Very concerned 31/yo female

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Scaredmama999
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:14 am

Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Scaredmama999 » Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:25 am

Hi,
So I will start by saying I have extremely terrible health anxiety. I have had on and off bleeding when using the restroom for what seems like 10 years(maybe longer?). Most time with pain, sometimes not. I am fairly regular. I have been to the ER in the past and was told it was a hemorrhoid(very embarrassing). I just had another exam from my GP and and NP from my obgyn. I have a referral to a GI on the 20th. I have a 2.5 year old daughter. I am so paranoid I have cancer and it will be too late for me because my symptoms have been going on so long. I am nearly in tears at my desk writing this, I have no family history. Other than the bleeding, I get occasional stomach aches. My GP is leaning toward a fissure or internal roid, but I just cannot shake the feeling it's something way worse. Anyone out there with any experience in possibly a bleeding fissure? I plan to request a colonoscopy. I don't think it should be an issue, because whatever the problem may be.. I cannot live like this anymore. I have recently been doing a high protein diet, maybe that is contributing to my problems? I am so sorry for anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, my heart goes out to everyone on this board and their families. Thank you in advance for reading my lengthy post.

menreeq
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2017 10:26 am

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby menreeq » Mon Jul 10, 2017 2:48 pm

It is normal to be anxious and scared. I think everyone on this forum can empathize.

Get the colonoscopy. Whatever the results are, you can handle it. I have two daughters, ages 5 and 2. I also have no family history of colon (or other) cancer. I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago and am 2 weeks out from surgery. I also wish I had gotten my colonoscopy earlier, but it probably wouldn't have changed much. Many of these cancers are slow growing.

Anal fissures are usually pretty painful. Even if you have internal hemorrhoids on anoscopy, get the colonoscopy. I was reassured when anoscopy demonstrated internal hemorrhoids. Turns out I had both hemorrhoids and colon cancer. So, my advice would be to get a referral for colonoscopy from your PCP already and try to turn your GI appointment into a colonoscopy appointment. May save you a week or two of worrying.
Stage IIA rectosigmoid CC (T3N0M0)
Dx 6/5/17 @age 41ls
Workup: c-scope, EUS, rectal MRI, CT C/A/P
AdenoCA 5.5cm, WHO Grade 2, 0/22 LN, no distant mets
CEA 1.9 (6/5/17), 0.8 (2/28/18), 1.0 (9/17/18), 1.1 (4/16/19), 1.0 (9/24/19), 1.7 (7/8/20)
No lymphovasc/perineural invasion, clear margins
MSI intact, OncotypeDx RS 7
Lap sig colectomy 6/23/17, no ileo/colostomy
Genetics neg for mutations, 4 VUS
Xeloda monotherapy 8/13/17-1/22/18
PET/CT 3/21/18 NED
CT C/A/P 9/17/18 NED, 3/8/19 NED, 9/19/19 NED, 5/13/20 NED

Scaredmama999
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:14 am

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Scaredmama999 » Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:33 pm

Thank you for your reply! My PCP said she wasn't even going to try to schedule it as she knew insurance would deny due to age and no other "real" symptoms :-( I have had extreme pain when passing stools(most recently about a month ago), and also when she did the exam which led me to believe it could be a fissure. Either way, I know I won't sleep well until I have a colonoscopy. Do you mind me asking what your symptoms were? I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

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kellywin
Posts: 492
Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:46 pm
Location: Northern CA

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby kellywin » Mon Jul 10, 2017 4:37 pm

I know how scared you are. Make sure you get that colonoscopy. With a history of bleeding - it should be a no brainer. I'm sure the chances that it's hemorrhoids or a fissure is way more likely, but you want to rule out anything else. Most times these cancers are slow growing and you can't change the past, so just look forward.
Kelly, mom 14 yo girl
Dx 11/15/12 Rectal Cancer @ age 40
Stage IIIC
5.5 weeks Xeloda & Radiation - complete 2/5/13
Colectomy 3/12/13, 7 of 14 nodes positive - no ileo
4/24/13-8/20/13 - 5 rounds Xelox, 1 Xeloda only

Scaredmama999
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:14 am

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Scaredmama999 » Mon Jul 10, 2017 5:41 pm

Thank you! Should I push for a CT scan right away if they try to push my colonoscopy off for a few weeks? I don't know what I can do in the short term to get answers. I don't think I can go weeks in my current mental state. Also, I should note I started back in vyvanse(ADHD) meds two months ago, I think they are adding to my panic. I will probably stop taking them to see if that takes the edge off.

DarknessEmbraced
Posts: 3816
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 4:54 pm
Facebook Username: Riann Fletcher
Location: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby DarknessEmbraced » Mon Jul 10, 2017 5:57 pm

I'm sorry you're going through this and hope you will be able to get the colonoscopy!*hugs*
Diagnosed 10/28/14, age 36
Colon Resection 11/20/14, LAR (no illeo)
Stage 2a colon cancer, T3NOMO
Lymph-vascular invasion undetermined
0/22 lymph nodes
No chemo, no radiation
Clear Colonoscopy 04/29/15
NED 10/20/15
Ischemic Colitis 01/21/16
NED 11/10/16
CT Scan moved up due to high CEA 08/21/17
NED 09/25/17
NED 12/21/18
Clear colonoscopy 09/23/19
Clear 5 year scans 11/21/19- Considered cured! :)

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Lee » Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:08 pm

Scaredmama999 wrote:Thank you for your reply! My PCP said she wasn't even going to try to schedule it as she knew insurance would deny due to age and no other "real" symptoms :-(


By the sheer fact that you have rectal bleeding, a colonoscopy should be done REGARDLESS of age. A colonoscopy will give you a true diagnoses of what is causing the pain and bleeding, anything else is just a speculation. And your life is worth more than a speculation. If your PCP can not give you a referral, maybe it's time to find a new PCP. Or refer your PCP to this forum where PCP can learn of ALL the people here who have been diagnosed UNDER the age of 50.

For what it's worth, I had no pain, no symptoms, other than bleeding hemorrhoids. My PCP thought those bleeding hemorrhoids were going to be my excuse for getting me scoped early in life. I truly believe that referral saved my life.

Get the referral or find a new Dr.

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

Scaredmama999
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:14 am

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Scaredmama999 » Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:17 pm

Thank you. I am definitely getting it done, I will pay for it out of pocket if I have to... I am sure the GI will refer me. My pcp said she would, but she just knows it will get denied. I am traveling for work this week so I wouldn't be able to do it this week anyways. I will see the doc on the 20th and hopefully have one scheduled before the end of the month. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. I really appreciate all of the support.

Lee
Posts: 6207
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:09 pm

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Lee » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:28 pm

Scaredmama999 wrote:My pcp said she would, but she just knows it will get denied. .


By the sheer fact you have rectal bleeding your insurance should cover it. Mine did and I was under the age of 50.

good luck,

Lee
rectal cancer - April 2004
46 yrs old at diagnoses
stage III C - 6/13 lymph positive
radiation - 6 weeks
surgery - August 2004/hernia repair 2014
permanent colostomy
chemo - FOLFOX
NED - 16 years and counting!

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ABMom
Posts: 54
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2016 6:04 pm
Location: Calgaryish

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby ABMom » Thu Jul 13, 2017 11:05 pm

I had a change in bowl movements and had a colonoscopy when I was 27 (and living in the us). You really shouldn't be denied for it. Fingers crossed that it isn't anything too serious.
39 Stage 1 RC
T2N0Mx - 2016-10-07
LAR - 2016-11-01
Illeo-reversal - 2017-01-27

Scaredmama999
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:14 am

Re: Very concerned 31/yo female

Postby Scaredmama999 » Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:15 pm

I thought I would update this in cas anyone comes across it with similar fears... I had my colonoscopy this morning and it went very well. Luckily they didn't find anything wrong except some fissures. I am SO glad I went so I can rest easy that my issues are completely benign. Hank you so much for all of the kind words and encouragement.


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