How to cope with double Whammy

Rodger - there may be other reasons for blood in the stool - the colonoscopy will see (with its camera - looks like one of the ALIENS fillms ) if there is anything wrong and they can take samples at the same time -
-colon cancer runs in my family so I have it checked regularly - getting that done at the end of may - whoopee -
-so Rodger dodger - just keep breathing - it may be something minor not major - and whatever it is - you will REMAIN CALM AND CARRY ON -

-across the pond hugs,
Bronson Smith ( 1/4 scot - 1/4 irish - 1/2 english - and with a name like smith !!)

Rodger,
sorry you have to deal with this too. The colonoscopy isn't that bad - except for the prep - and if they find something the can likely deal with it at the same time they find it.

And like Bronson said, lots of things cause blood in the stool. I had a similar result and the colonoscopy showed that I have an internal hemorrhoid that was bleeding and no cancer.

This is another one of those things that you won't know for sure until they stick that camera up your backside.

Hang in there and we're all hoping it's something they can fix.

All the best,
Andrew

Roger,

You will be happy to know that I had the same "problem" and it turned out to be nothing more than an anal fissure.  Have you ever had issues with hemorrhoids?  I had the colonoscopy just to be safe.  I know once you've been told you have cancer once before it is always the elephant in the room, but there are many benign causes of blood in the stool.  

Best wishes,

Tom   

Rodger, the blood issue could be caused by something else.
I had a colonoscopy in Jan due to changes in bowel habits, they give me
a relaxant and I fell asleep so didn't feel a thing (NHS hospital)
No cancer found in my case so it may well be another issue altogether.

Good luck mate,
Mike

Hi Roger,

This is the first I've heard of the occult blood test not being commonly used anymore. I suppose this could be true, but not in my personal experience.

I have a general physical every year at Mayo Clinic, including the occult blood test. In fact, it is more sophisticated than in the past. It used to be one sample that would be taken. Then it was two samples from the same stool. Now it is two samples from two different stools (I don't recall from 2012, but it may have been two different samples from two different DAYS.

Once again, they could be right in saying these tests are not used very much anymore, but they sure still do it at Mayo and I would place all my trust in them. When I see my doctor there in September I will ask him if these tests are about to be replaced by something else. Could be possible, I guess. New tests are always on the horizon.

I've never had a colonoscopy before & don't look forward to having one -- although many people have told me they are painless. Just the prep that sucks, as others have noted.

As for the blood, the others are quite correct that there are many causes of blood in the stool aside from cancer. I recall, way back in 1987, I had my first physical at Mayo and made the mistake of chomping down FOUR Burger King Whoppers in the day or two prior to my stool test. Gave me a false positive and I had to go through what I think was called a barium enima (not quite a colonoscopy, but similar).

It all turned out fine & just turned out to be some blood from those evil Whoppers.

Good luck to you!
Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & slowly getting a bit stronger.

Roger, not great news, but I hope the examination with the scope turns up better news.
As I understand it the colonoscopy deal is about taking laxatives beforehand to get things empty and then not being worried about the fact that you basically have to do lots of farting afterwards to expel the air.
I think you can also have a spot of medication to keep you relaxed when the camera is actually in there.

Probably time I had one myself.

Alf

Hi Roger,

Sounds like your test is even more involved than the one at Mayo. The tests that I take involve one small plastic tube for each sample. You unscrew the cap and find a plastic scoop attached to the inner side. You use that scoop to take a sample, then simply screw it back into the tube.

Then they are all placed inside a pre-arranged paper container and are dropped off at many different places in the clinic. They are called "S-Stations" and there are some on just about every floor. You just drop it into the box (like dropping off in a mailbox) and the clinic does the rest. The results are usually available later the same day or the next day.

I might be a bit prejudiced, but I like Mayo's way better. LOL

Chuck :)

Roger - I mean really big farts like a dozen whoopy cushions.

Roger - while you will no doubt have the NHS version of a colonoscopy I found this video about how things are done (and why). Perhaps it will help:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOiiNfiU3K0

My sister has recently had one in an NHS hospital and it was okay (as were the results)

It's sprouts not beans that are the problem!!

Rodger - the doctor will have a sheet telling what you can and cannot eat one week prior to the examination - no seeds - grains - tomatoes - red and purple things - clear fluids for 24 hours before and then 4 litres of stuff to empty out your colon - just think "fleet enema" and quadruple it ... clean as a whistle!
-they give you a sedative ( so someone has to drive you home) and it did not hurt - except when he went through a few bends in the colon - on a 1-10 scale for pain - maybe a 2-3 on rare occasion ( 4 times during the session) - very brief and forgetful
-perfect thing to do to get you ready for your spring wardrobe ( that was for the benefit of your wife!)
- the benefit of this type of testing is that they tell you on the spot if they take samples or not - initial feelings and time line for seeing if there is any cancer ....
-take care,
Bronson

Good luck, Rodger!  Prayers coming your way.  You just reminded me that I probably should have another one.  It's been almost 4 years.  I have heard the preps are getting a bit better.  I hope so.

Thank you - I will!  Take care!