Timeline

11 April 2013: First ever surveillance colonoscopy at local hospital.  This is due to a family history of bowel cancer, and my family meeting the Amsterdam criteria for HNPCC.  At the conclusion of the colonoscopy the nurse gives us the discharge info and results - showing 23 polyps, one ulcerated and suspicious of malignancy.  The doctor comes out to talk through the next steps.  He explains that there are still some polyps in there.

12 April 2013: First batch of sobbing tears and great fear that all 23 are cancerous.  Start reading about HNPCC.  Lots of dodgy googling takes place over the next few days.

18 April 2013: Giant tearful breakdown after GP uses the special voice for delicate situations with me. She sounds worried.  I get very worried about HNPCC and very anxious.  Get a generous script for sleeping pills.

19 April 2013: Get phone call from Surgical Consultant stating that they are having trouble working out if the lesion is cancerous.  They do not have histochemisty back indicating whether it is HNPCC.  Surgeon is very calming and I feel more relaxed.  She tells me that she is referring me to the best colo-rectal surgeon, and that I need a butt MRI.  Feel in good hands.  An appointment phone call from Gastrology comes through immediately after this call, but I'm not sure for what.  We think it is for a sigmoidoscopy.

22 April 2013: Gastro appointment.  I manage to get the girls into creche and to a friend's house.  I go to the appointment alone figuring it is just pre-assessment.  It turns out that it is for my results.  Really regret not having a support person.  One malignant lesion, low grade.  Possibly all out, possibly still there.  All the other polyps are of concern.  MDM (Multi-Disciplinary Meeting - in this case pathology, radiology, surgery and oncology) have me down for discussion at the end of the week.  But first I need a full body CT to make sure there is no cancer anywhere else.  I really hadn't thought that one through.  NOT HNPCC.

I'm upset, but ordinary bowel cancer was looking like the next best option to no cancer.  HNPCC is pretty scary.  I cry a bit, but I'm more making strange observations like: it is weird that a stranger is telling me this, where is the lovely supportive nurse, where is my info pack, why are there no tissues??  Have ironically parked next to the Cancer Society, where I find lots of brochures on topics I desperately wish not to need to know about.

24 April 2013: CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis

26 April 2013:  MDM

30 April 2013: Diagnosis of Serrated Polyposis Syndrome.  Recommendation is to remove the colon and part of the rectum.

1 May 2013: Butt MRI.

7 May 2013: Epic Pre-Assessment Day.

27 May 2013: Scheduled surgery date - remove colon, create J pouch and temporary stoma.

10 June 2013: Scheduled revision surgery - remove stoma and reconnect everything on the inside.