Bowel Cancer - Don't sit on your arse!

LateX'Dog

LateX'Dog

LateX'Dog

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So today my children's Granddad and my wife's step dad died today of Bowl Cancer.

He first noticed symptoms about a year and a half ago of constantly going to the toilet, loose and pale poo and abdominal pains. But he ignored them and carried on living life.

January this year symptoms progressed and he was in quite a bit of lower back pain. After countless visits to the GP and hospital he was given some anti inflammatories and told to rest.

April came around and things had only got worse, he was throwing up 3-5 times a day, unable to control his bowls, barely eating and in a lot of untreatable pain. The hospital admitted him and monitored him while doing tests.

2 weeks ago the tests came back that he had stage 3 aggressive cancer in the trunk (From the hips to your neck), it was in his bones, lymph nodes, organs etc. There was nothing they could do and he had 6 months at most to live.

3 days ago his kidneys packed in and he went into renal failure and they gave him 4 days at most. The cancer was restricting the oxygen to his brain, so he started to loose his sight, forget who people were and became randomly aggressive.

4am this morning he died.


I know I'm not exactly well liked on here and that needs to be put aside for the moment, but what is abundantly clear is please get your self checked if you are concerned about anything. Don't wait or be too embarrassed, its better to be safe then sorry.

:(
 
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Very sorry for your loss mate.

As a male i "was" guilty of avoiding the doctors until a good friend of mine passed away of cancer. First in his spine, making him wheelchair bound and paralyzed from the waist down.

Then back with a bang, this time in his brain.

I will always go get something checked out now, and in a sad way its all thanks to my friend learning the hard way.

Miss you buddy!
 
Agreed, and sorry for your loss.

My dad about 4 years ago, noticed some oddities with his bowl movements. Did the screening tests, came back negative. GP told him to change his diet, he did, still no change. It was only after my dad kept on at the GP did they finally get him in for a colonoscopy.

Colonoscopy found cancerous polyps inside his colon, we were incredibly lucky to have caught it early, it hadn't managed to spread any further than that, so an op to remove that whole section was done, and nothing has returned since (fingers crossed).

Horrible thing for anyone to go through.
 
Sorry to hear. Absolutely get things checked if you notice a change, although also be aware that there are plenty of other non life threatening options that can contribute to the same symptoms so don't presume the worst if possible.
 
:( Sorry to read this.

I agree it is important, but as you have highlighted you can repeatedly visit a GP and be fobbed off with painkillers. I am currently in that boat - been going back for loose bowel movements and lower back pain. My doctor says it isn't anything serious, have some painkillers. They did some blood tests in November. Thats it. That is as far as I have got since then.

Well, what about a CT or an ultrasound or any other further testing? I am so fed up with my local practice that I am considering going to a private GP and paying for further testing myself :(
 
Very sad news, I'm sorry to hear it.
My dad had bowel cancer about 25 years ago, at the age of 45 which is young, but fortunately he survived. It can be hereditary, and because of this I had my first colonoscopy last year. All clear thankfully.
 
I am paranoid about bowel cancer, 2 of my family members passed away due to it. If in doubt check it out and be stubborn and persistant if you genuinely believe there is something wrong - Doctors will always fob you off initially, but it can help if you can give proper details of why you believe something is wrong. If needs be, even keep a log book (no pun intended!) - simply saying 'I go to the toilet more than usual and I am sometimes getting lower back pain' isn't really useful info that will have the Doctor rushing to have an expensive procedure arranged.
 
I had a full check out end of last year after some issues with my tummy (I'm 47) which included a full camera up where the sun don't shine and then a CT scan chest down. My friend luckily is "in the trade" :) so was able to do it all via my private medial cover. I urge anyone over 45 to consider doing this if they can afford to. My issue was related to my appendix and it was an "up to you" decision thankfully, which I decided to have removed and have been fine since. It is also a level of piece of mind to have the check up for this and other things.
 
having recently had a colonoscopy I can only echo what's been said, go get checked if you feel anything is not quite right. I was lucky and there is nothing sinister going on.

I will say though that the thought of the procedure is worse than the procedure itself.
 
Sadly sounds like another case of doctors not picking up on something quickly enough.

I had an issue five years ago with similar symptoms and they did bugger all about it for a year until I literally crawled in to hospital and refused to leave. Security wouldn't remove me because even they could see I was in agony.
Exploratory surgery was scheduled after morphine didn't touch the pain and they found my gallbladder had ruptured.

Hope your family and particularly your wife manage ok.
 
BuffetSlayer said:
:( Sorry to read this.

I agree it is important, but as you have highlighted you can repeatedly visit a GP and be fobbed off with painkillers. I am currently in that boat - been going back for loose bowel movements and lower back pain. My doctor says it isn't anything serious, have some painkillers. They did some blood tests in November. Thats it. That is as far as I have got since then.

Well, what about a CT or an ultrasound or any other further testing? I am so fed up with my local practice that I am considering going to a private GP and paying for further testing myself :(
Click to expand...

Not wanting to make this a medial thread for I am no expert, but as a general point if you are unhappy with your GP's opinion seek a referral. My GP was putting it down to stress, IBS etc and that's fine, but for me that was not enough and luckily I have a few friends in the profession, one of them a very fine gob to bum specialist who had looked after my wife previously and is also a petrol head like me. I was able to seek his opinion and he sorted me out.
 
My condolences to you and your family. I hope things get gradually easier over time and as you say it's good to raise any concerns you have and if that first answer doesn't satisfy you ask again and again.

Once again my thoughts are with you, and your family, at this difficult time.
 
Sorry for your loss, my father-in-law died the same way but he got checked much much earlier when he started getting symptoms and by then it had already spread.
 
darrant1234 said:
I will say though that the thought of the procedure is worse than the procedure itself.
Click to expand...

Housey said:
100%, didnt feel a thing
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I've had quite a few colonoscopies done over the last few years and while you can sometimes experience a bit of discomfort, that is all it is, discomfort. you can even have the anaesthetist knock you out completely if you want.

the biggest problem that men in particular seem to have with them is that the old male ego/pride can take a bit of a hammering. nothing worse than being kitted up in a gown waiting to have a camera shoved up your Khyber!

but if it keeps you alive and well it is certainly worth it.

to the OP, you have my genuine deepest sympathies. you never know, maybe someone suffering similar symptoms will read this thread and decide to go get themselves checked out
 
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