again, I wish I would of been able to have been sorted before christmas but it definitely feels like I'll be a while longer, Did you expierence any bleeding during the prep or after the colonoscopy? I think I'm slightly traumatized at this stage over seeing blood in the toilet and It's playing on my mind a bit as I don't know what to expect,  I hope you get results soon xx 

  • Hi [@Hope_lovexo]‍ 

    Sorry I've been quiet for a wee while, I was just giving myself some space from the forum and ruminating. Hope you had a lovely day with your wee one today :happy: my eldest is turning 8 in March; it's such a fun wee stage to be at. My other wee boy is 6 in May, and I was very well content to leave the baby stage behind!lol 

    No bleeding etc during the prep..the worst thing about it is the sheer volume of liquid that you have to get down. Drink some prep through a straw and then wash it down with a drink of something you enjoy and I think that's how I'd recommend to handle it. I expected a tiny bit of bleeding after the colonoscopy but only due to the fact of having a few biopsies taken; as it turned out no bleeding, just a bit of pink tinged mucus when I got round to my first bowel movement after it.

    I really hope you get somewhere with the process soon, it's not a nice thing to have such a worry hanging over your head in the run up to Christmas. Hopefully contacting the patient service people will get your referral into the correct hands. Let me know how you get on. 

    Thank you so much for letting me know about your Dad's experience; that's a wonderfully reassuring story to hear, and thank goodness it turned out okay for him. 

    I got a letter today for an MRI scan on pelvis and rectum, on 22nd Dec. No news back on the biopsies taken, but he'd said a report would be sent to my consultant and one to my GP within 3 weeks. Three weeks would be boxing day so, news is coming soon. 

  • Hi it's nice to hear from you again!

    I haven't had much of an update except from this morning I've been told I may have an appointment for January with the consultant - as far as I know It's initially going to be an outpatient consulation and then they'll schedule a colonoscopy I hope,.. I wish it had been at least arranged before Christmas but I guess that was wishful thinking with all going on at the moment, I will post an update if I hear sooner, 

    I'm glad that story brought you some reassurance my dad keeps using it to try reassure me , He had been bleeding for a few days and then one day it started spontaneously while at work and he passed out from loosing too much blood and then collapsed again in the hospital. He had the two very large polyps and all turned out okay but I still worry, 

    If it takes the full 3 weeks for your gp to get results then that's usually a good sign too as they rush those they feel could be serious, and thats great news about your scan being so close If you felt comfortable to post an update after yours as I feel I'm going down the same path of investigations , How are you feeling about it all now ? I'm still quite anxious, The worry is just awful, it was nice to have a bit of a distraction the past few days but it's snap back to reality unfortunately xx