Fobt positive with colon cancer in family

[Skoliv]

Hi everyone,
I am just looking for reassurance while I wait for my exams on Friday.
My FOBT came out positive yesterday, which should not have been a shock
since I have been seeing some redness in stool for the past 2 months.
Still I hoped it was the tomatoes I had been eating or any silly thing like that.
My uncle died of colon cancer at 36 (1999), I am now almost 30 and terrified to have
what he had. I have already fought off thyroid cancer and I think one cancer per
person should be enough! And I have a beautiful one year old who needs me so much..
I have no other symptoms except maybe for weight loss (around 3 kg ) but I always
assumed it was because of all the breastfeeding. No difficulty passing stool, and great digestion,
works almost as a clock, once a day, same time.
No thin stools, no pain, no fresh blood outside of stool ( not sure that is a good thing), until August at least I was not anemic (had normal blood work done). After my thyroid cancer ( I had some complications) I started becoming a bit
hypochondriac, but had gotten better with the birth of my son.
So now I am back to anxiety, no sleep, can't eat, can't work..
And doc said he will only do a partial colonoscopy (lower part) because of my symptoms (red blood inside stool)
Do you agree? Any comments would help.

[midlifemom]

Skoliv, so sorry you find yourself in this stressful situation. I don't have a medical background so can't offer much knowledge but I have learned that stressing over things which we can't control is a waste of time. It is natural however. I try to allow myself some stress/panic time and then move on. Enjoy your beautiful one year old. Each day with a child that young is a wonderful adventure. After your exams you will hopefully be armed with enough knowledge to either put your fears to rest or to formulate a plan to deal with anything, even if the plan is for more tests. Best of luck.

[Skoliv]

Thanks for the kind words!

[NWgirl]

I don't understand why they will only do a partial colonoscopy - that doesn't make sense. I would definitely ask for clarification on that. Specifically - what if there happens to be cancer in the portion of your colon they don't examine? Or how will they know there isn't?

You are doing the right thing to get this checked and not put it off. For now that's all you can do. I know the worrying is hard. Try as best you can to distract yourself with other things - like your beautiful new baby.

[Skoliv]

Thanks, you opinion really matters to me!

Of course I wished for more comments on how FOBT positive can mean so many other things and that I am probably fine (despite my family history), but I know nobady can tell me this until I do everything I have to do.. just a few more hours to wait... I promise I will come back to share the news, hopefully good ones, cause I could only find one person on the website that came back to confirm he was OK after a FOBT positive (I hear 25 % of positives are cancer or pre-cancer, which is not a great stat, but still keeps me hopeful).

[meatie]

@Skoliv

Get a FULL colonoscopy. Don't settle for a half-ass (literally and figuratively) rectal exam. Also, ask for a CT scan and or PET scan.

Good luck!

[mstults]

It's doubtful insurance would cover a pet at this point. Is it possible they are planning to do a sigmoidoscopy instead of colonoscopy? I would not settle for anything less than a complete colonoscopy.

[manders]

.

[Skoliv]

Ok, so doc went in 30 cm ad found a bleeding polip. He said it look benign (although very ugly to me) and I would need a colonoscopy to remove it and check the rest. He seems confident it is nothing and said I was lucky it bled so we could see it and take it out in time. I know it can still be cancer ad I could have a tumor higher up my colon, but I feel better just to have seen the origin of the blood and that doc is so confident. What are your thoughts?

[Skoliv]

oh and yes, he did a sigmoidoscopy, I was able to watch eveything and have a moment of total panic went I saw the polyp... thankgod I will be sedated for the colonoscopy, I am such a drama queen...

[NWgirl]

It still infuriates me that when people have symptoms doctors only want to do a sigmoidoscopy. At least know he is doing a full colonoscopy to make sure there are no other problems. The polyp will be sent for pathology to make sure it's not cancer, but most doctors can pretty much tell by looking at these things if there's a chance it's cancer or not, so I wouldn't worry too much at this point.

Again, you are SO SMART to get this checked. If it's nothing - YEAH!!!! And share your story with others - tell them that blood in their stool is never "normal" - it needs to be checked out. The earlier these things are caught, the better your chances.

Not all polyps turn into cancer. But all colorectal cancer STARTS as a polyp. Because doctors don't know which ones will turn cancerous, they all have to be removed.

[Skoliv]

Thank you for the response. I think what I have to do now, besides waiting for colonoscopy next Wednesday, is to keep my hypochondria under control. I am much calmer but still have bouts if doubt and panic every now and then when I think of whatever else could be found in the rest of my colon, and the biopsy result (only know in 2015!). The memory of my uncle also comes up and makes me so sad (needless to say my father is also in panic about this).
But I am soooo thankful to you all, I don't think I would have done anything about my bleeding any time soon if I hadn't read your stories in this forum. Sometimes hypochondria paralyses you instead of making you do the right thing. Thank you!

[dianetavegia]

Skoliv, I became very anxious about health after my liver resection and take an anti anxiety med for it. That's something you might consider. A small dose won't cause any concerns with caring for your child, driving, etc.

If this all comes back fine, since you've had that polyp, I am quite sure they'll do another colonoscopy next year then maybe go to 3 years but with you already having had cancer and the history in your family, don't EVER let them push you to 10 years!

[Skoliv]

Thanks, I will consider medication, or at least therapy... I have to admit this amount of stress is not OK.

[Skoliv]

I already posted this but for some reason it didn't show.
I am terrified cause they removed a 4cm polyp in sigmoid!! 4cm!!! I am so sure I have cancer! I am freaking out like crazy.
Doc said he still thinks it is not cancer yet, from it's appearance , but I didn't feel him as confident as last time we spoke.
I am shaking all over. 7 to 15 days until biopsy is ready. I will most probably die of concern before that!
Can a polyp be as aggressive as a full blown tumor? It still looks like a polyp even though is it big. Is that a good sign?