What should you do when you suspect internal bleeding, bearing in mind that you are being treated for Prostate Cancer and only months ago underwent intensive Radiation therapy?
Well, in my case I chose to ignore it and rationalised that the blood (a very small amount) was related to Diet, Haemorrhoids or Constipation.
Of course over the weeks that followed I kept an eye on 'things down under' just in case. But every now and then ... there it was again ... the presence of a small amount of blood!
On each subsequent occasion, I seemed to have a plausible explanation that fit either: diet, haemorrhoids or constipation. But 'lo and behold' a new symptom: a mucous substance rather than evidence of faecal matter?! Hmmm!
I decided in my wisdom (I don't want to know) that it was probably some sort of stomach bug that was responsible for this latest symptom.
But, what do you do when the mucous is then accompanied by what appears to be: small strips of flesh??
Well I know what I did, I took myself off for a blood test, which included 3 days worth of stool samples!
Now I am awaiting a colonoscopy to determine whether the faecal occult blood or FOB (you've gotta love these medical terms) is the result of: Haemorrhoids, Polyps or Radiation Proctitis!
NOTE: for a detailed look at Chronic Radiation Proctitis visit my 'Cancer Journal'
Simple right? DO something!
Well, in my case I chose to ignore it and rationalised that the blood (a very small amount) was related to Diet, Haemorrhoids or Constipation.
Of course over the weeks that followed I kept an eye on 'things down under' just in case. But every now and then ... there it was again ... the presence of a small amount of blood!
On each subsequent occasion, I seemed to have a plausible explanation that fit either: diet, haemorrhoids or constipation. But 'lo and behold' a new symptom: a mucous substance rather than evidence of faecal matter?! Hmmm!
I decided in my wisdom (I don't want to know) that it was probably some sort of stomach bug that was responsible for this latest symptom.
But, what do you do when the mucous is then accompanied by what appears to be: small strips of flesh??
Well I know what I did, I took myself off for a blood test, which included 3 days worth of stool samples!
Now I am awaiting a colonoscopy to determine whether the faecal occult blood or FOB (you've gotta love these medical terms) is the result of: Haemorrhoids, Polyps or Radiation Proctitis!
NOTE: for a detailed look at Chronic Radiation Proctitis visit my 'Cancer Journal'
