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Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 6:37 pm
by Yvana1
Hello, I am new to this board. I was given a CT scan at the hospital emerg dept when I went in for right side abdominal pain and tenderness that had gradually gotten worse over a 4-day period (I thought it was probably appendicitis). The results of CT were an: "ill-defined soft tissue mass lesion at rt colon measuring 5.5 x 3.9 cm with pericolonic stranding and edema with small nodules suggesting nodes; carcinoma suspected". I have since had an initial appt with a colorectal surgeon and will be having a colonoscopy. The issue I am having is that the pain has subsided greatly since the day at the hospital, to where there are only maybe minor 'twinges' at times. Everything else is functioning normally except for reduced appetite and occasional constipation. Has anyone ever had or heard of anyone having initial pain (enough to send them to the ER), that got identified as a mass, and then their pain all but disappeared ? (I cannot find any information about Colon mass pain actually subsiding). And why would pain from an identified mass be there then "go away" (don't these continue to grow and cause continual pain?) So now I wonder if there is the possibility that because the pain's gone, that this could be something else. Or has this, in fact, happened to someone else, that even though their pain was gone, the mass was still found to be there after further testing and diagnosis and they had to have subsequent treatment for colon cancer(?)
Another thing that is puzzling me is that just 3 months prior to going to the ER I did have a 5-yr colonoscopy that was supposedly fine with only one small benign polyp. So please, if anyone has any insight or experience with this, please respond. Thanks so much.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 6:54 pm
by Lee
Hi and welcome,

By the shear fact you ended up in the ER with pain, I would definitely follow up and find out why. Me personally, I had no pain. Please get that colonoscopy, your life is more important than an assumption. I can't tell you if you have cancer or not, only that colonoscopy will give you a true diagnoses if anything is going on.

Good luck, and please let us know what you find out.

Lee

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2019 11:29 pm
by Yvana1
Thank you. Yes, pet scan Wed and colonoscopy next week. Surgeon says that even given what CT report said and my answers to questions, it still may not be 'something' (but he hadn't yet actually seen the xray yet at the time of consult appt), and that "definitely, yes, it should be checked out." I have since found some data: "Chris Beats Cancer" Wark who had intermittent pain over months that gradually got worse with each event (which I guess means it was perhaps "growing in spurts" (?) I've always thought I'd done everything right preventatively (especially diet, lifestyle) and there is no family history (that I know of) so... just goes to show (be proactive with your health). Thank you so much for your input and support.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 12:27 am
by del
It does sound unusual that your pains would disappear like that. And bowel cancer usually grows slowly, so unless they missed it at your last colonoscopy 3 months ago, it would be unusual for a tumor to grow to such a size it is causing pain and can be picked up on a CT in such a short time. What did the colorectal surgeon say at your initial appointment?

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 1:34 pm
by Yvana1
Yes, just how a mass that size could go undetected in a colonoscopy just 3 mos prior(?!)... The reaction from surgeon who knows of the GI doctor who did the colonoscopy was not a good one (which makes me wonder if he's heard of this same scenario about this GI doctor before). The doctor at the ER said that because of the carcinoma possibility, then it was a good thing I had enough pain to bring me in (I thought it was appendicitis). At the time of the initial appt with the surgeon, the pain had not subsided very much-- it started to subside a day or 2 after. I have researched the possibility of masses being "missed" in colonoscopies, and it is unfortunately, not uncommon--there are several medical studies documenting this and articles written, i.e. women tend to have longer colons, which I was told I do, by the GI 5 yrs ago. With that, they perhaps don't go in far enough, or they withdraw too quickly and miss things-- these are a couple of the possibilities as to why this happens. The possibility of gross negligence and lack of due diligence by the GI is very upsetting to me if it turns out to be a carcinoma diagnosis.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 9:27 pm
by del
Did they suggest what they think the mass could be if not cancer? Have you ever had diverticulitis in the past? I really hope you get some answers soon.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 11:23 pm
by Yvana1
Well before surgeon felt the abdomen he said that it could possibly be fecal matter or gas (ha ha, yeah right). But after exam and he saw how tender the area was for me, he said that we needed to get additional testing as soon as possible. I asked about diverticul. but he did not respond to that. (also I do not have any symptoms of IBS, diverticulitis, crohns). Something I have wondered about is if could be something "outside" of the colon (cat scan rep said mass was "at" the colon which puzzles me. Is that a common word to use I wonder?) The ultrasounds done both at the ER and 2 months previously found that the liver is enlarged, which, from what I've read is not uncommon with colon masses. Yes, answers sooner than later would be fabulous but I don't think I'll know anything until next wk after the colonoscopy (but maybe if Pet shows something on Wed they'll let me know?) If he thinks the results of colonosc. merit surgery, that has already been scheduled for the day after the colonoscopy. Thank you for your support Del (btw I have immediate family in W.A. and S.A. Sydney harbour is so lovely! Go aussies !) :)

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 5:33 am
by Stewsbetty
I didn’t get to see the CT report from my dx ER visit but I had a mass right at the caecum. I had been having on and off pain for 2 months before they did the CT. I would wake up with terrible cramping occasionally and be in so much pain but then it would go away and I would be fine for a few days. So I guess I would say it is possible to have the pain go away and it still be cancer. I totally can’t speak to a scope having missed it. I do know though that when I had lymph node Mets I had one node go from just over 1 cm to 10 cm in 4.5 months. I hope this isn’t sounding doomsday. I would really like to come on here next week and find out there is a different reason for your pain. :)
Beth

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 5:14 pm
by Yvana1
Oh Ok Thanks for that Beth. I haven't experienced the pain for about 10 days now (just occasional random slight pulling-type minor cramping twinges. Eating or using the bathroom doesn't seem to make any difference). My pain is on an angle from the point between the belly button and right hip going down towards the bladder-ish. I guess that means it is most likely in the descending colon (?) When you say your pain/cramping was on and off could you tell me please, how long were the gaps inbetween pain events for you? Believe me, I am not looking for trouble, but I find the pain having subsided rather odd (but apparently it's not an altogether unheard of thing either), but I am also thankful it's not constant. Thinking about it, before the big pain event, I may have had minor pains/twinges in the same area but probably didn't think anything of it. Do you think that the intermittancy of it suggests that the mass grows in "spurts"? Did you have pain when the one lymph node expanded so quickly? Did you also have little to no other symptoms ? (I have little to no appetite. And for a long time now, occasional constipation for no apparent reason even though I've always eaten a high-fiber diet and drink lots of water). Thank you again Beth and I also hope for the best.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:20 am
by Maggie Nell
Yvana1 wrote:Oh Ok Thanks for that Beth. I haven't experienced the pain for about 10 days now (just occasional random slight pulling-type minor cramping twinges. Eating or using the bathroom doesn't seem to make any difference). My pain is on an angle from the point between the belly button and right hip going down towards the bladder-ish. I guess that means it is most likely in the descending colon (?) When you say your pain/cramping was on and off could you tell me please, how long were the gaps inbetween pain events for you? Believe me, I am not looking for trouble, but I find the pain having subsided rather odd (but apparently it's not an altogether unheard of thing either), but I am also thankful it's not constant. Thinking about it, before the big pain event, I may have had minor pains/twinges in the same area but probably didn't think anything of it. Do you think that the intermittancy of it suggests that the mass grows in "spurts"? Did you have pain when the one lymph node expanded so quickly? Did you also have little to no other symptoms ? (I have little to no appetite. And for a long time now, occasional constipation for no apparent reason even though I've always eaten a high-fiber diet and drink lots of water). Thank you again Beth and I also hope for the best.


Sounds like ths twinging pulling-type intermittent pain is from peristaltic waves, muscular contractions that push digested food
through the colon to be pooped. Peristalsis is a finely-tuned process, however when there's a mass in the colon, you will feel 'pain' coming and
going, the pain will increase in intensity if the mass isn't removed. Lots of nerves to pick up every little problem too.

I had an ileo-colic intussusception that was a medical emergency as my caecal carcinoma was a bit of a ninja (giving no obvious clinical
symptoms). It was only found when the right hemicolectomy was performed. No lymph node involvement, so I caught a lucky break there.

You might want to switch to a low-residue diet between now and when you have your surgery and keep the liquids up as your colon is under stress and
avoiding another big pain event is desirable at this point.

This is one link I Googled up that describes peristalsis in lay terms.
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cance ... bstruction

Another link with some basic anatomy and physiology.
https://opentextbc.ca/anatomyandphysiol ... ntestines/

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 3:48 am
by del
Yvana1 wrote:Well before surgeon felt the abdomen he said that it could possibly be fecal matter or gas (ha ha, yeah right). But after exam and he saw how tender the area was for me, he said that we needed to get additional testing as soon as possible. I asked about diverticul. but he did not respond to that. (also I do not have any symptoms of IBS, diverticulitis, crohns). Something I have wondered about is if could be something "outside" of the colon (cat scan rep said mass was "at" the colon which puzzles me. Is that a common word to use I wonder?) The ultrasounds done both at the ER and 2 months previously found that the liver is enlarged, which, from what I've read is not uncommon with colon masses. Yes, answers sooner than later would be fabulous but I don't think I'll know anything until next wk after the colonoscopy (but maybe if Pet shows something on Wed they'll let me know?) If he thinks the results of colonosc. merit surgery, that has already been scheduled for the day after the colonoscopy. Thank you for your support Del (btw I have immediate family in W.A. and S.A. Sydney harbour is so lovely! Go aussies !) :)


Oh nice, I’ve visited both WA and SA and loved them both (my wife is not from Australia and insists we visit every part of this country :)). There are a few other Aussies lurking on this forum too.

Wishing you all the best for the colonoscopy. Waiting is the worst, just try to keep busy with things that take your mind off it.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:35 pm
by Yvana1
Stewsbetty wrote:I didn’t get to see the CT report from my dx ER visit but I had a mass right at the caecum. I had been having on and off pain for 2 months before they did the CT. I would wake up with terrible cramping occasionally and be in so much pain but then it would go away and I would be fine for a few days. So I guess I would say it is possible to have the pain go away and it still be cancer. I totally can’t speak to a scope having missed it. I do know though that when I had lymph node Mets I had one node go from just over 1 cm to 10 cm in 4.5 months. I hope this isn’t sounding doomsday. I would really like to come on here next week and find out there is a different reason for your pain. :)
Beth


So had Pet scan today. Pain has returned to an unpleasant level (enough to take half Vicod). Got results of some bloodwk ordered by surgeon last week. Liver enzymes still elevated, and first time CEA test at 4.7 :? so... oh well. Where can I find info on low residue diet? is it just low fiber? Thanks

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:36 am
by Stewsbetty
Yvana1 wrote:
Stewsbetty wrote:I didn’t get to see the CT report from my dx ER visit but I had a mass right at the caecum. I had been having on and off pain for 2 months before they did the CT. I would wake up with terrible cramping occasionally and be in so much pain but then it would go away and I would be fine for a few days. So I guess I would say it is possible to have the pain go away and it still be cancer. I totally can’t speak to a scope having missed it. I do know though that when I had lymph node Mets I had one node go from just over 1 cm to 10 cm in 4.5 months. I hope this isn’t sounding doomsday. I would really like to come on here next week and find out there is a different reason for your pain. :)
Beth


So had Pet scan today. Pain has returned to an unpleasant level (enough to take half Vicod). Got results of some bloodwk ordered by surgeon last week. Liver enzymes still elevated, and first time CEA test at 4.7 :? so... oh well. Where can I find info on low residue diet? is it just low fiber? Thanks


Sure hope you are getting your PET results tomorrow. I remember hearing they can have those ready very quickly. Having pain and not knowing why is very disconcerting. If you are having pain on the right side that is the ascending colon. That is the beginning of the large intestine and it is much more stretchy than the other end. This allows things to pass by a mass if it isn’t too large but it doesn’t feel good. I think the pain coming and going had more to do with how hard the body was working to get the food moved along. Cruciferous veggies were terrible. One of my worst attacks was after eating raw broccoli. I had been thinking the pain was from gallbladder so I was trying to avoid fats and eat healthy foods but gaseous foods and high fibre set off more cramping attacks than anything. So for low residue avoid high Fiber and eat things that digest easily and completely.
Please update us with your results.

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:22 am
by Maggie Nell
This is a resource from Bowel Cancer Australia on low-residue diet.

https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/lo ... -residue-2

You can find more with a Google search, Yvana1

https://www.hdft.nhs.uk/content/uploads ... tients.pdf

Re: Colon Mass Pain subsided

Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:43 pm
by mobrouser
Yvana, I hope you get good results from your PET and colonoscopy, but am also happy to see that if not surgery is scheduled for the next day.

I suffered intermittent pain for a year before diagnosis.
I started a blog months ago on Blogspot to document my story, just never got past the first post. You can read it here, if you wish - http://youcannevertrustafart.blogspot.com/.
I may start adding to it again.....

8) mob