"Journey through diagnosis of bowel cancer"

My GP referred me on in November 2014 due to some symptoms of bleeding haemorrhoids and diarrhoea. I was initially in spring 2015 at Queen Margaret hospital, Dunferlmine and after history taken I was referred on for a colonoscopy and some treatment for haemorroids. The colonoscopy was carried out in April at the same hospital and a polyp was found and removed. Nothing was said or done about the haemorrhoids.

A month later I was contacted by a nurse from the Victoria hospital, Kirkcaldy and found that the polyp removed was cancerous. I was called back for a further colonoscopy as the surgeon had not marked to site of removal.  A much longer more uncomfortable colonoscopy then took place to look thoroughly to find the site of remove and mark it. I was also x-rayed.

Following discussion I decided to have surgery to remove part of my bowel as the cancer was just outwith the margins and there was a possibility of some spread.

I under went an extended right hemicoloectomy in July 2015. I received excellent care and the operation went well.

The pathology news was good with no spread what so ever, so it was caught very early. I am very grateful that the doctor referred me for the colonoscopy in the first place, otherwise it is likely cancer would not have been detected until much later.

I am concerned that the polyp was not tagged and wonder why this happened? If it had been would I have had a smaller part of my bowel removed?

I do still have problems with haemorrhoids but not further suggestions of treatment for these have been suggested other than medicine to ease diarrhoea.

On the whole I am really glad the polyp was discovered and I received excellent care and treatment at the Victoria hospital.