Hello,
One year ago, a cancerous polyp was removed during my colonoscopy. It was cancer and I had a colon resection. I had part of my colon removed and pathology said none of the 15 lymph nodes taken were infected or cancerous. I had clean margins. I was one of the lucky ones. My colon surgeon said to "go on with my life" and have routine colonoscopies.
Fast track to about a month ago. I started experiencing rectal pressure and pain, abnormal stools and very little if any blood in my stool. I have also been very fatigued and a sense of "not feeling right". My follow up colonoscopy is scheduled for December 9th. My CEA last month was 0.8 but that has never been an indicator. It was 1.1 when I was diagnosed last year. My CT and MRI this year was clear.
My question is how common is it for the cancer to "reoccur" or come back after only one year? I feel like a hypochondriac but something is not right. Sometimes the pressure and pain in the rectum is so severe. The pain level comes and goes but the pain/pressure is always there. One day I can be going to the bathroom just fine and hours later, it is constipation and then hours later, diarrhea. My bowel movements have also increased daily.
I know I won't get actual answers until my colonoscopy but I was wanting your thoughts on might be happening to me?
Thank you for your time,
Kellie