Have I got rectal cancer?

[KK77]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to misquote

If I do get the all clear I want to use my story and experience to help others with similar symptoms who come on here 100% convinced they have colon cancer, I know I get a lot of relief from reading threads where the outcome has been good yet the symptoms suggested something nasty. That would be one good thing to come out of this

My fear is that, as Terry pointed out, your GP has referred you to satisfy your anxiety but the "specialist" you get to see is far less sympathetic and sends you on your way without any further investigations, which is what you want (ie scope).

What will you do if this happens? You must bear this in mind or you will be thrown into a further spiral of despair.

[Toby2000]

I'm glad it does Toby....and for what its worth I am looking forward to you starting the 'turning your life around' stuff. I think you are such an intelligent, thoughtful, polite, diplomatic and reflective young man, whom I'm sure has much to offer in the future to whatever you decide to focus on.

Thank you so much Carys

[Toby2000]

My fear is that, as Terry pointed out, your GP has referred you to satisfy your anxiety but the "specialist" you get to see is far less sympathetic and sends you on your way without any further investigations, which is what you want (ie scope).

What will you do if this happens? You must bear this in mind or you will be thrown into a further spiral of despair.

If that doesn’t happen I will probably have a mental breakdown

I’m remaining optimistic. I’m sure if they don’t suggest it straight away I could persuade them

[pulisa]

No reputable gastroenterologist would be "persuaded" to order an invasive test for a patient if there is no clinical need. Colonoscopies are not without their risks.

[BlueIris]

This is actually some next-level control freakery - the assumption that a specialist won't have a better idea of what's going on with your body than you do.

At some point, you need to accept that your anxiety is your problem. I can't believe I'm saying this again!

[Toby2000]

First of all I’m sure they WILL do the test, that’s the reason I got referred in the first place. Otherwise they’re just telling me the same thing that my GP told me

Second of all, I know my body. I know there’s something wrong for a FACT; I literally have blood every so often and mucus and a lot of mucus, I’ve never had this before in my life even though I’ve always had a crap diet etc. And this annoying feeling of incomplete evacuation or whatever the hell it is whenever I go to toilet, like a weird vague back pain/feeling that there’s something up there that won’t come out. I don’t know how to describe it but I know there’s something wrong and that’s enough to warrant a colonoscopy along with the unexplained blood

[MyNameIsTerry]

Oh and yeah she said “they’ll have a look with a camera”

Did she said they would do a colonoscopy? Or just they will have a look with a camera?

[KK77]

If that doesn’t happen I will probably have a mental breakdown

I’m remaining optimistic. I’m sure if they don’t suggest it straight away I could persuade them

Being optimistic is a positive thing to a point. You don't want to be unrealistic and end up, as you say, having a "breakdown". I'm only warning you so that doesn't happen.

Moreover, I'm suggesting a Plan B: You either accept reasons why a consultant would deem a scope unnecessary and be reassured by that, or you fund the procedure yourself.

The choice is yours.

[Toby2000]

Did she said they would do a colonoscopy? Or just they will have a look with a camera?

She said they’ll have a look with a camera but she probably said that because I might not have known what “colonoscopy” meant

[Toby2000]

Being optimistic is a positive thing to a point. You don't want to be unrealistic and end up, as you say, having a "breakdown". I'm only warning you so that doesn't happen.

Moreover, I'm suggesting a Plan B: You either accept reasons why a consultant would deem a scope unnecessary and be reassured by that, or you fund the procedure yourself.

The choice is yours.

If I don’t find out what’s wrong soon then I may as well just check myself in to a psychiatric ward