lump in abdomen - update

[amu]

Hi all

I have been struggling with this stupid visible longish lump in the lower right side of my abdomen for more than a YEAR and I still worry about it, I posted before about how my whole right side is bigger than my left and how my upper right side is swollen as well, and I'm worried that I have a giant bowel cancer tumour that makes my whole right side stick out :unsure: - well last year I went to two different GPs, twice to each, but when I was there of course the lump wasn't too visible, they examined my stomach and felt nothing, and I also had an abdominal and a pelvic ultrasound + a blood test and a stool test all of which showed nothing. But no one would refer me to a colonoscopy despite my family history of bowel cancer :weep:
Well I visited my home country in March and saw a gastroenterologist at a private clinic. She couldn't feel anything either (lump didn't show up then either of course - but at other times it looks like there is a huge, apple-sized, but longish lump there) and to the difference in my upper stomach she said it has "no significance" as asymmetry is common in all parts of our bodies. But because of the family history she booked me in for a colonoscopy, though I have to wait until July for that, because I had to come back to Scotland (I only had a couple days off work).

I managed to calm down for a day or two, as I thought I might as well live my life until July, but then I started checking myself in the mirror, and my right side just looks absolutely HUGE, and I can often feel that stupid lump as well, and now spring is here and I am supposed to wear less clothes, which don't hide my abdomen and gives me opportunity to keep checking and wondering whether it has grown or whether it has always been like that:weep:

I'm on the verge of insanity, I can't go back to the GP as she really laughed it off last time, I can't live my life this way, this is constantly on my mind and when it's at its worst I even consider suicide - stupid, I know, but I can't handle this uncertainty :weep: Help!!!!!!

[belle]

With all the tests and examinations you've had, i'd think that the doctors would have found something by now if there was anything seriously wrong. NO doctor would let you walk around with a "giant bowel cancer tumour" if they thought for a single second that is what could possibly be wrong.

Feel at ease that all the tests have come back fine and perhaps you just have a wonky stomach ;)

x

[NoPoet]

She couldn't feel anything either (lump didn't show up then either of course - but at other times it looks like there is a huge, apple-sized, but longish lump there)
Hi, cancer can't change its mass to hide from doctors so there is nothing there that needs to be worried about. :)


they examined my stomach and felt nothing, and I also had an abdominal and a pelvic ultrasound + a blood test and a stool test all of which showed nothing.
Referring you on would cost the health service a fortune, so they only do it for people who they think really need it. They don't think you need it cos you have *no* physical symptoms of cancer. Your symptoms are all emotional -- cancer is a physical problem which shows up clearly during tests -- nothing has shown up on the tests you've undergone, therefore nothing is wrong. You are scaring yourself for nothing, you are absolutely fine.


she said it has "no significance" as asymmetry is common in all parts of our bodies.
That is very realistic advice. Just because you might have a bump or bulge somewhere doesn't mean you need one somewhere else to balance it out. It sounds to me like you're so convinced that something is wrong you're not putting any faith in what the doctor tells you, and to be honest I think your doctor has been doing the right thing by you.

So take a deep breath, step back, relax and let it go. You have been given the all clear. That's more than some people get! :)

[amu]

Thanks, I really need other people's rational, objective perspective to snap out of it!:flowers:
If it was anything else, it would be easier to just forget about it, but this way that whenever I look at my abdomen and my right side sticks out... it jus looks so bad, it's really hard not to worry. It really causes so much distress and the whole of my last year has been spent worrying an crying and catastrophising.
I didn't mean to question the competence of the GPs or the specialist, I know that they did what they were supposed to do. I just know that I won't calm down until I have a full colonoscopy - my Dad was just 49 when he died, and he might have had cancer unnoticed for long years before that, so it is wise for me to get checked even without symptoms.

[nomorepanic]

I wouldn't put yourself through a colonoscopy unless you have to as they are not nice at all!

[sahara]

Aaaaawwww, hun please try not to stress.

As the others have said - if it was a tumour it would always be there and so therefore the Drs would have felt it

Also if you have had it for a year and it was cancer I am sure you know by now, either through the tests or some physical symptoms.

You are fine, please try not to worry. I know its easier said than done :hugs:

[Trixie]

If you had a large cancerous growth in your bowel for over a year you would have had other symptoms and be really poorly.

Is it fat?

[valleybear]

Re last reply, I have a large, longish shaped lump just to the left of my right hip,putting it in the bowel area. I have seen the Dr about it and he says it is fatty tissue that has gathered under the skin. I suppose it is always there, but sometimes it moves around and it not as obvious as at other times. You really DO NOT have bowel cancer. You couldn't possibly have something as large for any length of time without it being diagnosed.XXXX

[amu]

Thanks guys, but it's not fat or gas, I can feel it it feels hardish like muscle, and when I see it it sticks out and slowly disappears as if it "fell" down inside my belly somewhere and then it's no longer visible. The doctors saw it in its "hidden" state and then it can't be felt. It's hard to explain but it looks scary.
My upper right side looks bigger too, now that looks like fat, as if there was a bit more fat on my right side, as that is always there in all positions.

Otherwise no diarrhea, no constipation, no blood in stools etc, and my ovaries are normal sized. I'm definitely getting a colonoscopy no matter how bad it is, because I just need to know. (Is it really that awful?)

[Trixie]

Thanks guys, but it's not fat or gas, I can feel it it feels hardish like muscle, and when I see it it sticks out and slowly disappears as if it "fell" down inside my belly somewhere and then it's no longer visible. The doctors saw it in its "hidden" state and then it can't be felt. It's hard to explain but it looks scary.
My upper right side looks bigger too, now that looks like fat, as if there was a bit more fat on my right side, as that is always there in all positions.

Otherwise no diarrhea, no constipation, no blood in stools etc, and my ovaries are normal sized. I'm definitely getting a colonoscopy no matter how bad it is, because I just need to know. (Is it really that awful?)

Is it a hernia?

[Peggysl]

Hi

It's a good idea to get a Colonoscopy if bowel cancer is in the family.
I lost my Dad to this 6 years ago....he was only 62.....and by the time it was found was huge. He only lasted 18 months after that. He went in for a hernia op and that's how it was discovered. They did a colostomy and he had to have a bag.
On the positive side, the Doc said it could have been growing for the last 20 years, at it is a slow growing cancer and treatable if found in time.
Get it checked out.....you'll feel soooo much better!

I had a colonoscopy about 15 months ago and don't remember a thing about it.
Try not to panic till July, it's not so far away.

Good luck.

Pegs X

[amu]

Trixie: no, it's not soft, doesn't hurt, and my abdominal wall is fine according to the doctors.

Peggysl: yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about, I lost my Dad to bowel cancer too, he was just 49, and it was symptomless until the very last month. Especially on the right side (where the lump is) it can grow huge, unnoticed for 5-10 years or more as there it doesn't cause diarrhoea or constipation or pain, anything.

[RosieXXX]

Hello amu

Because your Dad's tumour was symptomless I can see why it went undetected, but no doubt it would have been detected if he had been examined and checked out in the way you have. I would take comfort from the fact you have drawn your doctor's attention to what appears to be a lump, although I know it wasn't visible when they examined you, and they have investigated further, with manual examination and I think you said pelvic ultrasound together with blood tests and stool test. I am one hundred per cent certain if there was anything untoward they most certainly would have picked up on it. I understand your worries, because i have been exactly the same with various concerns, and sometimes it seems impossible to lay these worries to rest.

[amu]

Thanks Rosie - yeah that's what I need to think about, my Dad didn't go through any tests during those years. I even paid for a stool test for the enzyme Tumor M2-PK (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_M2-PK), which is available in my home country, and is supposed to show 75% of bowel cancer tumours. It came back negative, but of course I'm struggling with HA, and I can't believe the tests...

[RosieXXX]

Do you think it would be worthwhile having another enzyme Tumor M2-PK test before putting yourself through colonoscopy - or do you think your mind won't settle unless you have the colonoscopy? HA is a real struggle isn't it -fortunately I am beginning to recover from mine, and am able to look at things more rationally. Anyway, do try to hang on to the positives, because from all you have said I really don't think there is any chance of you having a problem.

[Ambers]

Hi Amu - I also have the same lump in my right hand side - it came up three weeks ago after returning from Zumba (dance class). Since then I have had a lot of hot pain in that area and in my leg too. I had a Colonoscopy last year and that was all good. Currently undergoing tests and I had thought it was a Hernia. The pain was so bad that I ended up in A&E last week and given Morphine..

Do you have any pain at all?

I am very slim but sometimes when I lay down one half of my tummy sticks out more than the other and takes time to flatten out. I think that sounds normal and has not worried me.

[Greenman50]

Just so you know guys this post is 2 years old.............

[suzy-sue]

IVE GOT THE SAME THING!!! but on the left side...
after 2 weeks of exercising new diet lots of water i noticed the bulge ... im skinny i dont smoke or anything .... im also 19
the dr said its no hernia or ceptic ulcer but in a week ill get scanned..
im soooo frickin scared im shaking all the time worried its gonna be cancer and what to say to my parents :(
can any1 help me ?


Mel someone else has the same thing .. :D sue

[Greenman50]

hi sue ...yea see what you mean :D

just thought i would point it out incase they were waiting for a reply :yesyes:

[amu]

Hi all

Just wanted to update that 1. after 2 years I am still alive :D and 2. I never found out what the lump was, but somehow I learnt to live with it (and obsess about other things).
I had a colonoscopy, and finally convinced myself it should be ok.

Amu

[Greenman50]

well done :yesyes:

[KMinUSA]

Hi all

Just wanted to update that 1. after 2 years I am still alive :D and 2. I never found out what the lump was, but somehow I learnt to live with it (and obsess about other things).
I had a colonoscopy, and finally convinced myself it should be ok.

Amu

I realize this post is now 8 years old! But I thought I'd check in for another update, as I have this exact same issue—a tubular bulge in the lower right abdomen that comes and goes. It's soft, I can rub it and make it go away. Sometimes it will reappear right away, other times it won't. Did you ever figure out what was going on?