Possible Bowel Cancer

[HerbaK1364]

My boyfriend is only 24 and has had on and off bleeding when he goes to the toilet for around 2 years. He went to the doctors last year and was given suppositories with suspected hemorrhoids. The bleeding eased off (so he said) but was still an obvious problem. After nagging for months, he finally went back to the doctors who asked for a stool sample. Again this was put off for so long he received a letter to say that they would presume everything was ok because they hadn’t received the sample. He called them and said he still needed to send it as the problem was ongoing so instead they booked him in directly for a colonoscopy. He attended his appointment and the doctor advised that he had found a large polyp on his colon and that he couldn’t rule out bowel cancer. We are all absolutely petrified and have no idea what to expect / do. He has been scheduled for another colonoscopy in early March (first available appointment) and a possible CT scan depending on the results. Just wondered if anyone else has found a polyp and it has turned out to be nothing sinister. Just looking for some positive stories

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi HerbaK1364,

Thank you for posting on Colon Cancer Connected. I hate that you're having to deal with the situation, but I do have some positive stories for you. The first positive is your boyfriend is lucky that he has you. 😁👏 A lot of guys don't take their health care seriously especially when they're young. I know I did not, but I should have. A second positive is that he finally had a colonoscopy👏👏. I think your doctors were correct and automatically ordering that instead of waiting for the stool sample👍. A lot of time had passed and the symptoms still remain. So, the colonoscopy is absolutely the best way to determine what's going on. A third positive is that the colonoscopy did find something and it was in the polyp stage. Now, you may still be waiting on histology if a biopsy was taken. Was a biopsy taken of the polyp? And I say that as a positive because when I had my first colonoscopy it was a tumor growing out of my colon. My oncologist told me that six years earlier that tumor they took out of me was a polyp.

I have come to realize that blood in the stool is definitely a something that needs to be checked out. Although hesitantly, "the boyfriend" finally got it done. He is young and he has that going for him. Technically, that's another positive. You are never too young for a colonoscopy. A person should never be diagnosed because of their age. I think your doctors realized this and their actions are spot on. I think that's another positive. I think you have good doctors.

If he was scheduled for another colonoscopy in March, that will probably be to remove the polyp in question. They perhaps didn't have the means to remove it during the first colonoscopy. That can happen. I would also recommend that you push for the CT scan as well. You said the doctor “couldn't rule out bowel cancer”. That is probably why you mentioned the CT scan is possible. The CT scan would show if anything has spread if the histology comes back as cancer. So, your doctor is just being up front and telling you the procedures that could happen rather quickly. But please know that this is all good. You need this information. Your doctor needs this information so he can get the boyfriend on a path to be well again.

Another thing to think about is if the boyfriend's family has a history of cancer or other disease. This is something that the doctor should be made aware of if that question hasn't already come up. If there is a family history, there are some genetic tests that can be performed that could benefit the family.

I have what is called lynch syndrome which is a form of hereditary cancer. I have to get an annual colonoscopy, an annual CT scan, and annual blood work. All this to catch anything early should it come up. I have had polyps removed that the histology came back as the benign. This has happened several times. But I'm glad to say that there has not been nothing sinister for going on 11 years now.

So, the information you're getting now could determine what kind of surveillance the boyfriend maybe put on. Family history plays a big role in that as well. And I say again that “the boyfriend” is lucky to have you and I am proud that you made him get things checked out. It is so crucial to catch things early. I do believe you are doing just that. I know you still have a lot of information to receive from the next steps you'll be taking, but believe me it is so good to know what is causing these symptoms and not let them get out of control (like I did and I paid for it).

I had two cousins passed away from cancer at the ages of 35 and 41. We know so much more today than we did back then about hereditary cancers. I got my first colonoscopy at age 49 and I was already stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. I know hindsight is 20: 20, but I should have had a colonoscopy at age 35. Yes, the percentages are low for people under the age of 45 to develop these cancers, but it does happen at younger ages as well. No matter what the age, symptoms need to be checked out.

I do wish you the very best and getting good answers to "the boyfriend's" symptoms. You are absolutely doing the best thing you can be doing. You gotta be supportive yet firm because some guys can just be in denial and think things will go away. 🤔💪

Please let us know what you find out from the next steps. Is this type of information that can be helpful to others on this site.

Thank you,

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[Carsok]

I get colonoscopies every two years and they usually find anywhere from 5 to 7 polyps and remove them. I've had some that were biopsied as precancerous but had been removed. Just keep on top of it. I bugged my husband that he finally went and got a colonoscopy and he also had polyps.

[Slicedtomatoes61]

Hi, HerbaK,

I got my first colonoscopy at age 53. I had 2, and one was a malignant tumor in my rectum. This is why I believe that a colonoscopy is best - it will be “biopsied.” Take heart, though. The other polyp was not cancer, as most are not, and the last 5 colonoscopies I had, were either clear of polyps or polyps were non malignant. There are many reasons for bloody stools besides cancer, so try not to worry. The mention of cancer is always scary, but they have to rule it out. However, if he does have a cancerous polyp, it is not a death sentence. Mine was mid to later stage, but I have survived 10 years, and I know of many other long term survivors. One thing that helped me was not to “research” the internet. You will find too much information that will be inaccurate and daunting. I hope that my sharing about my cancer has not made you feel badly. Polyps are common, and most are not cancer.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to Slicedtomatoes61]

Thank you for sharing that. I like "The mention of cancer is always scary, but they have to rule it out. " That's a good point. When dealing with just symptoms; everything may be on the table initially and yes cancer is the most ominous, but there are many reasons for blood in stools.

I'm glad you are a survivor of 10 years👏👏. Keep up the good work. Always tell your story. I was stage 4 at diagnosis, and it will be 11 years for me this year.👍

[Slicedtomatoes61 in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

Wow! That’s very inspiring. Stage 4 and 11 years - still chugging along. That’s what people need to hear. Thank you.

[Snowdrop1234]

It is obviously a worrying time for you, but the main thing is that he is now dealing with this health issue and he will get the appropriate treatment for a positive recovery. Most polyps are not cancerous, but even so they still need to be dealt with.