Diagnosed 8 June 2021
Anal cancer T4 N2 M0
Main tumour 5.7cm in anal canal
Second tumour/lymph node 2.5cm in deep left obturator/pelvis
One other lymph node also pelvis right side but not enlarged
Treatment 28 days of chemo Xeloda (Capecitabine) and radiation therapy.
Journey started in January 21 with a call with GP re some blood in bowel movement (just one occasion but a lot!) , pain, feeling of bowel not emptying, feeling faint when having a bowel moment, feeling exceptionally tired. Told to come back if symptoms changed. Told nothing wrong I’m a fit healthy young woman (I’m 51 and have a 30 year bowel condition!). GP did not even offer me a basic NHS FIT test. I did this myself privately and it was negative. So I thought GP must be right and I ignored my symptoms.
Second GP call end of March 21. Duty doctor said to come in that afternoon for a physical examination. Saw same GP as call with in Jan. By this time pain was so bad I was having trouble sitting down. GP said I did not have “normal symptoms” and “I can’t feel anything in there” (I told her I could feel a mass just inside rectum). And that I did not comply for a referral. I disagreed and said I would go privately. THIS SAVED MY LIFE!! What I could feel was a nearly 6cm tumour blocking my bowel! Hence the pain and fainting when having a bowel movement.
If I had not persisted when I did, I would be Stage 4 and I would be considered incurable. Whilst I’m treatable my cancer is advanced I’m just lucky that thus far it has not spread to liver, lungs etc. But despite now being treated, there is still a serious chance this could happen. My GP failed me terribly. I have 2 daughters under 10 years old.
PLEASE, if you think there is something wrong. Ask for a second opinion. Ask to be referred. Please don’t be fobbed off like I was. Trust your own instincts.
