I MUST know if anyone else had problems such as mine and found out that they had colon cancer!!!????

PLEASE tell me if you had anythinglike this:

I am having some alarming symtoms and would like anyone who has a clue about these to please respond. I have pain in my left lower pelvic area--mainly in the back. Heaviness, aching pain. Now my entire left side hurts. Up to my shoulder and down to my left knee. I am very, very fatigued and have always been very active. I do not have time for this, in fact. My stool is two colors...as if striped. Light tan and brown as if split down the middle. Also it has become very narrow and sometimes very loose. I have pain constantly as if something could actually come out of me and it seems to intensify as the day goes on. This stabbing in my mid back has become worse today and yesterday. I have a CT scan next week, but I am very concerned and would appreciate any feedback. Please?

Hi Penny and welcome to the board. Sorry to hear your health is giving you cause for concern and hopefully you will have some answers soon.

The symptoms you described are similar to those experienced by sufferers of not only colon cancer but loads of other bowel ailments/deseases too like IBS, crohns, diverticular, etc. Sometimes these symptoms can also be gynocalogical such as prolapse or endometriosis.

The CT scan is one method of ruling out many of these but you may well need to have additional tests like a colonoscopy.

Good luck and keep us posted.
ktee

Thank you for your response. I don't konw that it matters at alll, but I did forget to post that I had a hysterectomy seven years ago due to the beginning stages of cervical cancer. Can I still have problems with endometreousis? I never did have any symptoms of it. I still have my ovaries, by the way.

Mid back pains could be due to a kidney infection or problem, or a urinary tract infection that has turned into pylonephritis. Have you had a urinalysis done to check for microscopic albumin protein, casts or wbc's? Other possibilities might include a cyst on the left ovary, or adhesions if you have had prior surgeries. Have you hurt your back recently, it could be as simple as that. It could be pressure on a nerve that runs in that area.
IF you try hard enough you can really drive yourself crazy with worry. Its good that you are getting a CAT scan, other possible diagnostic tests might include a IVP, urological work-up, MRI, complete blood panel, 24 hour urine test. Until your tests are done and the results are in, try to distract yourself with enjoyable things since, whatever is, is and once you know what that is, you can formulate a plan of attack. Don't let worry about what may possibly be wrong stop you from enjoying today. You are certainly doing the right thing getting your symptoms checked out. Good Luck!!

Again, thank you for responding. I did have a gyn. exam. No mass felt, but much tenderness/pain when the back wall of colon (?) was touched which led to the path of the CT scan to be looked at and followed w/ colonoscopy. Nothing to be noticed in the urine sample.

yes u can still have endometreousis i had a hysterectomy for pre cancer about 5 years ago and ended up having surgery to have ovary removed in june 2004 and had endometreousis also

Hi Penny:

I know it's hard to wait for tests and their results. Do you have a project, hobby, favorite activity, movies, etc. to keep your mind off the test and possible conclusions? Or maybe some light reading like a good romance novel for distraction.

A year and a half ago I had a CT scan for confirmation of kidney stones. The doctors office called the next day to say yes I had them and to go to a urologist. Three days later I got an urgent call from the same doctor. The complete report had come back and I had a massive cyst on my right ovary the size of a large Arizona grapefruit and I need to see my gynocologist right away.

During the next three weeks before my surgery I did some of the things I mentioned above plus took a trip and it really helped the time pass. Fortunately the cyst was benign.

I hope things go well for you. Try not to assume the worst. I will think positive thoughts for you. Take care.

Yes endometriosis can still grow if you kept your ovaries and the endo was present in your abdomen prior to your hysterectomy. It can even still occur with women who have had a total hyster plus oopherectomy if they have certain types of hrt.

I believe the best way to diagnose endo is by laparoscopy (sp ? )

regards
ktee

Thank you, Cactus...I do, indeed, have many, many distractions. Thank God for those. The pain is the only thing that makes my mind travel back to this whole thing...yet being busy does help that. You are right. I have two young boys (seven and eight) and adopted two precious daugters (ages 4 adn 14!) from Cambodia...therefore, I started late but made up for lost time and now my life is overwhelmingly busy...but that is a good thing. In fact, I'm headed to a soccer game right now.

Also, I spend every extra moment of my time raising money for missions for an AIDS rescue center in Cambodia AND I am in the process of opening a new business!!!

I do appreciate all the responses and I will be very relieved after these tests are ran. I am believing that it is simply scar tissue...that'd be the best case scenerio, right? Meanwhile...yes...I am distracted most of the time.

But, in all honesty I know that whatever happens is suppose to happen. Either way God will be glorified and I'll be just fine.

God Bless you All.