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Please help. Any chances that My husband has colon cancer?

Posted , 4 users are following.

gina18693
gina18693

Hello,

My husband noticed that his bowel movement has changed since this starting June.

Thinner stool(thickness of pencil), stool that comes with mucus, diarrhea and discomfort on his belly, smells like rotten fish he said.

and he's seeing some blood when he wipes after he's done.

So he went to GP and had the fecal occult test done.. and the test result came back positive. GP said the number is tiny. (he got 52.).. My husband is waiting to see a specialist and we don't know when it is going to be. (we were told we should wait for 4 months or so)

Since he's pretty young(33 y/o), the chances that he's going to get colonoscopy fast is hard.

It could be polyps or colon cancer.. but my husband think he has colon cancer due to his symptoms.. 

He's in panic and he's worried that the symptoms might be getting worse while waiting to see a specialist and get colonoscopy.

Private colonoscopy is definite worth trying but we cannot afford to do it now.. 

Wonder it's going to be safe while waiting..

Is anyone here who has or had similar symptoms? 

please let me know..

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • ashley94333
    ashley94333 gina18693

    Posted

    Please push to have one done as soon as possible. I know how difficult this can be. I live in Canada and had to get one done in a different city due to long wait times and visit my GP numerous times begging to have one done. I am also 30 and faced a lot of hurdles because of my age. Now is the time to be relentless in pursuit of getting answers. Good luck!
    • gina18693
      gina18693 ashley94333

      Posted

      Where in Canada do you live? I live in Vancouver and My husband and I made lots of phone calls to clinics and hospitals in vancouver doing colonoscopy and we were told they cannot guarantee for his colonoscopy because my husband is young and has no family history. We are very frustrated now.. how fast did you get your test done? Thank you for your reply!
  • emily5513
    emily5513 gina18693

    Posted

    Hmm those are some concerning symptoms. I have never experienced them, though my younger brother when he was just a freshman.. He had these exact same symptoms along with weight loss and anemia. He was diagnosed with Crohns disease. While waiting for the colonoscopy, maybe you should ask the doctor for a CEA blood test which looks for colon cancer. If the test comes up abnormal perhaps your doctor would see your husbands case as more urgent and do the colonoscopy more quickly.
    • gina18693
      gina18693 emily5513

      Posted

      I feel sorry for your brother..I didn't know there's a CEA blood test because his GP didn't mention it. I told my husband about the test and we are going to ask his doctor for the blood test. if the test comes up negative it will gives him some relief..or he could get his colonoscopy faster if the test result comes positive, which also could be the worst case scenario..Thank you for your reply!

  • emily5513
    emily5513 gina18693

    Posted

    Oh and maybe if it gets really bad you could go to the ER? My boyfriend had abdominal pain for months and went to the ER where they immediately did a CT scan. If it was colon cancer, most likely something abnormal would show on the CT scan and you could get you some answers?
  • ashley94333
    ashley94333 gina18693

    Posted

    I live in New Brunswick and was quoted 6 months to be seen by local surgeon for a colonoscopy. I went back to my GP who referred me to the nearest city and it was 6 weeks. Just keep pushing or go to emergency and see them you're bleeding and other issues.. that may get you the testing you need sooner.

  • camham1111
    camham1111 gina18693

    Posted

    I have similar symptoms, like diarrhea, constipation, mucus, changes in the appearance of stool (constant changes in color, thickness, shapes), abdominal pain, sometimes passing more gas fatigue. Does he have weight loss? Extreme fatigue and loss of appetite? Blood is not something to ignore so it's good that he is seeing a doctor. Is it mixed in with the stool? Does he have family history of colon cancer? There was a time when I was really scared I have colon cancer (I'm 16), but it turned out to be IBS. The anxiety caused my IBS to flare up even more. Try to calm down and keep pushing for an earlier colonoscopy if you can. If you can't, try and wait. If it is cancer, it won't grow in just a few weeks. Colon cancer is very slow growing but still push for an earlier exam. I wish the best for you guys. I've learned to think more simply and try to not always jump to cancer.

    • gina18693
      gina18693 camham1111

      Posted

      He doesn't have weight loss and loss of appetite but he's saying he feels tired more than before. He stopped taking Dexilant which he was taking for his acid reflux after he noticed some changes of his bowel movement because one of the medicine's side effect is diarrhea. So he's now suffering from both, which makes him feel much more tired and sensitive to his health problem.

      He always has same shape of stool (pencil thin)...which comes with mucus and blood sometimes. He went to see GP after he got the positive fecal occult test result. He told the doctor that he was scared he has colon cancer and the doctor was like "nah..", considering that his test result number was tiny and he doesn't have family history of colon cancer and there wasn't significant change of his weight I guess. The doctor said it's safe to wait and he doesn't think my husband has colon cancer but my husband is not sure at all.

      We are definitely going to see his GP again to see if we can push for an earlier exam..

      Glad to know that you don't have colon cancer. Thank you so much for your reply.

       

    • camham1111
      camham1111 gina18693

      Posted

      No problem, glad to help. If the doctor said it's safe to wait, you can wait but its still good you're pushing for an earlier exam. I get those pencil thin stools ALL THE TIME, scared me at first honestly. I get a lot of mucus too. Try upping his fiber. No family history is good. I honestly think it's either IBD (which means you really need to find treatment for it, it raises your risk for cancer in the future) or IBS (very similar symptoms with IBD diseases and cancer but not deadly or risk factor for cancer, just uncomfortable and can make a big impact on your life). 

  • ashley94333
    ashley94333 gina18693

    Posted

    I would say there are enough things going on to warrant a colonoscopy and it should be done in a timely manner. Some docs just don't realize colon cancer is more of a risk for younger people now. It's likely not but it needs to be checked

    • gina18693
      gina18693 ashley94333

      Posted

      I really hope he could get a colonoscopy as soon as possible.. We were only told that they cannot get him in the follow up appointment with specialist fast since he is young and has no family history. It sounds ridiculous somehow.. Thank you for your concern.
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