Question About Symptoms and Tests - Cancer: Colon Message Board

acmatters · 10-05-2006, 08:24 PM

My husband has been having lower abdominal pain and tenderness along with testicular discomfort for about a month now. His doctor ordered a CT scan which came back negative. Would a CT scan detect colon cancer? I know that he was given an enema during the whole CT process. His doc is now wanting to refer him to a gastrologist. Do you think a colonoscopy will be the next step? Would that detect more than the CT scan would? I am suddenly very scared about what this could be. It is mild pain and discomfort, but I'm thinking it could be our first warning sign. For those of you who have or had colon cancer, did you get any similar symptoms before discovering the cancer? Any thoughts or suggestions you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.

jaydees · 10-05-2006, 08:56 PM

Has the doctor ruled out epididymitis as the cause of the testicular discomfort. This would be similar to the feeling of having been hit in the testicles which in turn can cause abdominal pain.

A CT scan may or may not detect a colon cancer. It is a first step because it is non-invasive. A colonoscopy is better as it allows the surgeon to actually inspect the inside of the colon from rectum to ileum.

I have had both epididymitis which is treated with antibiotics and cancer which was treated by surgery, radiation and chemo.

Epididymitis is an inflammation of the epididymis, the tubular structure that connects the testicle with the vas deferens

impactzone · 10-06-2006, 10:11 AM

By all means get a colonscopy. That will give you much valuable information.
Impactzone

acmatters · 10-06-2006, 02:11 PM

Thank you both so much for responding. He is in the process right now of getting an appointment with a GI specialist. Gotta jump through all the hoops of referrals and getting the right paperwork to the right place first though.

I appreciate the info. I'm sure a colonoscopy will no doubt be the next step.

Serianna · 10-06-2006, 10:53 PM

That doesn't really sound like colon cancer symptoms to me. From what I've read, and from personal experience, the first sign was diarrhea that wouldn't go away, then when the tumor grew larger, constipation. If they suspected cancer, probably the first thing they would do is a blood test to check the tumor markers. Just my thoughts of course. Good luck to him.