Doctor visit, very worried - Cancer: Rectal & Anal Message Board

grffnx · 10-29-2003, 09:18 AM

Hi everyone,

I have had bloody stools recently, and my primary doc found blood in the rectum last week with an anoscope. I saw a gastroenterologist today who only did a digital rectal exam (neg/blood) and since the exam was so painful, wants to treat the area with analprep and wait 4 weeks for a colonoscopy. He says I probably have an anal fissure, but I told him I was currently having stomach cramps, too. The rectal pain woke me out of my sleep last night. I told him about my cancer concerns and he told me that cancer doesn't grow that much in a month. That really does not make me feel better. Any advice would be welcome.
Thanks.

jaydees · 10-30-2003, 11:54 AM

Cancer is also most usually painless. The pain itself could be causing stomach upset. The doctor is also correct, though I understand your sentiment, cancer gorws very slowly and one month is not significant.

If the doc was feeling around the area where the pain is located and felt no unusual bumps then it probably isn't hemerroids or cancer. The next best bet is a fissure. You don't say if you are female but (and I know this sounds strange)if so there is a possibility that it is endometriosis. I read an article that said that that tissue could sometimes actually grow in the rectum. I could be way off base and the article could be wrong though. If it were that then I would suppose it would be worse during menstration.

grffnx · 10-30-2003, 12:47 PM

Thanks for your reply Jaydeez! My primary doc backtracked today when I told her about the visit to the gastro doc. Now she says that she saw two irritated areas with the anoscope that could be a fissure. Apparently fissures don't look the same from day to day. (Sorry if this is too graphic.) The primary doc is calling the gastroenterologist today for a consult. I'm having an ultrasound next week to look into the pelvic pain. Thanks.