First Signs...

jcruz said:

when and how?

Both my primary and the gastro doc felt something when they performed a DRE.  For the referral my doc said she felt a mass.  The gastro really underplayed it and said oh maybe that's just stool but she also scheduled a flexible sigmoidoscopy for the next day to look at it and take samples for biopsy.  She said only the sigmoidoscopy and not a colonoscopy was needed since she was only needing to look at the last six or so inches of the colon and I was able to do that procedure without any anesthesia.  The pathology report on those samples showed squamous cell carcinoma.  I had a surgical biopsy 2 weeks later combining the need for a larger piece of tissue for the lab and a gyno surgery for Bartholin's cysts.  It was a crazy few weeks.

Waiting for tests and appointments is agonizing especially if you're also in physical discomfort or pain.  I know.  Just try to stay calm (I know - easy to say maybe not so easy to do)  This is a slow growing cancer so there isn't a danger to you if you have to wait a few weeks for results.

Oh wow! Thank you jcruz!!! I appreciate your sharing. It helps a lot! and will try to relax for now.