Had sigmoidoscopy and found polyp - terrified!

[oscrazymum]

hi everyone, I had a sigmoidoscopy today because i occasionally have a little bleeding. The doctor said that everything looked fine, just a very small polyp removed. I'm now absolutely terrified and crying! I'm 39 - isn't this too young for polyps!? She was not very helpful and just said it's fine, polyp unrelated to the bleeding (caused by enlarged vessels) but have to see what the surgeon says when he sees the biopsy but that won't be for another 6 weeks. I don't understand if this means that I have cancer, might have cancer or not!!! Going crazy, any similar experiences? please help me clam down! :weep:

[Cupcakegirl]

No no no! It absolutely does not mean cancer! Not all polyps turn cancerous, and when they are, doctors know what they look like. Tons of people have them removed and that, in fact, is why they do sigmoidoscopies/colonoscopies. Please try not to worry!

[worrywart29]

Polyps are very common. They found one during both my mother and Father's colonoscopy. They removed it and all was well. A lot of people have polyps and don't know because they never checked

[Fishmanpa]

Not unusual at all, even at your age.

Positive thoughts

[nomorepanic]

Yup I have had them removed too. They are very very common and a lot of us have them and it doesn't mean cancer.

[Fishmanpa]

Is this a double post?

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=171905

Positive thoughts

[countrygirl]

Polyps are very very common and they are always removed to stop them becoming cancerous as this is a risk if you have them for a long time.( I was told by gastro that it can take 10 years for them to turn cancerous) Only the pathology will be able to say if yours is benign or not but the chances are at your age the it is not cancerous. They may want to keep an eye on you from now on in case you develop any more polyps but remember this one is most probably benign and nothing further will need to be done.

I understand your terror and sympathise. The chances of it being cancerous are tiny compared to the huge chance it is harmless.

[nomorepanic]

I will merge the posts

[Frankie123]

I have had seven polyps removed and all turned out fine. As has been previously said they remove the polyps so that they don't turn cancerous as many dont anyway. I had to have follow up colonoscopies every three years and have further two removed but again all was fine. I was told most people have polyps.

[xBettyBoopx]

Please don't worry. Seems a lorra lorra lorra peeps have had polyps my mum included.

Take heart and courage from all the messages:hugs:

[swajj]

Polyps are very common. They found one during both my mother and Father's colonoscopy. They removed it and all was well. A lot of people have polyps and don't know because they never checked

Yes they found one when I had my colonoscopy as well. The specialist knew straight away that it was benign but still send it off to the lab.

[oscrazymum]

thanks for the replies, feel a bit calmer now! I hope that if they thought it was suspicious that they would not be making me wait for 6 weeks to find out anything. All I was told was that it would be reviewed in September and then if necessary i would be called back for a follow up or otherwise discharged. I did subsequently read that such small polyps are almost always benign which made me feel better too. But I am a born worrier, especially about health-related things, and I don't know how to cope with waiting 6 weeks. And then, worrying whether I should get a full colonoscopy done to check for other little polyps and then worrying for the rest of my life that I am at an increased risk. I guess I should try to be happy that I at least had the sigmoidoscopy (even if the polyp was unrelated to the problem I had) and it was found rather than left. sigh.....

[swajj]

The specialist told me that because he found a polyp I would need to have a colonoscopy every 5 years. So another 4 years before I have to deink that disgusting mixture again. Lol

[nomorepanic]

I am on 3 yearly colonoscopies now so got one next year.

I even have a tattoo on my bowel !