I need to know...

Justmee
Justmee Member Posts: 2
in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am having my colonscopy on Tuesday... I've been having symptoms for awhile.. Blood and mucus in stool, feeling like i cant empty completely--blah and blah--all the signs. I'm really afraid I have CRC-- although I'm really hoping for something else--I keep hoping it's crohn's disease- or anything else but what I think it is. Anyway my main question is if it's a tumor will they know right away? Will they tell me when I come to? My mom is taking me to the procedure-- and I'm scared that if it's something they tell us right there that she wont be able to handle it. I keep wondering if I should bring someone who is not as emotionally involved and can hear bad news if that's how it goes.

Comments

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #2
    Hi

    If they can visually see a tumor the doc will prob put a high probability on it being CRC and want you to have CT scans of pelvis, chest and abdomin.  They may also take a sample for a biopsy.

    If they see and remove only polyps, then they will likely wait for biopsy results before making any determination.

    The timing of biopsy results varies greatly among the labs.  Some can give nearly instant opinion while others take a few days.

    If it turns out to be CRC please make sure to come back here.  There are lots of folks here with lots of experience in surgeries and treatments, and also lots of support.

    Wishing you the best outcome,

    Marie who loves kitties

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #3
    Could be ulcerative colitis.
    Could be ulcerative colitis. Could be numerous other problems. Don't panic yet. There is a very good chance that whatever is causing these symptoms is treatable. Good luck and please let us know the diagnosis.

    Chelsea
  • jen2012
    jen2012 Member Posts: 1,607 Member
    #4
    Lovekitties said:

    Hi

    If they can visually see a tumor the doc will prob put a high probability on it being CRC and want you to have CT scans of pelvis, chest and abdomin.  They may also take a sample for a biopsy.

    If they see and remove only polyps, then they will likely wait for biopsy results before making any determination.

    The timing of biopsy results varies greatly among the labs.  Some can give nearly instant opinion while others take a few days.

    If it turns out to be CRC please make sure to come back here.  There are lots of folks here with lots of experience in surgeries and treatments, and also lots of support.

    Wishing you the best outcome,

    Marie who loves kitties

    I took my husband for his in
    I took my husband for his in august. Brought the baby with us fully expecting to hear hemmeroids. When the doctor came to get me and asked me to come in to the procedure room...with the baby...i knew what he was going to say. He told us right there and my husband was still loopy from the procedure so he got the cancer part but i had to explain the rest to him later. You could probably tell the doctor that you dont want to hear in front of your mom. Good luck...i hope its nothing serious.
  • bigman4christ
    bigman4christ Member Posts: 87
    #5
    hi Justmee

    when i went in for my colonoscopy the Dr. told me right we i came out.  I had my wife with me, we cryed and were sad but we made it through the day.  i dont know your mom and everyone is different but sometimes people will suprise you.  I told my mom and yes she was sad but she took it a lot better than i expected her to.  i hope that it is something simple and something that can be fixed easily.  hope we dont have to see you on this website again because you dont have CRC, but if we do there are a lot of people here with lots of information and are very supportive.

    Zach

  • Justmee
    Justmee Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Thank you for the responses
    Thank you for your answers--i am definitely rethinking taking just mom -maybe should take a friend too. I really hope it is not CRC as well... I don't know if i could handle it... I am so afraid and I feel so alone. I will come back and let y'all know. I have been reading the post here for a couple of weeks, and feel that I know you guys a little-- it is comforting to know that y'all are here if I need to come back. Thank you.
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #7
    Justmee –

     

     Re:

    "I'm really hoping for something else--I keep hoping it's crohn's disease"

     

    Ulcerative colitis and Crohns isn't much better than colorectal cancer, so be careful of what you wish for. How about wishing it’s just a hunk of broccoli that managed to get stuck in there?

     

    It’s best to take someone with you to each and every visit to a physician, and have them take a pad and pen, so they can write things down; some people take a pocket sized recorder and conceal it in their pocket or purse! It’s very easy and common to forget all the dialog when you’re facing a problem this personal.

     

    Also, write down all the things you would like to ask the physician; it’s just as easy to forget what you wanted to ask, as it is remembering the answers!

     

    While we’re at it…. Don’t get too overwhelmed about what –any- specific physician tells you, it’s only his or her opinion! A diagnosis can be sound, but not always, and treatments and prognosis can be greatly different  between physicians!

     

    Plan on getting second or more opinion(s) from physicians (preferably colorectal surgeons) that are –not- of the same group or association. Good physicians welcome other physician’s opinions, so do not feel you are  insulting anyone. In fact, if they act insulted, you would be best to seek another physician or surgeon; there’s no room for an attitude like that with a problem you –may- be facing.

     

    “Prepare for the worst; hope for the best” is the best advice given to me, and I’ll pass that along to you.

    (think stuck broccoli)

     

    I wish you the best outcome, and better health,

     

    John

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #8
    John23 said:

    Justmee –

     

     Re:

    "I'm really hoping for something else--I keep hoping it's crohn's disease"

     

    Ulcerative colitis and Crohns isn't much better than colorectal cancer, so be careful of what you wish for. How about wishing it’s just a hunk of broccoli that managed to get stuck in there?

     

    It’s best to take someone with you to each and every visit to a physician, and have them take a pad and pen, so they can write things down; some people take a pocket sized recorder and conceal it in their pocket or purse! It’s very easy and common to forget all the dialog when you’re facing a problem this personal.

     

    Also, write down all the things you would like to ask the physician; it’s just as easy to forget what you wanted to ask, as it is remembering the answers!

     

    While we’re at it…. Don’t get too overwhelmed about what –any- specific physician tells you, it’s only his or her opinion! A diagnosis can be sound, but not always, and treatments and prognosis can be greatly different  between physicians!

     

    Plan on getting second or more opinion(s) from physicians (preferably colorectal surgeons) that are –not- of the same group or association. Good physicians welcome other physician’s opinions, so do not feel you are  insulting anyone. In fact, if they act insulted, you would be best to seek another physician or surgeon; there’s no room for an attitude like that with a problem you –may- be facing.

     

    “Prepare for the worst; hope for the best” is the best advice given to me, and I’ll pass that along to you.

    (think stuck broccoli)

     

    I wish you the best outcome, and better health,

     

    John

    John, you are so right. If I
    John, you are so right. If I had to choose between early stage cc and ulcerative colitis it would be a no brainer. Steve suffered for years with UC. His quality of life is so much better now that the colon is gone. Unfortunately we're left with the stage 4 cc to contend with.

    Chelsea
  • Coloncancerblows
    Coloncancerblows Member Posts: 296 Member
    #9
    Hi

    I had my first colonscopy in Nov expecting it to be routine since I had no symptoms.  My husband went with me and when the doctor came back, he said he was 99.99% sure I had cancer.  He found a tumor the size of a golf ball.  My husband and I cried that whole afternoon but that I put my big girl pants on and thought "no sticking cancer is going to bring me down"!  Made an appointment with a colon and rectal surgeon.  The guy that did my colonscopy recommended a general surgeon do it but I wanted a specialist and my doctor came highly recommended.  He took the tumor out and took 20 lymph nodes to test.  Three came back positive so now I need chemo.  I have stage 3.  My first appointment with the oncologist is tomorrow morning.  Believe me, I am scared to death but I have heard so many stories of people beating colon cancer.  You and I will beat this together!  God Bless you!

  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #10
    Coloncancerblows said:

    Hi

    I had my first colonscopy in Nov expecting it to be routine since I had no symptoms.  My husband went with me and when the doctor came back, he said he was 99.99% sure I had cancer.  He found a tumor the size of a golf ball.  My husband and I cried that whole afternoon but that I put my big girl pants on and thought "no sticking cancer is going to bring me down"!  Made an appointment with a colon and rectal surgeon.  The guy that did my colonscopy recommended a general surgeon do it but I wanted a specialist and my doctor came highly recommended.  He took the tumor out and took 20 lymph nodes to test.  Three came back positive so now I need chemo.  I have stage 3.  My first appointment with the oncologist is tomorrow morning.  Believe me, I am scared to death but I have heard so many stories of people beating colon cancer.  You and I will beat this together!  God Bless you!

    Colon CB -

     

     

    “20 lymph nodes to test.  Three came back positive so now I need chemo”

     

    You really oughta’ get a second and more opinions before you begin any type of therapy.

     

    The accepted diagnosis is: “out of twenty lymph nodes, less than four isn’t bad, more than four is bad”, you only had three test positive…. Get another opinion from another colorectal surgeon that is not of the same group or organization, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

     

    Best of hopes,

     

    John

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #11
    John23 said:

    Colon CB -

     

     

    “20 lymph nodes to test.  Three came back positive so now I need chemo”

     

    You really oughta’ get a second and more opinions before you begin any type of therapy.

     

    The accepted diagnosis is: “out of twenty lymph nodes, less than four isn’t bad, more than four is bad”, you only had three test positive…. Get another opinion from another colorectal surgeon that is not of the same group or organization, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

     

    Best of hopes,

     

    John

    Oh!

    I wish I'd known this before I started Chemo

    Out of 23 lymph nodes, I had one show positive. I am now doing the whole chemo thing and it aint pretty.  Also PET & CT scans are clear.

    One tends to take everything the Doctor tells you and run with it. 

    Is it too late to get a second opinion?

  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #12
    Trubrit said:

    Oh!

    I wish I'd known this before I started Chemo

    Out of 23 lymph nodes, I had one show positive. I am now doing the whole chemo thing and it aint pretty.  Also PET & CT scans are clear.

    One tends to take everything the Doctor tells you and run with it. 

    Is it too late to get a second opinion?

    Not too late

    It is not too late to get a second opinion.  It is always your right to do so.

    We are all too often taught that the doctor knows best, but if you stop and consider no one individual can know everything there is to know about cancer and its treatment. 

    In the fight after a cancer diagnosis it becomes vitally important that we as the patient or caregiver arm ourselves with as much information as possible.  It is only then that we can search out the treatment we feel we need.

    Marie who loves kitties

Discussion Boards