Hi Marguerite, would you be willing to elaborate a little on how you knew something was wrong? For those of us who have no idea and don't want the anxiety-trip that is asking Dr. Google?
Hi Marguerite, would you be willing to elaborate a little on how you knew something was wrong? For those of us who have no idea and don't want the anxiety-trip that is asking Dr. Google?
Sure. This was a few years after going through undiagnosed lymphoma during and after my first pregnancy, so I had already learned that I was my only advocate. I had been having bloody diarrhea every day for a week when I first went to the gp who said hm, maybe it will go away, then she ordered some stool tests (had to do the test tube samples) then I said hey listen, IтАЩm (just) over 40, IтАЩm a cancer survivor, my mother is a colon cancer survivor, something is up. She gave me the business card for the gastro (in the large urban hospital network) who had a 3 month wait for appointments, so I waited. Then he said well I guess, just to be on the safe side, ok - and the colonoscopy was another 2-3 month wait. Then he pulled out a large mass in addition to the polyps, that was cancerous.
DonтАЩt do Dr. Google, but do listen to your body. If youтАЩre in a med group, ask to see another doc in the group. That is how my lymphoma was finally diagnosed, I had a sub doctor who felt the lump on my collarbone and took me seriously instead of just complimenting me on my amazing weight loss.
Hi Marguerite, would you be willing to elaborate a little on how you knew something was wrong? For those of us who have no idea and don't want the anxiety-trip that is asking Dr. Google?
Sure. This was a few years after going through undiagnosed lymphoma during and after my first pregnancy, so I had already learned that I was my only advocate. I had been having bloody diarrhea every day for a week when I first went to the gp who said hm, maybe it will go away, then she ordered some stool tests (had to do the test tube samples) then I said hey listen, IтАЩm (just) over 40, IтАЩm a cancer survivor, my mother is a colon cancer survivor, something is up. She gave me the business card for the gastro (in the large urban hospital network) who had a 3 month wait for appointments, so I waited. Then he said well I guess, just to be on the safe side, ok - and the colonoscopy was another 2-3 month wait. Then he pulled out a large mass in addition to the polyps, that was cancerous.
DonтАЩt do Dr. Google, but do listen to your body. If youтАЩre in a med group, ask to see another doc in the group. That is how my lymphoma was finally diagnosed, I had a sub doctor who felt the lump on my collarbone and took me seriously instead of just complimenting me on my amazing weight loss.