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Lump

Wibbles

I found a lump/swelling in the right hand side of my body (below the rib cage) - I went to my GP who arranged for a poo test - I took the test and that proved inconclusive

Next step - a ultra sound scan at hospital - but nothing has been heard yet - is there a maximum allowable time that a hospital is allowed to wait ?

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Comments

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Wibbles. How long has it been since you were referred for your ultrasound?

If you're really worried you could perhaps contact your GP to see if there's been any progress on your case.

Hope you're not waiting too much longer!

JessieJ

How long have you been waiting @Wibbles? If your GP thought it worrying, then they would normally put you through on the 2 week urgent referral pathway, so you'd hear from them within 2 weeks. If not, then it will be a few weeks before you hear.

Wibbles

Rosie_Scope said:

Hi @Wibbles. How long has it been since you were referred for your ultrasound?

If you're really worried you could perhaps contact your GP to see if there's been any progress on your case.

Hope you're not waiting too much longer!k0

It's been a little over 2 weeks since I did the poo test!!
I'm not losing weight though
The only symptom is a lump!!
And that cancer is in the family

Rosie_Scope

That sounds worrying, @Wibbles, sorry you're going through that.

Maybe give your GP a nudge to see where you are and if there's anything they can do to speed it up.

Albus_Alumni

I can only echo what others have said here. Giving your GP a call wouldn't hurt at all. The last scan I had took 5 weeks to get a letter through.

I've still got everything crossed for you my friend.

Wibbles

OK update
I have a US scan on this.swelling/lump on Tuesday
I was expecting an MRI but apparently not
I don't think they are taking this seriously enough and are just humouring me?

Rosie_Scope

Good that you've got your ultrasound date through, perhaps this is just the first stage and if they're concerned by the findings you might be referred on afterwards for some more in-depth tests.

It's frustrating to have to advocate for yourself sometimes, but if at any point you're really worried, please do keep in touch with your GP to see if there's anything more they can do for you to clear things up. It's always better to be safe than sorry, even if it makes you feel like you're making a nuisance out of things.

I hope the scan goes well. Keep us posted

Wibbles

Rosie_Scope said:

Good that you've got your ultrasound date through, perhaps this is just the first stage and if they're concerned by the findings you might be referred on afterwards for some more in-depth tests.

It's frustrating to have to advocate for yourself sometimes, but if at any point you're really worried, please do keep in touch with your GP to see if there's anything more they can do for you to clear things up. It's always better to be safe than sorry, even if it makes you feel like you're making a nuisance out of things.

I hope the scan goes well. Keep us posted

Will do
Thanks

Albus_Alumni

Heya @Wibbles Fingers crossed for you on Tuesday!

Many doctors prefer doing an ultrasound instead of an MRI as ultrasound scans can show movement which an MRI can't, so it can catch telltale signs the MRI might miss.

Wibbles

OK I had the US scan yesterday and after they had completed it - I was told "nothing found"

I then asked (just to be sure..) - did you find anything in my bowels and was told "We don't check bowels in an US scan, we checked all of your organs"

This concerns me - because this is where polyps grow

I await the report being sent to my GP (with a copy to myself ?)

But I am certainly not leaving it this...

Jimm_Alumni

I do feel a bit odd saying "we checked all of your organs" because that's very vague. Do they mean they just check stomach, liver and kidneys etc.? Cause your heart is an organ, but I'm sure they didn't check it being that it's not below the rib cage.

I've never had a lump, but I've had a lot of bowel issues with my Crohns of course. Generally bowels are checked using a MRI scan, not an ultrasound. At least in my experience.

*does a little reading*

Apparently because the bowel generally has gas in it, it's more difficult to get readings from it using an ultrasound so an MRI is much better for checking the bowels.

I suppose one thing you can be glad for is this has at least narrowed things down? Whatever organs they scanned are not affected and are all good. Now you can move to the next step having narrowed things down and hopefully they can perform an MRI to get a better look at the area the ultrasound couldn't.

Wibbles

From my GP

"Your ultrasound was normal. It showed only a small, benign growth in your gallbladder called a 'polyp' this is not of any concern, does not require any followup and would not be causing any symptoms. However, it is worth being aware of this in case it is mentioned in future."

But they failed to even scan my bowels!!

Jimm_Alumni

Is that after reaching out to your GP about still being concerned Wibbles? If you've voiced your concerns that it might be affecting your bowels I'd hope they'd look into that.

Wibbles

Jimm_Scope said:

Is that after reaching out to your GP about still being concerned Wibbles? If you've voiced your concerns that it might be affecting your bowels I'd hope they'd look into that.

I am beginning to wonder whether I am being taken seriously by the whole medical world?

Wibbles

And also it may be gallstones that are causing the pain rather than C
The symptoms to fit and if a polyp can grow in the gallbladder and be ignored then why not stones as well?

Rosie_Scope

Hi @Wibbles, usually most gallstones are visible on ultrasounds, but not always. Perhaps that's something to look into.

Sorry that you feel you're not being taken seriously, it's not easy to get your point through to doctors sometimes. If you're still really worried it might be worth asking for a second opinion or a referral for some further tests.

Is your GP usually quite supportive, or are they the ones you feel are dismissing your worries?

Wibbles

Update into my "LUMP"

It is still there and growing - started as a small "lump" (for want of a better description) - on the right hand side of my body, a few inches below the belly button - now, its spread across my body as far as my belly button.

Symptoms are "pain when I bend over", "trouble pooing/ constipation", "needing to poo more often", "feeling bloated" and "feeling unable to empty my bowels completely, even after going for a poo"

My GP did a quick press test and determined NO LUMP

But sent me for a Ultra Sound scan in early November

GP report :

"Your ultrasound was normal. It showed only a small, benign growth in your gallbladder called a 'polyp' this is not of any concern, does not require any followup and would not be causing any symptoms. However, it is worth being aware of this in case it is mentioned in future."

What he failed to add was what the Doctor carrying out the US scan said

"The scan does not actually check the bowels - they are too deep"

So what was the point of an Ultra Sound scan ?

I have an appointment with my GP in two weeks, to discuss my use of NAPROXEN - He wants me to stop taking it (I have been on 1 gram per day, for pain, for 2 years)

I will ask him to clear up whether there is anything to worry about.

Rosie_Scope

It sounds like a good plan to ask about it again @Wibbles. I'm sure it's worth looking into a bit further considering your family history. Keep us updated

Wibbles

Beaver79 said:

If it is your bowel that you think is the problem could you ask your GP for a Colonoscopy which is what is usually done to check for bowel cancer? Or have a FIT test. Gall stones are usually picked up by an Ultra sound. I have recently had all these tests for suspected bowel cancer. I also had a MRI but this was the last test they did. I was seen on a two week pathway. I had also lost a lot of weight. Take care. @Wibbles

I've had plenty of Colonoscopies before to try to resolve an on-going diahorrea problem - nothing found

I've also had a FIT test, three months ago - nothing found in that either - just no blood on the day to test for !!

I have lost no weight

Wibbles

From what I understand - FIT tests only actually check for blood in poo - rather than the presence of polyps - and if a polyp isn't actually bleeding - they are easily missed.

My GP asked the hospital for a scan of my bowels - the hospital didn't do that - an US scan does not scan the bowels.

I last had a colonoscopy, 4 years ago

My 92 year old father had polyps removed last year too !!

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