New looking for information

[mikeo]

Hello All,
I am new to the board and have a question I hope someone can help me with.
While I don't have an official diagnosis I am plenty concerned and I think one is my future.
Today they took xrays and blood work

I have pencil stool and a real problem passing it. I have used prune juice, laxatives, and suppositories. i am not sure these are doing the job but I don't know about anything else. Still It feels like I am not emptying out I have had no pain in my stomach but a feeling of fullness sometimes most of the time not. I had no blood in my stool.

I have colonoscopy scheduled for April 19 which seems to me to be a long way down the track. How important is speed here I wonder. It is the length of time 5 weeks

I am a 67 year old man. I did have polyps in 2012, so I went back in 2015 and I was found to be clean.

Thanks for any help.
mikeo

[Lee]

. . . I did have polyps in 2012, so I went back in 2015 and I was found to be clean.
mikeo

Because you were scoped in 2012 and 2015, I would not be too worried about finding colon cancer. This type of cancer tends to be very slow growing especially in the beginning. It takes 10+ years for a polyp to become a cancer tumor. Good luck with your upcoming scope. Let us know how it goes. Butt based on the fact that you were scoped 2 years ago, don't worry about finding colon cancer.

Lee

[WriterGirl1969]

Hi Mike. Welcome to the group. Glad you found us.
Contrary to what Dr. Google will tell you, the pencil poops are not a sign of cancer. In fact, very rarely does that particular symptom go along with cancer. Not that it can't, just that it's not as common as Google will make it seem. Also, there are *plenty* of other things that can cause the shape of your stool to change, such as an obstruction or inflammation of some type. Since you did have polyps, it is prudent to have a colonoscopy, which you are doing. As Lee noted, the time frame is common. Most colo-rectal cancers move quite slowly (generally take 10 years to change from a polyp to cancer), unless you have a genetic pre-disposition that makes them grow faster. However, if you had that, the chances of seeing something in your 2015 colonoscopy would have been much higher.

The bottom line is, you are doing what you should, and in the meantime try not to drive yourself mad with worrying. Hopefully they will find it and be able to provide you with some relief. Do keep us posted, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Knowledge is power, and can help make you feel a little less "lost" while you wait to find out what's really going on.

Hugs and Prayers,
Tracy

[DarknessEmbraced]

Welcome to the board. Glad you're getting a colonoscopy so that you will know what's going on.*hugs*

[mikeo]

Thank all of you very much!
mikeo