The Colon Club

Hello all. I have been struggling with bowel issues for over 5 yrs. First started with constipation, on amd off. It's now pain in the left of my stomach near navel, lower tummy near ovaries and pain on my side as well as back. The left part of my tummy is a little bigger than my right perhaps from swelling. I have intermitten diarrhea, stomach cramps and overall jist feel like poop. I ended up in the ER Saturday where they did labs and CT without contrast. All neg. First of all, would a CT without contrast show anything or was it a waste of my copay? Second are there other things that can be causing all these problems besides colon cancer. I am scared out of my mind and having anxiety. I am currently waiting for my insurance to approve colonoscopy.

Kay1982 wrote:Hello all. I have been struggling with bowel issues for over 5 yrs. First started with constipation, on amd off. It's now pain in the left of my stomach near navel, lower tummy near ovaries and pain on my side as well as back. The left part of my tummy is a little bigger than my right perhaps from swelling. I have intermitten diarrhea, stomach cramps and overall jist feel like poop. I ended up in the ER Saturday where they did labs and CT without contrast. All neg. First of all, would a CT without contrast show anything or was it a waste of my copay? Second are there other things that can be causing all these problems besides colon cancer. I am scared out of my mind and having anxiety. I am currently waiting for my insurance to approve colonoscopy.

If a tumor was large enough in your abdomen to be felt, it would be large enough to be easily seen on CT. Unfortunately I know this from personal experience.

Kay1982 wrote:Hello all. I have been struggling with bowel issues for over 5 yrs. First started with constipation, on amd off. It's now pain in the left of my stomach near navel, lower tummy near ovaries and pain on my side as well as back. The left part of my tummy is a little bigger than my right perhaps from swelling. I have intermitten diarrhea, stomach cramps and overall jist feel like poop. I ended up in the ER Saturday where they did labs and CT without contrast. All neg. First of all, would a CT without contrast show anything or was it a waste of my copay? Second are there other things that can be causing all these problems besides colon cancer. I am scared out of my mind and having anxiety. I am currently waiting for my insurance to approve colonoscopy.

I went to the ER with rectal bleeding and they drew blood, took vitals, and asked me a lot of questions. They then did a CT scan with contrast and found a mass and said that it was likely cancer. Next up was a colonoscopy, some recovery time and then I went home. It was a very long day from about 2 AM to 8 PM at the hospital but I was glad that they got all of that done in one day as I probably would have worried if there were time between the CT and the Colonoscopy. The pathology report came back within a few days (I don't remember how many) and it was cancer.

So no, the CT scan wasn't a waste of money. At least you know that you don't have a tumor large enough to show up on a CT scan. There are many things that can cause GI problems. One of my sisters has had GI problems for years and she's lost weight and has extreme constipation problems. She going to see a few GI specialists to see if they can figure out what is wrong with her so that they can fix it. She does not have cancer. So yes, there are things that can cause GI problems that aren't cancer.

In my case, I had a mass and I guess that was sufficient justification for an immediate colonoscopy. The GI doctor ran point for me that day and in the weeks to come. You have a lot of GI problems so you should be working with a GI doc if your insurance works that way. I realize that some insurance plans generally require you to go through your PCP for that stuff but your PCP should have looked at doing some tests, including the colonoscopy, if he knew about your symptoms.

I would feel fairly relieved that it is likely not colon cancer. You could still have a very small mass technically, but in the clinical trial I am in, they do a high resolution CT scan and that is it. I will have a new colonoscopy eventually but yes, CT scans catch most of it.

I had a large polyp and it was not detected by CT scan with contrast. Colonoscopy is the best to rule out anything.

I also had three CT scans before surgery that did not pick up the tumor that grew through the colon walk from the base of my appendix. It was over 2cm but only the colonoscopy found it.

Brenda

I'm sorry you're going through this and hope your insurance will cover a colonoscopy so you will know for certain.*hugs*

Thank you all. My insurance approved my colonoscopy now I wait for my appt. I am still feeling poopy everyday mostly pain like ovary area, on both sides. Alot of nausea. I will keep you warriors updated ony results. I hope you all are doing well.

I'm glad your insurance approved your colonoscopy! I hope you will get an appointment soon!*hugs*

I'm glad you got approval for a colonoscopy. While they are not very fun it really is the only way to rule it out. My 9 cm tumor showed as inflammation on my initial CT scan and my liver Mets were said to be lesions. I had a 10 almost 11 cm tumor between the lobes of my liver as well as a few smaller Mets throughout. The CT only picked up 2 lesions.

I hope your scope comes back clear for cancer.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

BeansMama wrote:I'm glad you got approval for a colonoscopy. While they are not very fun it really is the only way to rule it out. My 9 cm tumor showed as inflammation on my initial CT scan and my liver Mets were said to be lesions. I had a 10 almost 11 cm tumor between the lobes of my liver as well as a few smaller Mets throughout. The CT only picked up 2 lesions.

I hope your scope comes back clear for cancer.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi beams mama, was your ct scan with or without contrast? Mine was without and I'm afraid it wouldn't have been seen. Any thoughts?

Kay1982 wrote:

BeansMama wrote:I'm glad you got approval for a colonoscopy. While they are not very fun it really is the only way to rule it out. My 9 cm tumor showed as inflammation on my initial CT scan and my liver Mets were said to be lesions. I had a 10 almost 11 cm tumor between the lobes of my liver as well as a few smaller Mets throughout. The CT only picked up 2 lesions.

I hope your scope comes back clear for cancer.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Hi beams mama, was your ct scan with or without contrast? Mine was without and I'm afraid it wouldn't have been seen. Any thoughts?

My CT scan was with contrast. I would think they know what to look for, even without contrast. Don't drive yourself crazy with the what ifs (I know easier said than done). Stay away from Dr. Google, it will tell you that you have all kinds of diseases just because one symptom matches.

Colonoscopy is the way to go. That will give you a definite answer. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Kay1982 wrote:Hello all. I have been struggling with bowel issues for over 5 yrs. First started with constipation, on amd off. It's now pain in the left of my stomach near navel, lower tummy near ovaries and pain on my side as well as back. The left part of my tummy is a little bigger than my right perhaps from swelling. I have intermitten diarrhea, stomach cramps and overall jist feel like poop. I ended up in the ER Saturday where they did labs and CT without contrast. All neg. First of all, would a CT without contrast show anything or was it a waste of my copay? Second are there other things that can be causing all these problems besides colon cancer. I am scared out of my mind and having anxiety. I am currently waiting for my insurance to approve colonoscopy.

First, let me echo everyone else and say that the CT, even without contrast, was not a waste. While I completely agree that your colonoscopy is the best way to go, try not to set yourself up for thinking that it has to be cancer. There are a LOT of other things that it could be. You are doing what you need to so that you can hopefully rule that out completely, and maybe find out what is causing your issues, but take some reassurance in that. Like Beans said, try to stay off Dr. Google. All it will do is add to your anxiety, and won't provide much useful info. Breathe, try to take heart from the fact that you did have a clear CT, and wait for results of your colonoscopy.

And of course, we're here if you need us.

Smiles, Hugs and Prayers,
WriterGirl

Your CT scan was not a waste. They were probably looking for a renal or ureteral stone if it was done without contrast.

CT is not the best diagnostic modality for colorectal cancer, especially if the mass is small or inside the bowel lumen. Some cancers can be seen on CT as a mass, stricture (apple core lesion), or a "filling defect" if oral contrast reaches that part of the bowel. Inflammation can be seen with both benign causes (diverticulitis, colitis, etc) and with cancer. Many cancers (including my 5 cm mass) will not be visible on CT, even with IV contrast. It also matters if you have IV only or oral contrast only or both. Each imaging or diagnostic modality has its strengths and weaknesses. We have all had bloodwork, colonoscopy, and CT. Some will also have had US, EUS, MRI, and PET. Each has a specific role to play.

Without IV contrast, evaluation of the liver is limited and small lesions can be missed. The word lesion is used to describe an abnormal finding. Because many things can look the same, they will be called lesions until it is known or suspected that they are cancer (primary or metastasis) or something else (abscess, cyst, benign liver tumor, etc.). It's just a way of saying "abnormal thing" in that organ.

There are many other things besides cancer that can cause the symptoms you described. Take it step by step, and try not to worry (easier said than done, I know).