I'm praying this turns out to be NOTHING! (blood in stool)

Hi all~

No sooner than I posted recently that my sister had completed her chemo, and was feeling the best she has since 2003, I got a disturbing phone call last night.

She noticed small traces of blood on the tissue after having bowel movements. With that, her stool was tested and blood was in fact found contained in it.
The gastro doc is telling her it can be nothing more than a polyp, certainly does not have to indicate cancer.
I know there are many reasons, aside from cancer, that can cause blood in the stool. However, as brave as she tries to appear on the surface, I can see that her cancerhead is kicking into gear, and she is scared. Her only complaint leading up to this news had been major fatigue. Keep in mind she had been on chemo since 11/2003 with 1 short break to have second surgery. She had just begun going back to the gym, hiking, etc. when this came upon her.

She will be given another colonoscopy (she last had one 2 years ago) and an endoscopy on Tuesday.

I pray this turns out to be nothing...she certainly deserves having some feeling really good times already - both physically and emotionally!

Have any other ladies been in a similar situation which turned out to be a benign event?

's to all!
Heni

I guess my problem was a bit more obvious to the docs. After my hyst I suffered from bleeding hemmorrhoids and also dveloped an anal fissure (painful!) Neither one is cancer-related nor life-threatening. I have also had polyps (benign) removed during colonoscopy.
There are plenty of reasons for her digestive system to be irritated. Try to keep the faith that it is another annoying but non-cancer problem unless it is proven otherwise

Hi Heni - At the end of last year during a checkup for another difficulty, blood was also found in my stool (though it was not visible to me on tissue). I had a colonoscopy that showed nothing wrong with me (other than a collapsed part of the colon, which the doc thought was scar tissue from the hysterectomy.) Boy oh boy! I most certainly had a bad case of cancer head, which is so normal for people who have had cancer once. (I confirmed that I handle stress by eating!!!) When I asked the doctor why there was blood in my stool if he didn't find anything, he shrugged it off and said there were many reasons for blood in the stool. So - I'm off in early Feb for a second opinion for that and other things. I've been able to calm the cancer head, but, of course, I want to know why there's blood there.

My message to you, though, is that there was no sign of cancer or polyps. I've read about other women who have had blood on the tissue, and it did not turn out to be cancer. I'm sure they'll be along to chime in.

Thanks for the encouragement.

My sister did have a benign polyp 2 years ago, however, there was no bleeding then.

As I said, I know there are many benign reasons as to why one has blood in their stool.

Until her tests on Tueday, I am trying very hard to maintain a positive attitude and to help reassure my sister to do the same.

She just told me that the blood was "maroone" colored, I know that the color makes a difference as to what the causes may be. In my head, I'm thinking the redder the better???????????????????????????????

Does anyone know?

Thanks again~
Heni

I'm sorry I can't help with your questions, Heni, but just wanted to send wishes that all will turn out well. Your sister has certainly been through enough and deserves some time to have fun. Let us know what she finds out.

's

Dear Heni,

I am sorry to hear this about your Sister. We all know that any symptoms after cancer tend to make us anxious and concerned. It is an emotional roller-coaster.... one in which many of us wish we never had a ticket to ride. But, I believe as others have posted, that the chances are good ( for your Sister) that there is some benign reason for it.

Sounds like she will be doing all the right things to have it checked out as soon as possible. Per usual...the waiting is the worst part.

My thoughts are with you and your Sister...as always.

Love and Hugs, Diane

s Heni

A multitude of different benign reasons could be the culprit.
Something as simple as internal hemorrhoids.
As blood ages, it gets darker. Blood from high in the GI tract might appear as black stools. The fact that your sister's stool had red or maroon just indicates the problem is closer to her rectum.
Hopefully the colonoscopy will show something simple or nothing at all.
You are a dear sister.

oxoxox karenann

Never had any problems with this until cancer treatment. First, radiation caused the blood last year. Now, I apparently have hemmorrhoids (discovered at my colonoscopy), which are currently causing bleeding. So there are several benign causes, and I bet those of us who have been through treatment are more likely to get them.

So I'm hoping it's something simple for your sister, too. All of you deserve it!

Heni
Waiting is the absolute hardest part of our cancer lives.
I hope your sister finds an answer Tuesday.
As always, Karenann gave a good synopsis of blood in the colon.
You are such a good sister to worry.

Cindy

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister's present problem. I haven't got any help or advice for you, but I just wanted to say i'll be praying that this turns out to be something benign, which can be easily dealt with.

Your sister deserves some good health after all she's been through. I hope her appointment goes well on Tuesday. Please let us know what the outcome is.

Geraldine