Have I got rectal cancer?

[Scass]

I expect it's back to his GP to manage so there should be some follow up anyway? Just confirming something is pretty pointless if they don't intend to treat it and I would imagine a GP would want to make some treatment recommendations, if the specialist didn't (unlikely), and to least say come back if symptoms persist.

Yes, true and let’s hope they do.
When I suggested this to my consultant they said I’d need to follow up with the gp myself, something that my gp confirmed to me. The consultant will send a letter to the GP showing their findings, but it can often take a few weeks to arrive.
Of course by then, Toby will be living on greens, nuts & berries that he’s learnt to forage while going for his daily walks, so my points will all be worthless. Or maybe they are just worthless anyway.



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[Carys]

Or maybe they are just worthless anyway.

NO, they aren't. They are/were good points and weren't about continuing Toby's belief that he has cancer or continuing his anxiety about that. Your points were about helping Toby to ask his questions, understand what he'd been told at the test today and work on methods to alleviate the problem. FMP has a different view, clearly, but it doesn't make your thoughts less valid.

[Scass]

NO, they aren't. They are/were good points and weren't about continuing Toby's belief that he has cancer or continuing his anxiety about that. Your points were about helping Toby to ask his questions, understand what he'd been told at the test today and work on methods to alleviate the problem. FMP has a different view, clearly, but it doesn't make your thoughts less valid.

Thanks Carys.
Apologies to the thread for harping on.


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[MyNameIsTerry]

Yes, true and let’s hope they do.
When I suggested this to my consultant they said I’d need to follow up with the gp myself, something that my gp confirmed to me. The consultant will send a letter to the GP showing their findings, but it can often take a few weeks to arrive.
Of course by then, Toby will be living on greens, nuts & berries that he’s learnt to forage while going for his daily walks, so my points will all be worthless. Or maybe they are just worthless anyway.



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That's true. The GP will get the results but unless anything flags for follow up it's back to you to chase them for help. It's an aspect of the NHS that is still in the Stone Age days...you would expect to be contacted by private sector companies if you were dealing with an ongoing problem (not healthcare).

Some doctors babble on in their own language and forget to translate to the patient so, as you suggested, that's when your GP is the best place to go. Not on here asking a million & one questions skirting around it all, get a definite answer from someone trained who can see the tests. Certainly from Toby's description it's not as clear as it could be when you consider ongoing symptoms and without knowing more of what was said it's perhaps not the best way to get things across?

[Toby2000]

Yes, of course it can be on it too, as it pushes past said enlarged and scratched vein..... Stop analysing. There is nothing there, APART from an enlarged vein. You have seen the expert, as Pulisa says, and had the all clear. Thats it, now work on sorting it out.

Thanks for explaining, I just wish the NHS site could've said that to avoid confusion

[Toby2000]

It’s quite tough to suddenly switch off your anxiety, even after a diagnosis has proved that you are otherwise healthy. What I did after a recent diagnosis was to book an appointment with my GP so that she could explain it in clear non-doctor speak. Maybe you could try that too?
Also note that he said what it wasn’t - cancer, and what it was - internal piles.

It’s a really reassuring diagnosis. I know it’s hard to take in, but if you have more questions it’s best to discuss with a professional.


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Yep, thank you, exactly!

I still am worrying a bit about it, naturally, because I just will after 9 long months of pretty much thinking about dying every minute of every day.

I'm going to my GP in about 2 weeks anyway to renew my medication prescription so I'll probably ask them to explain it again to me there. I sort of understand it now but it'll probably sink in better if I hear it in person again

[Toby2000]

Toby, you have to accept none of your anxiety is going to suddenly change because every doctor on planet earth says there is nothing wrong. Your subconscious doesn't care. It will seek to undermine everything they say. You are already into doubt fueled by negative thinking styles, the All-or-nothing thinking is glaringly obvious. You want a tailored perfect answer...but that won't help you either. The answer lies in what we've been telling you for months and now it's time to start that work. They've said what it is and there needs to be no more discussion of what it could be. Now it's about how to change, the ultimate counter evidence is in so you have a conclusion to re frame and continued "what ifs" are just looking for more reassurance, more obsessive-compulsive cycle basics.

Unfortunately that's true :(

My subconscious is trying to find doubts.. what if I actually have an enlarged prostate and the doctor saw that and mistook it for a hemorrhoid (stupid I know)? What if just inches away from where the scope stopped, there was a tumour around the corner?

I'm trying my best and I'm going to sign up for therapy and I'm going to ask the GP to explain it to me in a again on Friday when I renew my meds, unfortunately I can't switch my subconscious off. Wish I could

[Toby2000]

From a fellow bowel worrier, great news on the appointment Toby. Much like you I did question the test when I had a flex sig done a few weeks ago but I gradually accepted it. You can too, and try not to fall into any other rabbit hole worries - I'm trying not to right now with other health issues!

I'm glad your tests resulted in good news

It is very difficult to accept, I just felt like for so long that I would be one of those very rare unlucky teenagers who are diagnosed with it. But I know logically that it's hemhorroids now, it wouldn't make sense for it to be cancer. I'm just so used to worrying I guess, it's hard to switch it off

[Toby2000]

Wonder why they are always 'rabbit holes' and not 'badger sets' ? off topic I know, but you know....

I love this

[Toby2000]

I think the trouble is for Toby, he doesn't ask the questions whilst he is there with the medical professional, so maybe Scass suggested it for partly that reason. He always has LOADS of questions afterwards, which he then comes on here with. He has said that he's not doubting the diagnosis, which is great to hear !

I was going to make notes of my symptoms like Terry said but I forgot. So I forgot to mention about the weird blood test results (I did mention that I wasn't anemic) and different colored mucus (yellow, clear, brown-y), doubt it would've made any difference to his diagnosis though