worried

[Mymymh12]

since May I have been noticing my stool/poop has been different and I’m concerned that it could possibly be colon cancer. I can’t get to my doctor until October and I went to an urgent care and they told me it is an anal fistula. (Sorry for spelling) but i have not lost weight have seen some blood not every time. Someone must have experienced something similar? Is this a sign of colon cancer? I’m lost as to what to do with having to wait so far out.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Mymymh12

Thank you for posting on Colon Cancer Connected. I hate to hear you’re experiencing this but I’m glad to see you are not ignoring it and are looking for answers. What you are experiencing could be caused by many different things. I’m curious to hear what symptoms were presented that resulted with a doctor visit in October. That does seem rather far off.

One of the things you could do is AFIT test which you can do from home. It will tell you if there is blood in your stool. That information alone should put you on a fast track to seeing a doctor. The fact you are also losing weight is important as well. If after a physical exam the cause is not determined, then you would need to have a colonoscopy.

I would say that what you are experiencing is definitely something that needs to have some good answers for. That should be your focus. Is it a sign of colon cancer? If left unchecked and untreated, it could definitely be a sign of that. That’s why it is important to have a doctor check this out. You know that. You are already trying to do this you just need to escalate the issue so you can get seen quicker. The key to most of these symptoms is to catch them early. I truly feel you are doing exactly that. It is a good sign that you see October is being rather far off. I would agree with you. Any thing you can do to move that time frame up would be beneficial.

I do wish you the best in navigating the health care system as it is presented to you. Maybe there is some way you can go somewhere else and be seen sooner which would be beneficial to your mind. I do hope you get on the path to getting some good answers as well as getting on the path to being well very soon.

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.