What now? Proctitis or Colon Cancer

I guess being a G10 with mets wasn't quite enough to worry about. Last Wednesday, with no warning at all, i suddenly began having bloody BM's. It was really spooky. I had travel plans for the next day and couldn't do anything about it until this week. It continued throughout the trip. I had my regular monthly appointment scheduled with my RO on Tuesday so I waited until then to do anything about it.

In the meantime, I was getting a little worse each day. Variable blood loss but it never let up. Pretty significant abdominal cramps and a constant feeling that someone was shoving a broomstick up my backside. My RO referred me to a GI specialist for the the next day (yesterday). His opinion is that it could be colon cancer, but he doesn't think so.The most likely candidate seems to be Proctitis. I guess I may have gotten too much radiation in the area of my rectum or lower colon and that is what he thinks is causing the problem.

I knew I was headed for a colonoscopy and I am so uncomfortable that I just about begged the scheduling nurse to have it done today. First available time was next Tuesday since Monday is a holiday. If It's Proctitis, I guess I will know right away. If it's polyps, it will take several days to get them biopsied so I won't likely know anything until the end of the week Since my PCa was such a total surprise dx, I am really in fear of the same thing happening again.

What a way to spend Labor Day weekend!

Proctitis is more likely due to your RT. You need that colonoscopy to know for sure.

I had similar problems that turned out to be radiation proctitis and an internal hemorrhoid. If you're getting bright red blood on the paper or in the toilet, that means the bleeding is close to the, er 'exit', and likely easily treated. Also note that just a drop or two of blood can look like a lot when it comes from back there.

Hang in there, sucks that you have to wait for the colonoscopy.
Andrew

I went through the same thing shortly after radiotherapy. Turns out, per colonoscopy, it's radiation protitis and a moderate flair of ulcerative colitis, that had been dormant for twenty years. RT...the gift that keeps on giving.

What you have doesn't sound like colon cancer, but having a scoping and biopsies will tell the tale. After RT of any type, including SBRT, getting a colonscopy every 2 or 3 is wise....per both my RO and my GI. Not much different than regular PSA tests.

Good luck!

Thanks all for your replies and all of the information you provided. My last colonoscopy was about 6 years ago and all was good then. I guess I will know more on Tuesday but it does seem likely now that it is proctitis.

erbob said...
.....I am now sitting here on the couch looking at a six inch surgical scar on my belly, healing from a partial coloectomy where a foot of colon was hacked out ten days ago. I am strongly recommending everyone over 45 or 50 get the colonoscopy NOW.

Your misery is unfortunate, erbob, and your warning is most accurate IMO.

For too many the message isn't heard, if heard it isn't believed, if believed it isn't acted upon.

Good luck with your recovery!

Glad to hear they got you fixed up. I've had two colposcopies post RT and haven't had problems in about 4 years and the GI said to come back in 10.

Hopefully the polyps aren't anything worry about. Do let us know what the pathologist says.

Andrew

A little update on my recent partial colectomy. Found out they removed an 18-inch of my colon and am now considered Stage 3 guy. In a week or so will be seeing a Medical Oncologist who will certainly recommend chemo. As I stated in my post above, get a Colonoscopy - DON’T PUT IT OFF. Now, a week from tomorrow, I go in for my three month Cystoscopy. Sure hope that is negative as usual.