Why test for cancer when only symptom is weight loss an anxiety

It is common for depression to make people think they have cancer.I know one case where a man commited suicide for this reason.The doctors said he was ok after the tests but he did not believe them.So he drowned himself

A relative of mine now has to have anaesthesia for a colonoscopy.She did have cancer so has to have a colonoscopy annually.She definitely has to have it and mever complains

Kate Your post surprises me. I have never heard of anyone getiing diarrhea or constipation for weeks, from taking a pre colonoscopy liquid. These tales are spread around to frighten others off what is in fact ,an unpleasant but worthwhile examination.

Considering we are all Grans then we have gone through childbirth and put that behind us, we should be up to facing a few examinations.

Heart failure causes weight loss when it is severs

There are several other ways to check for bowel cancer like virtual colonoscopy.My sister in law recently had a colonoscopy and will never have another as she has diverticulosis which makes the pain worse
The point here seems to be the lady has been suffering from anxiety and depression but appears not to have been treated for that.She was ill for a while with UTI's and lost her appetite.She has begun to regain weight so the writer says.For someone with severe anxiety having lots of tesths could cause a breakdown.But none of us know exactly what took place in the surgery.She may have begged for one and the doctors got fed up with her visits and caved in.
I agree with everyone it is wonderful to see in a case like this that the NHS is so fantastic at doing the tests quickly although colon cancer is very slow growing in older people
It seems there are 2 aspects.Should doctors send someone for a test when there are no symptoms of that disease? There is a faint chance they may find something but that could be true of any of us.I have lost a lot of weight since bereavement but I not think it is cancer.It is grief and loss of appetite
Secondly should a doctor seeing someone with an anxiety disorder ask if they are able to eat as if I am anxious I can't eat.
On balance maybe a check is wise but there is a disorder where people can be so clever and anxious they get lots of procedures as they can fool the doctors.The one advantage of health anxiety is that now and then the doctor doe.s find something wrong but not what the patient thought!The newspapers are full of health issues especially the Mail so I have been asked by neighbours do I think they have this or that and I say, reading the Mail again? The Telegraph is also like that.Anyway this person's test will soon be over and then she will know one way or the other. I know the constant talk of good diets when poor people can't afford five a day makes lots of people very anxious.And anxiety can wreck your life
A very interesting discussion.

Have read the link from Katewrites with interest as I have just had a colonoscopy, and am glad I didn't see it before. I note it is an American study which says that colonoscopy is risky and often unnecessary in the elderly as colon cancer is slow growing! Knowing friends whose lives have been saved by such a procedure I don't agree. I also think we cannot compare UK to America where undoubtedly many unnecessary procedures are carried out as health care is mainly financed by insurance. For anyone who will have to undergo this procedure I think the benefits far outweigh the risks and the consultant who did mine said that he had been doing them for 8 years and had never perforated a bowel.

It is agony to be a hypochondriac It is not much fun being someone whose illness wasn't diagnosed until too late to cure it, because the tests were missed out to spare them a bit of worry.

If your friend has been sent for a colonoscopy, it is because what she has reported to the GP, or what he has observed, could indicate that something is wrong. She was anxious enough about her health to consult him/her. Now she is receiving tests to see what is wrong or whether it is "just" anxiety, and if necessary treatment can start. She could have stayed away from the doc and gone on worrying, but that would not have resolved anything.

Are you beefing about the GP for doing his job, or about her for being too quick to think she is ill?

Ironically people who do actually have symptom seem to be seen less quickly in London.She is in the country

Your justification for this generalisation is ???

I am not sure what your point is katewrites
Most people would be glad of tests to rule out life threatening diseases or indeed to diagnose them early enough to take action.
You seem to have no confidence in this GP (what do you mean, “only 4 months” - he is a fully qualified doctor and perhaps more on the ball than one approaching retirement)
It seems a doctor is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
Your fears about the preparation for colonoscopies are entirely unfounded, they clean you out so that the doctor gets a clear view of the gut. Other than possible flatulence afterwards there are no ongoing side effects. I should know, my DH had annual colonoscopies throughout his 50’s and 60’s because he had an increased risk of bowel cancer.
Tests are not the problem, they are there to diagnose the problem.
You say you can’t comment on what the GP should do and yet your whole thread has been questioning the doctor’s judgement and now you say your friend is a hypochondriac.
Hypochondriacs can get ill too!

My DH had no symptoms whatsoever apart from weight loss. He was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and lived just a year after diagnosis.

I hope your friend has nothing wrong but better safe than sorry, and if the outcome is good surely that will allay her anxiety?

I really can't comment on what doctors should do.He was only 4 months into being a GP.An older one who knew her might have made a different decision
It is agony to be a hypochondriac

Well, do you think they should be refused? I don't know what the answer is, except that a doctor would be condemned if it turned out that there was a health problem.

She wants it and no doubt if that is clear she will want a liver scan and so on
.When anxious people keep going to the doctor then they get tested for all sorts of things and it makes them even more anxious

It is not unexplained.She was suffering anxiety and lost her appetite.She has put on 2lb this week!

There is a thread about colonoscopy procedures, Katewrites. It may be helpful to read that (or not!)

Unexplained weight loss is always a red flag. I've learnt to be fairly non committal about my weight rather than trigger a whole lot of tests for things I haven't got.

I see from the article above colonoscopies carry risks especially for older people.And the liquid laxative can leave you cycling between diarrhea and constipation for weeks or months.That won't help a panicky lady very much.This is the problem with certain procedures/surgeries.

www.scientificamerican.com/article/many-colonoscopies-for-seniors-carry-unnecessary-risks/

Thank you,everyone.I am sad as she is feeling much better and putting on weight too

A colonoscopy will reveal more than whether or not she has cancer. It will show anything else that is causing problems in her colon, or if there is nothing wrong visible in there at all. It has been booked so as to rule out disease as much as to find it.

Yes, UTIs can cause confusion.

It's possible she also had blood tests which can show raised markers for some cancers, even without specific symptoms?

Apparently as our brother had it she told the doc she was worried.But UTI's can really affect one mentally when older and maybe it is that.

I agree nana. it's just she's been suffering panic and insomnia and this may be part of that as she is also worried about getting Alzheimer's since she turned 70.It seems to have really upset her getting old though basically her health is good as is her vision etc
When you live a long way from someone it is hard to suss out the truth!

Are you pleased for her?
I would be really pleased if a friend of mine was given speedy referrals