Terrible letter this morning.

[kefalonia1]

l don't know what l have done to deserve this, l am kind, nice, and have never hurt anyone, l've been to hell and back. Sent off routine home bowel cancer kit and today got hospital appointment letter because it was worrying. So now l supose l've got bowel cancer because all my tests for everything always come back life threatening and the worst senario , just as l was winning all my battles. l don't know if l can fight anymore. Sue.

[stillaboveground]

Try not to worry it might not be as bad as you think, and if it is cancer then they probably have caught it early. I will pray for you, please do not give up hope.

[kefalonia1 in reply to stillaboveground]

Please pray for me, half the world prayed for me when l was close to death and it worked. What would l do without the support from you all on this site, Thanks, Sue x

[S11m]

I think that only a small proportion of scans result in cancer diagnosis - so, try not to worry.

I had a polypectomy - the polyp could have become cancerous, so it was a good that I got round to sending off the sample.

[kefalonia1 in reply to S11m]

Hi thanks, l'm glad it went well for you but l feel very defeated today, and can only think of bad things. ln the booklet it says 9 in 100 have bowel cancer, all through my illnesses l was in the "Rare" or "One in" stats, on my discharge notes with one of my numerous infections it said" never known at this hospital" so it must have flown in the window. Take care, Sue x

[lettingoffsteam]

Oh Sue, sorry to hear this but don't assume anything yet, they just want to perform some further tests.It may not be cancer and even if it is it is better they have detected it at an earlier stage.Unfortunately what hits us in life has nothing to do with how good a person we have been.Bottom line is life can be tough but it can also be wonderful.Have they given you an appointment? Perhaps you could find a relevant group on Health Unlocked.Take care and let us know how you get on.

[kefalonia1 in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Yes 26/03 just to chat about what procedure. Problem is a colonoscopy can nick the bowel and cause heavy bleeding, as l'm on warfarin they may do a CT scan which would detect everything. l am just so weary, and frightened that after all l've been through and fought like a tiger, this is the last straw that broke the camels back. Sue x

[lettingoffsteam in reply to kefalonia1]

A CT scan would be sensible first wouldn't it.Reassuring posts from others here so try not to worry.🙂

[Supernanu]

Sue

Don’t worry too much too soon.

My sister-in-law had the same letter. And after further checks it was confirmed she had nothing wrong.

I hope the same applies in your case but better to get checked.

Would send hugs but currently self isolating so accept remote ones😄

Nucole

[kefalonia1 in reply to Supernanu]

Hi, thanks hope that's the same for me. Sue x

[Calliope153 in reply to kefalonia1]

I had the same letter after a routine poop test quite soon after my heart attack- spent a fortnight worrying myself sick - another set of tests and another fortnight of misery. All clear in the end. Feel for you but it may be nothing. Take carex

[kefalonia1 in reply to Calliope153]

Thank you honey, that's good to know but with my luck its so hard to be positive this time. Sue x

[LasDunas]

Keep strong and try not to worry. By sending a test kit yourself rather than waiting for any symptoms, if it is a positive test you’ve caught it early which all stats say is good. Keep well and my thoughts are with you.

[Prada47]

Hello Kefalonia

From what I can gather you will probably have had other issues besides the bowel test, if it is Bowel Cancer So please don't assume the worst until all tests are completed.

My neighbour also had the test and she was in Hospital just after Christmas for an op she is now back at work and you wouldn't know she has, had a problem

Best Regards

[kefalonia1 in reply to Prada47]

Hi, thanks for your reply, yes probably the back story to my life is colourful.2 types of breast cancer 7 years apart,2 car accidents not my fault, uninsured drivers. 2 AVRs 5 weeks apart first failed, aortic root repair, heart blood clot, total heart block, severe sepsis, septic shock, complex infective endocarditis. So not the luckiest person, so you see why l am worried. Take care , Sue x

[Lezzers]

Hi Sue, totally understand your fears. Kevin had one of the home tests come back saying further test required & boy was that scary. However, further test was all OK and recently another test was all OK as well. Try to remember that if there is anything to worry about it's been caught very early, which is the point of the home tests, and bowel cancer is one of the easiest cancers to cure when caught early.

You are a nice person, it's the things we overcome in life that shape us. Sometimes those things weary us but we do get through them and we're stronger & nicer for it because we have empathy for others who are also going through tough times.

Take care, keep in touch xx

[kefalonia1 in reply to Lezzers]

Lovely words, Thank you. Sue x

[Nathan53]

Also remember that if you are taking anticoagulants aspirin / warfarin they can create a higher rate of false positive tests. I know you will still worth but keep reminding yourself about our positive thoughts and messages. healio.com/gastroenterology...

[kefalonia1 in reply to Nathan53]

Thank you, hopefully tomorrow l will get a grip. Husband worried and bringing home, cheese , wine and chocolate. Sue x

[judes]

As your on warfarin there is little reason why you cannot have a colonoscopy a bridging plan should be put in place.

I’ve had several colonoscopies which has involved removing polyps whilst on warfarin without problems. All were pre cancerous so good thing I had it done.

Try not to panic the point of screening is to get things done early which then causes less problems.

Love and hugs

J

[kefalonia1]

Thank you so much, very reassuring. Take care, Sue x

[Stuart2441]

As mentioned, try not to worry. The test tries to identify tiny drops of blood that the eye does not see. Many simple reasons but a common one is believe it or not, piles (hemarroids) no matter how small they can discharge plus there could be a slight fissure, ( a scratch)all treatable but please don't worry. Best wishes.

[kefalonia1]

Thanks for your reply honey, a bit hard today to be positive, not like me at all. Take care, Sue x

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hi kefalonia1

As others have already said there are lots of other possible reasons to find blood in your sample.

Your mind can take you down a path that has you on the operating table, chemo and radiotherapy.

I have had 2 cancer scares each time the problems were caught early.

Lezzer' s lovely words says it all and cannot be bettered.

Life does sometimes bowl us some unwanted curve balls.

I wish you luck and I hope you don't have to wait too long for your investigations and results.

[kefalonia1 in reply to Milkfairy]

Thanks, l have a echo this Friday and seeing a consultant the following Thursday regarding this bad result. lf they are not all cancelled !!! Sue.

[Bagrat]

It's all been said already but in addition a friend on apixaban had colonoscopy and biopsies and all was well after a few weeks worry, she has other health issues too. I know how low you must feel. Too many things thrown at you. Hope the wine and chocs help. Xxx

[kefalonia1 in reply to Bagrat]

Hi, the wine and chocs helped a lot l feel calmer today.

[woodbon]

I'm sorry you have this to worry about now, but it may not be anything serious. Go along to the hospital and they will give you may need further tests and treatment nice and early.

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Sorry to hear this, Sue. Sometimes you just need the universe to give you a break! As others have said, it may not be as bad as you fear, but I totally understand how fed up and frightened you must feel. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and hoping for a good outcome for you. Lots of love xx

[kefalonia1 in reply to laura_dropstitch]

Thanks Laura, the wine and chocs my Husband brought home last night helped me calm down, it was just the shock. l also have an Echo this week which always makes me worry but hopefully that will be fine. Hope you are well, Sue x

[ahk59]

Sorry you have this extra worry.I totally understand your fear as I have had bad luck with health.But reading what u have a written you are a battler.Besides as good people on here have said good chance you wont have anything sinister going on.So you keep strong x

[kefalonia1 in reply to ahk59]

Thanks for your kind words! Sue x

[Hidden]

The thing to remember with cancer is:

It is no longer the death sentence it once was, like in the 70's when such news would have included a list of funeral directors in your area (not really but i think you get the jist).

I was treated for Lymphoma in 2008 and were it not for the extreme tiredness brought on by the radiotherapy, I would have been none the wiser as to the nature of the problem.

Many tests require a 2nd test just to make sure that there is nothing to worry about becuse one of the many markers used to verify negative may ahve come back as mixed.

I still maintain to this day, that for me, radiotherapy and lymphoma was the least scary conditon or treatment i've ever had physically. No headache or any other type of ache, no nasty tablets or medicine to swallow. Just lay on a bed for 15 minutes each day for 13 weeks and close my eyes or look at the visuals floatign round on the ceiling.

AND, I got to walk the 5 miles to and from the hospital along Brighton & Hove seafront each day and enjoy a cooked brecky or brunch a well.

I get your concerns over the word cancer - but there are things out there that are equally as bad or worse. Only get upset WHEN they tell you some bad news, otherwise view it as them just making sure instead of ignoring a false reading.

[kefalonia1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thanks for your reply, l think the fact l had breast cancer 20 years ago, twice, 7 years apart worries me, chemotherapy made me feel like s**t. Sue.x

[Hidden in reply to kefalonia1]

ooh, Chemo - no one ever comes out of that well - even though it may have done its job, it takes a lot out of the body whilst it is at work.

Still like to think they are playing on the safe side, and so wish you all the best with the test results

[SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi Sue

Sorry to hear this, it's the C word that is so frightening. Just as I was about to be discharged after my heart attack the nurse noticed a spot on my chest, got a doctor over who said he didn't like the look of it, so a week after discharge I was back as an out patient being told I had a skin cancer, 2 weeks after discharge I'm back in as an out patient having it removed. It is upsetting and I can fully understand that you're asking Why Me?

Try not to worry, worrying can't change anything. They like to be sure, it could just be a case of them not being 100% sure of something and need another test to satisfy them that there isn't a problem.

Russell x

[kefalonia1 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Hi Russell, l am trying to be positive but its so hard in these worrying times, l am also due an Echo this Friday the last one was two years ago so l hope that is OK! l am signed up to get alerts from Greece and yesterday it said all visitors will be put in quarantine for 14 days so that's my holiday gone. Also the BBC said next week all people with underlying health issues not over 70 will receive a letter from the NHS telling them to self isolate for four months. Everything is depressing, a man died from Nailsea Bristol with the virus it is only 20 minutes from where l live and where two of my Grandsons go to junior school so l am forced to keep away from them. On the plus side l am spending a lot of time learning French on Duolingo, nothing else to do. Sue x

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to kefalonia1]

Hi Sue. Yes the are worrying times. Greece is going further and further into lock-down, so my trip in May is off. I'm in the group of people under 70 who will need to self distance, so that's a challenge. I'll probably spend the time brushing up on my Greek in the hope that my September holiday to Parga will be OK.

Good luck with the Echo on Friday

Russell x

[kefalonia1 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

Thanks mate. Sue x

[Canbe]

I know very much how you feel l had similar letter but was todo with my breast , turned out they recalled me because there was a difference from previous mama grams had a biopsy Every thing turned out fine l am still here 25 years later . They may just be erring on the safe side , and if it turns out to be cancer there is so much more that can be done now , hope all goes well for you xxx

[Plum53]

Sending you lots of love and hugs. Remember be positive worrying won't help and in most of recall cases all is well xxx

[woodlandwonders]

Hey Sue,

How are you feeling today?

I'm learning Welsh on duolingo! For when I'm better and can resume life again..... gotta have hope!

You are a good, kind human, Sue. I was so grateful for your energy, its still getting me through now. I'm not sure mine is so strong but I'm sending as much as I can in your direction xxxxxxx

[kefalonia1 in reply to woodlandwonders]

Hi thanks for your kind words, l am feeling a bit more hopeful that the test may be the result of a bit too high lNR, my friend who is a nurse suggested that so l am hoping that is the case. Please be patient with yourself it takes a long time to regain your confidence, in the meantime learn Welsh, and eat chocolate! Sue x

[woodlandwonders in reply to kefalonia1]

I'm happy to lay my energy with your friend 😊x

I'm vegan, so ANY chocolate, i can eat, is a triple dose of heaven.

You are also very astute ! Xx

[Hiyaall]

How are you was it anything to worry about? I presume you have now been seen

[kefalonia1 in reply to Hiyaall]

Hi thanks for your concern, spoke to a lovely woman who asked me some questions mainly about any pain, or if l am losing weight, then l requested a CTC scan on my bowel and agreed if there was anything wrong l would have the camera where the sun doesn't shine!!! l didn't want to have any unnecessary invasive probing because l am on warfarin and my pacemaker is in an unusual place, below my left ribs in my stomach near my bowel with wires running up to my heart. She said they will not contact me for many months because of the virus and they will be looking for polyps, so just have to wait for an appointment. Thanks, l will let all you kind people know, take care, Sue.

[Maisiemay13]

Hi this is very easy for me to say but please do not worry the same thing happened to my husband three years ago test comeback had hospital appointment,they found a polyp had it removed since then has regular check ups all good

[kefalonia1 in reply to Maisiemay13]

Hi, thanks for your message, please read my reply to Hiyaall. Hope my results are as positive as your Husbands, nice to hear good results. Take care, Sue.