found cancer in colon yesterday

[arizona mom]

Hi,

I need some support and I wanted to share my story. I am 45 years old and I have 4 kids (youngest is 10yrs). No family history of colon cancer. Last week I found out I had unexplained severe anemia. Doctor suggested a colonoscopy to see if I was bleeding. I did that yesterday. They found cancer. All I remember is that was "2cm" and "all the way around". He could get the scope any further past it. Now I am waiting for a cat scan to see what happens next. I am hoping for a call of approval for that today. I can't take this waiting. I stayed off the internet last night to keep myself from all the scary possibilities. Now I'm here looking for support.

2 weeks ago, I didn't think I had any symptoms. I had the occasional gassy tummy and loose stools, but I didn't think they were out of the ordinary. Now I look back I wonder if I should have noticed something sooner.

Ever since I started Googling and freaking out about the possibility of cancer causing the anemia, I have had pelvic pressure. I originally thought it was pms (i just had my period), but now it seems to be getting worse. I just can't stop thinking about it. I didn't sleep at all last night and I can't eat. I am a nervous wreck. I am trying hard to stay positive but it is not working. I've never been big on drugs, but I'm tempted to ask for something to help me sleep or settle my anxiety while I wait to see what is going on.

Any advise?

Lara

[exaussie]

So sorry you need this great forum. Breathe...... Staging the tumour is important-I am sure you will be meeting with dr and oncologist.
A lot of information on internet is either old or not true. Don't make it the only source of information. Cruise around this forum, the information here
is from real people, right now going through the same or better or worse so there's a lot to read.

Let us know more information as you get it!

[raym]

Typically with a colon cancer diagnosis things don't move super fast (unless the cancer is causing critical issues). Several weeks to have surgery. Several weeks after that (8ish) to start chemo (if prescribed). It was a whirlwind for me too at the beginning, but now I sort of move with the flow of things.

[Charlesmarles]

I'm sorry to hear you got bad news. Hang in there and just take it appt by appt. I too had a 2 cm tumor. I had surgery and that was it! I hope the same for you! I would ask a Dr. for some xanax while you wait for these appointments and to get results back. It can really help you sleep and stay calm. Blessings to you as you start this journey, I hope it is an easy one.

[arizona mom]

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. They mean a lot to me.

I just got off the phone with the doctors office. The insurance wants to wait until the biology report until they approve the cat scan. The doctor didn't seem to have any question that it was cancer. I hate the idea of waiting another "3-5 business days" to see what is going on.

I am in the process of making appts with the surgeon and oncology doctors. Reality is really setting in. I wonder what they will be able to do if I haven't had the cat scan yet. How long after the cat scan will I have the results? Who tells me?

Feeling a little better. Still freaking out about every body twinge. Xanax may be a good idea.

Lara

[Lee]

Welcome, sorry for the reason you are here, but you have come to the right place for information and support.

Right now, it's hard, you've just been given a cancer diagnoses and you don't know what is going to happen next. A VERY SCARY time. It will get better. Once you are staged, usually following the scan, there will be a plan of action. At that moment, it will start to feel better (it did for me).

Don't beat yourself up, I didn't notice any symptoms either. Some people do, some people don't. And there is nothing wrong is the Dr prescribe something to help you sleep or control anxiousness, ESPECIALLY at this time.

As other have said, Dr Google may or may not have accurate information. Or it could be outdated. You will find a lot of knowledgeable people here. Some who may be a just a few weeks into their journey, other who are months and yrs out. There is usually a standard protocal when dealing with colon cancer vs rectal cancer. And at what stage you are. So look around here, once you get info (staging, etc), come back here and ask questions, concerns, and fears.

You will find that your are NOT alone.

Lee

Lee

[Emilea]

Like you, I did not choose to see my minor symptoms as actual symptoms until after I looked back one I was diagnosed. But worrying about what you didn't see I found to be just made my anxiety worse. You definitely made the right choice to come to this message board. There are a lot of kind and knowledgeable people here. Hugs and prayers to you.

[O Stoma Mia]

... I wonder what they will be able to do if I haven't had the cat scan yet. How long after the cat scan will I have the results?

Lara - I'm sorry to hear about your tentative diagnosis. Just a few points right now:

If the colonoscopy did not go to the end of the colon, then it is important to do a CT scan (virtual colonoscopy) to see if there are any more tumors farther up the line. Sometimes patients have two or more primary tumors at the same time, and it is very important to know about this before surgery is planned. Did they say where (i.e., how far up) the tumor was located? This makes a difference, because the treatment regimens for rectal cancer are different from the treatment regimens for upper colon cancer.

If you have a confirmed malignancy and surgery is planned, then you should be sure that they do a blood test before surgery to see you level of tumor-marker CEA. Knowledge of pre-surgery CEA level can help in the planning the type and extent of future treatment. It also serves as a baseline for future CEA measurements during and after treatment. Be sure they do this test before you have surgery, because afterwards it is too late to serve as a baseline measurement.

[orcasres]

It is possible that you will have your CT scan results the same day you are scanned; I get a preliminary report the same day even now when I have my yearly scan. My surgeon had results within an hour when they were diagnosing my cancer. I was actually diagnosed after bad blood results with a CT scan and was in surgery within 5 days. It sounds like the insurance company wants the results of your pathology report before approving it, but it is a good idea to go ahead and make the other appointments. The GI docs usually know cancer when they see it.

Take a deep breath. I was diagnosed a Stage IIA in September 2010 and just had my 3 year clean colonoscopy and will not have another one for five years. And follow your instincts and stay away from Google.

Lois

[chemo sabe]

I get my scans at the cancer center associated with the local hospital (big hospital). If the scan is early morning, the results are available in the afternoon. Otherwise, before the end of the next day.

Most CRC really has no symptoms until later after the tumor has grown and partially blocks or is bleeding. But I advise looking forward and not backward. To a small degree, I understand your insurance company but I still want to scream at them. These GI docs know what they are looking at and absolutely nothing else looks like CRC. If the GI doc says it is cancer, it is cancer.

There is nothing wrong with medication. You have to get some rest. Do not hesitate about asking for some chemical help.

[arizona mom]

Thank you all for your replies.

The report I got shows the mass on the top left corner. The picture of the mass shows it is pretty well filling the colon. Is that an indicator that it is fairly advanced? Doctor said that it is in a good place to cut it out and that might be all I need. But, he was the same doctor that at my initial appt. tried to encourage me that it wouldn't be cancer because I was too young. He did get me in for a colonoscopy ASAP, though. I'm sure he is just trying to get me to stay positive.

Lara

[jens22]

For me this was by far the scariest time. The wait after the CAT scan even worse but mine was only a 4 hour wait. I just tired to sleep and wait. Keeping busy didn't work. Get your scan scheduled ASAp.

[rp1954]

I would look very hard at perioperative actions (weeks before/after surgery) and treatments involving cimetidine, celebrex, PSK and vitamin D3, for starters. More possibilities are discussed in Life Extension protocols, preparations and articles. They are not "standard" options likely to be familiar to your doctors, but they have been the real deal for some of the boards' members.

[arizona mom]

Wow. That study about cimetidine are amazing! Should I just buy it over the counter and start taking it or do I need to ask my doctor first? It looks like they want you to take twice the recommended dose. What if my doctor says no?

Thank you so much!!

Lara

[kellywin]

Hello and welcome Lara. As others said, this is by far the scariest time. The waiting. Not having a plan. Not knowing what to do. By all means, get Xanax if you want. I did and it help me immensely. Once you get a plan is place, you will feel a bit better.