Hi all... New to this community due to recent discovery of the above and looking for other people's input/advice. I was sent for ultrasound scan of my abdomen to check gallbladder after having an endoscopy. The radiologist picked up the the 'fatty lumps' near my appendix and in the sigmoid and I was then sent for ct scan and referred to the colorectal department with a view to having a colonoscopy. The consultant was reluctant to perform the colonoscopy on the day as she said didn't want to burst the mucocele and that I would need surgery to remove it before further investigations once healed but also advised that she didn't think I had another lump in the sigmoid. Blood tests for tumour markers were taken and they met to discuss my case... Before my appointment with the surgeon last Tuesday morning I received letter advising that the only tumour marker minimally raised was the CEA at 5.9 and believed this to be caused by the 3cm appendix mucocele (very rare apparently!) . My fit/stool tests were normal. However, on Tuesday my surgeon advised that he is concerned about the lump/mass in my sigmoid colon and wants to look at it when he takes out my appendix and has given me the option of removing the colon if he believes it to be cancerous!! I had to go back on Wednesday to discuss the procedure in detail with the colorectal nurse in order to assist me with this decision.
Due to the fact that the marker is raised and how important it is to catch bowel cancer early... I have agreed to him removing the colon should he feel it necessary as I didn't want to have to have colonoscopy and further surgery 6 weeks later if this can be avoided!
I am at the stage where they cannot be sure whether either is cancerous until examined under the microscope after removal. I had been suffering with intermittent right sided lower abdominal pain for a few years and ignoring it pretty much... And have had alternating bouts of diarrhoea/constipation again ignoring it! More fool me...
My pre op is next Wednesday with view to doing surgery 1st week in June. I am terrified but trying to remain positive and hope that whatever the outcome my recovery will be speedy and hopefully no further treatment will be required.
Family, friends and work colleagues are being very supportive and all agree with my decision given that the clinicians seem to be very concerned about my results.
Talking about it is easy but I feel like it's not really happening and I'm in some sort of dream!
If anyone has been through similar experience (and I've no doubt you have on this group)... Any advice or pearls of wisdom would be much appreciated 🤔👍😁