Colon Cancer

[jimsie]

Hi,

I suffer from health anxiety and general anxiety quite badly. I have been quite good with rationalizing my health anxiety for almost a year now. But recently I have had the news that my sister has developed colon cancer which has shot my anxiety through the roof.

After doing a bit of research that means that me and the others in my family have a 1 in 10 chance of getting it. This means I will probably need a colonoscopy which I am absolutely terrified of not to mention everything else.

I am wondering if anyone else has had any kind of similar experiences like this?

[blueangel]

Hi there

I think a lot of this depends on whether she got a form of colon cancer that has a genetic link, and I think this might also be dependent upon her age at the moment. From what I know, the medics are more interested in people that develop colon cancer before the age of 50, as it's normally a disease of "later life".

If this is the case, then the least invasive option is to have the genetic test done - if you haven't got the gene, you haven't got the risk. OK, if you do have the gene then you need to be able to deal with that knowledge, which is why genetic testing is a bit of a two-edged sword.

My best advice is to go and talk to your GP about it. DON'T GOOGLE.

[jimsie]

I don't know if there is a genetic link or not yet, but i am pretty sure if i go to the doctor i will have to have a colonoscopy.

Unfortunately I can't help but Google this kind of stuff. I thought I would play it safe and go onto the websites I trust like the NHS website, but even on that, there are comments right underneath from people who describe the procedure as the worst pain they have ever endured. So i thought maybe this is just a couple of horror stories from people who want to complain, but after more research it seems that around half of the people who have had it say its the same level of pain. I can't even tolerate the pain of a blood test!

But now I feel I like i am having the symptoms of bowel cancer. I am going to the toilet more often, usually 2 - 3 times a day. I have found blood in my stool but I have had hemorrhoids in the past so it might be to do with that, also I never would have found it if i wasn't looking closely for it. The other symptoms of bowel cancer are pretty vague and my mind can make me think I have those as well.

Also, it gets a little more complicated. Around 4 years ago when I was having the worst health anxiety about pretty much everything and I had some blood tests done. The blood tests came back and said there were some slight abnormalities in the liver and I had to have another blood test in 3 weeks. At that point I was so exhausted from all of the worry and stress from the health anxiety, I didn't want to even think about it, or go back to the doctors. It sounds silly but just being in a medical environment puts my mind in some real dark places.

The problem is, that now I am convinced I can feel my liver and it is visible as a bulge under my rib cage. From what I know, that could mean it is enlarged which can be a symptom of liver cancer.

So now im thinking that I had colon cancer which has spread to the liver. Yet I am still too afraid to go to the doctors and get tests. I don't even like taking the time off work because then I need to explain that it is medical related. I'm not sure if explaining the extent of my anxiety or worry to the doctor/surgeons is really going to help. Health care professionals don't seem to have much understanding or anything in place for anxious people.

I can't really rationalize how realistic my concerns are anymore. I have been paranoid about so many medical issues in the past that I can't tell what is genuine and what isn't.

[nomorepanic]

The only way you are going to be sure is go and see the doc.

They may do a stool sample test and send that off before doing anything else.

You can have sedation if you have a colonoscopy so don't worry too much about that either.

[jayred]

Hi there sorry to hear about this but if im being honest i think the best thing for u is to go to the doctor it may be something simple like a stool test theu do and if there was any issues which i hope there wouldnt be its best to know kow and clear your head 1 way or another. Id love to have these tests but my drs will only ever offer anti depressants. Just try as hard as u can to be around others and use there support to keep ur min at bay until u can get to a doctor. I really hope this all works out for u ha is so so horibble but we must all overcome this and help each other through these dark times

[miss sparkle]

hi just thought i would let you know my colleague has had alot of bowel problems including severe bleeding cramps etc, and she has had several colonoscopies(spelling) and biopsys, and she isn't very brave about that sort of thing, but she was absolutely fine.
Would just like to echo that you obviously need to see the doctor, you are imagining the absolutely worst and hopefully it won't come to that, but you won't find out until you go.
i am sorry for what you are going through with your sister.
we are all here to support you x

[phillip]

Hi I am sorry to hear about your sister. I had to reply as I have exactly the same as you been having problems with my stomach and bowel
Movements and over the last year have been back and forth to the doc,s I have given blood numerous times and I to had a abnormality in the liver which showed i had double the normal alt enzyme in my liver I gave more blood
To rule out hepitats and them my baffled doctor told me to see if the Symptons with my bowels stomach etc clear up and come back in three months time nothing had changed so I returned 3 months later was told to give more blood and my alt was still double the normal level so I have now be refered to get a ultrasound which I have on the 19th but like yourself am worried that I have cancer in the liver or has spread there and whilst waiting for the test has kicked of my panic attacks again but I thought I would message you as it's better to take comfort of someone is going through it aswell as you. Cheers
Phil

[Carmeld14]

Hi, im sorry to hear about your sister. i completely understand your fears , but ive had numerous colonoscopies over the years and aside from the yukky drink to clear the bowels, the procedure was completely painless. In australia we go under anaesthetic for the procedure. Colon cancer is a highly preventable disease with regular checkups so i would definitely recommend going to your doctor to put you mind at ease. It sounds like your stress and anxiety is a very likely cause of the symptoms you are experiencing. I experience exactly the same symptoms when im stressed or anxious. All the best with coping with your issues and all the best to your sisier.

[Mr Brownstone]

I had some kind of "scopy" for my IBS, it was a tube up my bum-hole anyway. No pain at all, barely even any discomfort.

[stressybessy]

Hi, if you had colon cancer that had already spread to the liver I would have thought you would be showing lots more significant symptoms than those you mention. Livers can be also become enlarged for many reasons which have nothing to do with cancer, are you sure its the liver you can see not a small hernia - that would be much more likely. Its worth having the tests done for your own peace of mind - I'm only saying that because it will help you stop worrying not because I think you have any reason to worry. x :hugs:

[messianictalmud]

Hi Jimsie as others say go speak to your doctor even though your sister has colon cancer, unless you are showing any symptoms that warrents colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy then your doctor won't request one just cause your sister as it.
Also if at sometime your doctor decided you need one then there really is nothing to worry about at, some people make things like these procedures sound really bad because it's fun to them. You would be given painlkiller in your arm aswell as sedation which you can ask for, you will initially feel the tube being inserted at anus opening due it being sensative it's not painful at all and the test is over and done before you know it, and any biopsy's or polyps removed is painless too.
Before colonoscopy you will be required to drink a laxative preperation to empty your bowels which maked you poooooooooooo for for England.

[jimsie]

Thanks for all of the replies. Just an update to say that I did go to the doctor, he confirmed that the mass in my abdomen was just fatty tissue and the bleeding is probably caused by hemorrhoids. He said there was probably nothing to worry about which is good.

But because of the possible genetic link he did send off the details to a specialist. The specialist was supposed to have got in contact but hasn't yet and its been over a week, not sure how long that is supposed to take or maybe they just don't think there is enough reason to have any tests or anything yet.

I still notice the blood in the stool which still makes me worry a bit since that is the main symptom of bowel cancer and i think im having slight pains in my stomach now but i know that im paranoid and over sensitive to these things.

[jimsie]

Just an update on this. I have received a letter from the hospital where an appointment has been arranged. The strange thing is that it is a bit of general letter and dosn't say what it is for exactly. But it does say that it is recommended that i take someone with me and that i dont drive back, so that is making me a bit concerned as to what it could be.

Also it is quite problematic to get someone to come with me as the only people who could drive me live far away. I would have thought any real intrusive procedures would need some kind of preparation before hand?

[nomorepanic]

Jim

Call them and say you need to know what the appointment is for as you cannot easily take someone with you. Hopefully the consultant would have updated the notes with what he wants to do.

[jimsie]

So I went for the initial visit at the hospital where the doctor did a rectal exam and told me I will have to have regular colonscopies every 5 years. I now have my colonoscopy in less than 2 weeks and im more terrified than ever. I found the rectal exam to be quite painful and im sure that's nothing compared to the full colonoscopy. I can't tolerate any pain at all and i have read SO many stories online describing it as the worst pain/torture ever imaginable even with sedation. This makes me want to cancel it all together, I would much rather take the risks of getting something serious than going through what many many people are describing.

On the other hand, family members have also gone through with it and said it wasn't so bad (although im not sure if i believe them) and their results were fine. Also the doctor and nurse at the hospital are friendly which makes a massive difference for me. But I have a pretty severe phobia of any medical procedure at all, this really is my worst nightmare come true. It would be nice to know why so many people report such traumatizing experiences and if it is anything close to that for me I can't begin to imagine the consequences.

[nomorepanic]

The pain isn't really that bad lol. Please read the posts in the colonoscopy forum for reassurance. More people say it is not that bad than say it hurt so much they nearly died with pain lol.

Also if you have sedation you won't remember the pain at all.

Where have you been reading these stories?

[jimsie]

The pain isn't really that bad lol. Please read the posts in the colonoscopy forum for reassurance. More people say it is not that bad than say it hurt so much they nearly died with pain lol.

Also if you have sedation you won't remember the pain at all.

Where have you been reading these stories?

I hope you are right, I was doing really well not worrying about it until i just decided to start Googling again. I'm not sure if its ok to submit links? But this is just one example of the many other forums and websites im finding about it http://www.patient.co.uk/forums/discuss/painful-colonoscopy-18182

Most people say they remember the whole thing, but even if it was bad but i forgot about it, that's not really reassuring. I know some people have reported about the colonoscopy not being so bad, but the pure agony style stories seem to outweigh them. Even in the booklet ive been sent about it, it says some patients find it painful. If even the booklet from the nhs says that then it must be bad and I have no endurance for any of it really.

[nomorepanic]

There are loads on there saying it wasn't that bad though as well. I bet you only chose to read the ones that said it was excruiating.

They have to warn you it can be painful. Imagine if they said you won't feel any pain at all and you did?

Please read the posts on the sub-forum here ok and you will get a balanced report.

Would you rather go through the pain of bowel cancer than this? I don't think so.