Over the past couple of years I have had ongoing issues with my stomach/bowel - since around 2010 I had on off symptoms such as cramping, constipation and diarrhea. These symptoms from around 2010 to 2015 would come and go in small bouts and I didn’t really pay any special attention to them – just thought it was my eating habits. However in 2015 my symptoms got worse where I had excess mucus in the stool as well as needing to rush to the toilet every time I eat and eventually blood in the stools.
I went to the GP and complained about this but it was just passed off as severe IBS and they said I was too young to get bowel cancer. I carried on as normal with symptoms coming and going until around June 2016 where I experienced severe symptoms ie: alot of mucus and blood in stools. I again went to the GP and demanded a diagnostic colonoscopy and did not leave the surgery until they booked me in for one. Two months later I had the procedure and they found two lesions - one 4cm polyp and a small 1cm one which biopsies were taken and results later confirmed both to be cancerous.
I had a meeting with the lead gastro surgeon and he confirmed to me that the best strategy to have the highest cure rate would be bowel surgery (left hemicolectomy) and then the diseased part of the bowel would be sent off to the labs for analysis to see how far the cancer has actually spread. In September 2016 I had the procedure which was relatively straightforward but the recovery was quite hard in terms of walking and eating – I was out after the op for around 6 weeks and only fully feel better now (4 months after the op).
Results from the lab came back and showed that the cancer was very early (T1 and T2) where one lesion was contained completely within the bowel walls and the other was slightly touching the muscle of the bowel wall - all had been removed with the operation of the bowel. I thank god that this was the case and that I didn’t not need chemotherapy – none of the lymph nodes were infected either. Going forward I am checked every two months by the surgeon who conducts a physical and a blood test and I have to have a yearly colonoscopy.
This is my story and I just wanted to share it with people so that if they have similar symptoms they can relate it to someone else – I wanted to stress the fact that you shouldn’t wait and get it sorted because you never know what is going on inside of you. I am grateful my situation turned out the way it is and I hope I stay cancer free for the rest of my life and I hope I can help anyone who reads this.
I'm so glad it was caught early that's great news. Just wondering how old are you?
Sorry I just seen your other comment where you posted your age. That's very scary, I'm 26 will be 27 in 2 weeks I've had change in bowel habits, consistency for a while but never thought much of it since November I've had constant abdominal pain and rectal bleeding I can't get in to see the specialist until March I hope I can get my colonoscopy soon after the appointment. I'm very worried about colon cancer
Hi Mel, you are doing the right thing in getting it checked out but please remember in most cases of our age group it is unlikely that it is anything serious - maybe if you have the money try and go private to get it seen earlier (costs about £2k - alot i know).Main thing is to get it checked and don't leave it.
Let me know how you get along.
Thank you for your story. I have a flexi sigmoidoscopy scheduled in 2 days. I too have had issues with my bowels for many years. I am either constipated or have diarrhea all the time. A few years ago I had external hemorroides removed and they are back; so when I went to see the doctor for blood in my stool, it was dismissed as hemorroides.
I had blood test done for a new pcp and my results were crazy! Anemia, fatty liver (later diagnosed through ultrasound and CT scan), maybe diabetes, don't see the doctor for that until I go for my flexi.
Liver enzymes are high. I'm a mess. My stools look like ribbons, they are pretty flat, and I am very worried about the whole thing. The flexi I'm having because at least one doctor didn't care about my age.
I use the VA hospital and it takes a while to get seen, so I try to distract myself. I also have arthritis on my back, but because I'm 39, doctors tell me I'm too young for this or that; until I insist with the testing and they realize I'm not well.
Thank you again!
I'm in Australia not sure how much it costs here to go private but I know I can't afford it lol so I have to wait. I'm seeing my gp tomorrow who works with the colorectal specialist during surgery (gp is also an anaesthetist) so I'm going to see if he thinks it's more urgent he may be able to get me an appointment sooner. My bleeding seems to be more frequent and in more volume I'm very worried I just want to be healthy!
Hi, I was interested to read that you are checked every 2 months.Is that with the NHS ? as my husband will only get checked every 6 months.
Hi Merly have you gotten the results of your Flexi sigmoidoscopy? Please let me know how you got on x
The flexi is tomorrow and I'm nervous. I went to the ER for abdominal pain about a week ago and today I went to get a printout of my results. I have a left inguinal hernia with fat under it. I also have a cyst or tumor (don't know which yet) on my liver. Liver is inflamed. Spleen is inflamed as well.
I took the medication to get ready for my flexi and nothing happened for hours. Now my stool is dark.
I will post tomorrow with the results!!!
Thank you for asking.
Cheers.
So since this started I have seen two GPs. today I got my bloods from the second dr my iron levels have dropped a few points only within a few days which I find alarming, my GP today was not very helpful at all he rushed me in and out so I'm feeling upset and confused. I will list some of my results from both Drs and would love any input if you have any 😊
28.12.16
Iron:9.9
Ferritin 161
Platelets 403
ALT:69
3.1.17
Iron:7.9
Ferritin:126
Platelets:446
And my very high CRP: 16.1
Now I'm even more worried about cancer
I will be thinking about you, I hope all goes well xx
Thank you mel15596. So yesterday I had my flexi and although I was worried about pain, it was a piece of cake! However... they found a flat polyp; they took it out and I will know the results on Friday at the soonest.
I was scheduled for a full colonoscopy in 2 weeks... I am nervous because I thought the whole thing would be over yesterday.
I am not sure what to think and thus I could not sleep last night... ugh.
Did they give you the normal levels to compare? Hope you are feeling better.
Yes they gave me the normal levels, there were the abnormal levels
The colonoscopy will be done as a polyp was found and they want to make sure they don't miss anything. I hope you get your results back on Friday and they don't keep you waiting, no worse feeling then waiting, but try not to stress keep yourself busy! Please keep me posted how you go xxx
Thank you. I sure will. I am opening an office soon, so I am super busy, but there are times in which it is hard. Have a great day.
How did you go with your colonoscopy?
Actually I had to reschedule until the 18th. The day before the colonoscopy I came down with the flu. I will post the results soon. Thank you for asking.