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Suggest Ways To Rule Out Colorectal Carcinoma
Question: My mum has had a bowel screening and blood has been found so has a colonoscopy tomorrow I am worried sick that it's cancer. Mum has no symptoms other than occasionally she gets blood on toilet paper. She has no itching or discomfort or anything. Do you think it's cancer?
Brief Answer:
Very less likely to be colorectal carcinoma.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query.
Have gone theough your details and i appreciate your concerns.
As per your query minor bleed in old age can be caused due to hemorrhoid or anal fissures.Though colon carcinoma can also present with blood in stools yet golden rule of medical science is to rule out the common things first.Commonly experienced symptoms in colorectal carcinoma include changes in bowel habits, changes in stool consistency, blood in the stool and abdominal discomfort and pain.Your mother has none expect off and minor bleeding.
So franklly speaking chances of it being colorecatal carcinoma are very low.
Most likely it would be a hemorrhoid.
So don't worry.Just keep your fingers crossed till colonscopy is done.
Hope i answered your query well.
Follow up with reports of colonoscopy.
Thanks!
Very less likely to be colorectal carcinoma.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HealthcareMagic for your query.
Have gone theough your details and i appreciate your concerns.
As per your query minor bleed in old age can be caused due to hemorrhoid or anal fissures.Though colon carcinoma can also present with blood in stools yet golden rule of medical science is to rule out the common things first.Commonly experienced symptoms in colorectal carcinoma include changes in bowel habits, changes in stool consistency, blood in the stool and abdominal discomfort and pain.Your mother has none expect off and minor bleeding.
So franklly speaking chances of it being colorecatal carcinoma are very low.
Most likely it would be a hemorrhoid.
So don't worry.Just keep your fingers crossed till colonscopy is done.
Hope i answered your query well.
Follow up with reports of colonoscopy.
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Mum sometimes has diarrhoea which is a change and a lot of flatulence do you still think it is unlikely to be cancer
Brief Answer:
I don't feel its cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
When a doctor treats a patient three most important things are-
History of patient-Which in your case i know.
Physical exmination-Unfortunately i can't.
And the most important part Investigation-We would have reports soon.
So without investigations just on the basis of 2,3 symptoms its rather impossible to be sure about a particular diagnosis becuase in case of gut everything from irritable bowel to inflammatory bowel to colorectal carcinoma have the same symptoms i.e blood,pain and stool inconsistency.
However going on your narration i don't feel its carcinoma as cancers are usually progressive in nature and symptoms in case of cancer are persistent in nature while in other problem like IBS they are off and on(as per the history of your mother all symptoms are there off and on).
So going on history i don't feel its cancer.However as you also know we can be 100% sure only after colonoscopy.
Rest assured dear.
Best of luck to your mother and her caring son.
Thanks.
I don't feel its cancer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
When a doctor treats a patient three most important things are-
History of patient-Which in your case i know.
Physical exmination-Unfortunately i can't.
And the most important part Investigation-We would have reports soon.
So without investigations just on the basis of 2,3 symptoms its rather impossible to be sure about a particular diagnosis becuase in case of gut everything from irritable bowel to inflammatory bowel to colorectal carcinoma have the same symptoms i.e blood,pain and stool inconsistency.
However going on your narration i don't feel its carcinoma as cancers are usually progressive in nature and symptoms in case of cancer are persistent in nature while in other problem like IBS they are off and on(as per the history of your mother all symptoms are there off and on).
So going on history i don't feel its cancer.However as you also know we can be 100% sure only after colonoscopy.
Rest assured dear.
Best of luck to your mother and her caring son.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
My mum has had colonoscopy that confirmed bowel cancer. We don't know what stage yet they just said the bowel looks healthy the tumour is about the size of a 50p piece at the moment I am worried sick about the prognosis.
Brief Answer:
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I am so sorry to hear that.
As per your query,
Stage I cancers have a survival rate of 85-95 percent.
Stage II tumors have survival rates ranging from 60 to 85 percent.
Stage III colon cancer has about a 45 percent chance of cure and a patient with a stage IV tumor has only a 5-10 percent chance of a cure.
Patients with stage I, II and III rectal cancer will also receive radiation therapy with chemotherapy either before or after surgery. Stage IV is not often curable, but it is treatable, and the growth of the cancer and the symptoms of the disease can be managed.
Final call be taken only after we have reports of biopsy with us.
Please stay strong and ask me any think which you want to.
I am sorry for her diagnosis.
I wish her a great luck and would pray for her.
Thanks.
Follow up answer.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I am so sorry to hear that.
As per your query,
Stage I cancers have a survival rate of 85-95 percent.
Stage II tumors have survival rates ranging from 60 to 85 percent.
Stage III colon cancer has about a 45 percent chance of cure and a patient with a stage IV tumor has only a 5-10 percent chance of a cure.
Patients with stage I, II and III rectal cancer will also receive radiation therapy with chemotherapy either before or after surgery. Stage IV is not often curable, but it is treatable, and the growth of the cancer and the symptoms of the disease can be managed.
Final call be taken only after we have reports of biopsy with us.
Please stay strong and ask me any think which you want to.
I am sorry for her diagnosis.
I wish her a great luck and would pray for her.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
It worries me cos mum had ovarian cancer 8 years ago treated with operation and then chemo will mum be able to have chemo again? With it being a small tumour as they put it what are the chances it's spread please?
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I can very well appreciate your concerns for your mother.
I would like to give you a small briefing.
Most colorectal cancers begin as a growth called a polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.Some types of polyps can change into cancer over the course of several years, but not all polyps become cancer.
As the mass seen on colonoscopy is small there are possibilities that its -
Adenomatous polyps - These polyps sometimes change into cancer so they are called a pre-cancerous condition.
Hyperplastic polyps and inflammatory polyps- These polyps are more common, but in general they are not pre-cancerous.
In almost 70% of cases small lesions in colon are adenomatous only but again things can be clear only after reports of biopsy are out.
In case its malignant then yes after surgical removal of cancer chemotherapy would be given again.Drugs given in chemotherapy for ovarian cancer are different from that given in colorectal cancer so fresh cycles of chemo would be given.
No commments on chances of spead before biopsy reports.
No one can guess that i depends on stage and nature of tumour(whether benign or malignant).
How long will it take for reports of biopsy to be there?
Thanks!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
I can very well appreciate your concerns for your mother.
I would like to give you a small briefing.
Most colorectal cancers begin as a growth called a polyp on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.Some types of polyps can change into cancer over the course of several years, but not all polyps become cancer.
As the mass seen on colonoscopy is small there are possibilities that its -
Adenomatous polyps - These polyps sometimes change into cancer so they are called a pre-cancerous condition.
Hyperplastic polyps and inflammatory polyps- These polyps are more common, but in general they are not pre-cancerous.
In almost 70% of cases small lesions in colon are adenomatous only but again things can be clear only after reports of biopsy are out.
In case its malignant then yes after surgical removal of cancer chemotherapy would be given again.Drugs given in chemotherapy for ovarian cancer are different from that given in colorectal cancer so fresh cycles of chemo would be given.
No commments on chances of spead before biopsy reports.
No one can guess that i depends on stage and nature of tumour(whether benign or malignant).
How long will it take for reports of biopsy to be there?
Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I think we get results in 2 weeks but they did say cancer thank you
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
2 weeks just for biopsy report?
Why are doctors loosing precious time?
You may request them to report it earlier if possible.
Thanks.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
2 weeks just for biopsy report?
Why are doctors loosing precious time?
You may request them to report it earlier if possible.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
We get biopsy report this week even though they said it is cancer without biopsy results can it still be benign or will it be malignant if they specifically said cancer
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again again dear,
cancer is divided into two parts-
a) BENIGN -not dangerous.
b)Malignant- Dangerous.
Biopsy is done to see if cancer is Benign or Malignant.
Most likely its a new cancer.
Its termed as colorectal carcinoma
As already explained it can be benign or malignant.So keep your fingers crossed till biopsy results are there.
Dont worry please.
Even in case its malignant there are 4 stages and success rate till stage 3 is good.
Try to calm your anxiety.
Thanks!.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again again dear,
cancer is divided into two parts-
a) BENIGN -not dangerous.
b)Malignant- Dangerous.
Biopsy is done to see if cancer is Benign or Malignant.
Most likely its a new cancer.
Its termed as colorectal carcinoma
As already explained it can be benign or malignant.So keep your fingers crossed till biopsy results are there.
Dont worry please.
Even in case its malignant there are 4 stages and success rate till stage 3 is good.
Try to calm your anxiety.
Thanks!.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Nurse has rang my mum and now said they're suspicious of cancer now yesterday said it definitely was are there still chances of this being benign mum has occasional bleeding from bottom, gets tired, looks pale and diarrhoea with wind but only occasionally maybe up to 2 to 3 times per week
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear,
Large intesstine consists of three parts-
Colon
Rectum and anal canal.
So this cancer can be present any where among these three.
If they are saying its near anaus.Then it can be anal carcinoma(however its rare).
Very unprofessional on part of treating doctor not to inform patient about things.
I can understand the level of frustation you must be feeling.Atleast they should tell you the location of cancer.
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear,
Large intesstine consists of three parts-
Colon
Rectum and anal canal.
So this cancer can be present any where among these three.
If they are saying its near anaus.Then it can be anal carcinoma(however its rare).
Very unprofessional on part of treating doctor not to inform patient about things.
I can understand the level of frustation you must be feeling.Atleast they should tell you the location of cancer.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I have rang mum's nurse up and mum has cancer in her bottom it's the size of 50p bowel looks healthy and surrounding area. They say this is suspicious for cancer. Can this be cured if it is cancer?
Brief Answer:
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
From the description you are giving it appears to be rectoanal cancer.
The 5-year relative survival rate for stage II rectal cancers is about 84%. For stage IIIcancers the survival rate is about 71%, and for stage 4 cancers the survival rate is about 58%. Rectal cancers that have spread to other parts of the body are often harder to treat and tend to have a poorer prognosis.
Every thing depends on the exact location,Nodal involvement and Metastasis of cancer.
Thanks!
Follow up.
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
From the description you are giving it appears to be rectoanal cancer.
The 5-year relative survival rate for stage II rectal cancers is about 84%. For stage IIIcancers the survival rate is about 71%, and for stage 4 cancers the survival rate is about 58%. Rectal cancers that have spread to other parts of the body are often harder to treat and tend to have a poorer prognosis.
Every thing depends on the exact location,Nodal involvement and Metastasis of cancer.
Thanks!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
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