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Awatiing colonoscopy - very worred

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 12:55 pm
by RRJ2208
I am 58 year old female who has had 3 colonoscopies, one in 2203,one in 2007 and last in May, 2014. All done for varying amounts of blood in stool. The last one, in May,2 0014 there were a few times when the amount of blood seemed worrisome. Only hemorrhoids found on each of these colonoscopies. I have no family history. Normal blood counts at check up in October, 2017. All was well until this weekend when I had considerable bright red blood in in the toilet bowel and on the toilet paper. I saw GI yesterday and prepping today for colonoscopy tomorrow. GI had asked if I had any bleeding without bowel movements and I said no. She said best to get colonoscopy but she thinks risk for cancer is low. I came home from her office, thought I needed to have a bowel movement - then when I pushed down no poop came out but there was a spurt of bright red blood into the toilet! I am terrified! Does this mean it is more likely that I do have cancer and not just a hemorrhoid? I have a call in to the GI but she has't called me back yet (the bleeding did stop immediately and interestingly since starting the Miralax prep I am not seeing much blood). I assume if it is cancer it is rectal, not colon and my understanding is that rectal has a worse prognosis than colon? Are people ever cured of rectal cancer and do most need a colostomy? Is the treatment bearable? Any help is appreciated, I am very scared.

Re: Awatiing colonoscopy - very worred

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:53 pm
by heiders33
I have rectal cancer, and yes it is curable, and I don’t need a colostomy (just have a temp ileostomy). The treatment isn’t a fun time but it is totally manageable. It’s just a different protocol from colon cancer, usually involving radiation prior to surgery to shrink the tumor.

Re: Awatiing colonoscopy - very worred

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:08 pm
by Lee
The chances of it being cancer are rare. You were scoped in 2014, generally it takes about 10 years for a polyp to turn into cancer. There is a rare (and I mean rare) chance that it was overlooked. Unless they told you on your last scope that it was an inadequate clean out, I would not be to worried about finding cancer. The bleeding could also happen with a polyp, butt a polyp is not cancer especially since you say colon cancer does not run in your family.

It's best o get it checked out, butt try not to worry.

Let us know how it goes,

Lee

Re: Awatiing colonoscopy - very worred

Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:58 am
by DarknessEmbraced
I'm sorry you're going through this and hope your colonoscopy goes well!*hugs*