View Full Version : Worried I have colon cancer
In November I began having constipation problems, as well as thin stools. During the preceding two or such weeks before this I had nausea and got sick whenever I tried to eat much, as well as insomnia, which seems odd to be associated with this problem. But for the last five months I have irregular bowel movements, and it's getting a little worrying. I also have an occasional loss of appetite. The only positives are no blood, no pain, fatigue or weight loss so far. I have been to the doctor about this and they try to attribute it all to fiber. They also found a lot of stool lodged in my colon during an x-ray. I want them to give me a scope, but they feel it's unneeded. I am 23, slim, eat too much meat and too little vegetables then I should, have bowel problems on my mom's side and an unknown history on my biological father's side of the family. Due to my age colon cancer would be very unlikely, but not impossible. I'd like some insight on what you all think of my situation.
It really does sound like IBS to me, which I dare say someone will have said to you. I think you would have lost weight by now if you have had it since November. My Dad had bowel cancer 15 years ago and he did have blood and weight loss. He is still alive at 90 although he has just had bladder cancer. Many of your symptoms sound like mine and I have IBS and diverticular disease. I do get pain though. If you have had the x-ray and they don't think you need further investigation then I think you are okay. In spite of what some people tell you, fibre is trouble if you have IBS or diverticulitis. Limit your brown bread and avoid skins on fruit and jacket potatoes. Good luck!
It really does sound like IBS to me, which I dare say someone will have said to you. I think you would have lost weight by now if you have had it since November. My Dad had bowel cancer 15 years ago and he did have blood and weight loss. He is still alive at 90 although he has just had bladder cancer. Many of your symptoms sound like mine and I have IBS and diverticular disease. I do get pain though. If you have had the x-ray and they don't think you need further investigation then I think you are okay. In spite of what some people tell you, fibre is trouble if you have IBS or diverticulitis. Limit your brown bread and avoid skins on fruit and jacket potatoes. Good luck!
Everyone of these problems began after a bout of stress last fall and have never gone entirely away since.
Everyone of these problems began after a bout of stress last fall and have never gone entirely away since.
And you're posting on an anxiety forum. 1+1= ? ;)
Positive thoughts
I too am scared I have colon cancer. Yesterday I had a horrible mild intense dull pain in my pelvis whenever I pushed to go to the toilet. I'm getting random pains up there too.
Got to be stress.:D
Not entirely, it seems to persist when I am calm, too. But it's probably not cancer, as you said.
I get that, but I remember having frequent urination which was professionally pinned down as worrying/being concious when I was calm. Even though I was calm it was still at the very back of my mind and I was conscious of it, so it persisted until I stopped worrying about it when I was told there was nothing to worry about and it went.
This does sound like IBS, you do not have red flag signals. IF it makes you feel better than have a colonoscopy or see a GI doctor! But IBS is very common in anxiety. Infact, I gave myself colitis through worrying but it went away. I had the same fear as you, I even had blood in my stool (A RED FLAG) and I still didn't have colon cancer ! stomach issues can be caused by many things, do not jump to the worst
case scenario. :)
Hope you are feeling better.
The only positives are no blood, no pain, fatigue or weight loss so far.
No weight loss, no blood in stool = NO CANCER.
^ Exactly what Joan said...
but if you see blood remember my story, colitis, crohns, hemroids all cause this ! Weight loss also must be significant!
La Vierge Noire
29-05-15, 10:26
In November I began having constipation problems, as well as thin stools. During the preceding two or such weeks before this I had nausea and got sick whenever I tried to eat much, as well as insomnia, which seems odd to be associated with this problem. But for the last five months I have irregular bowel movements, and it's getting a little worrying. I also have an occasional loss of appetite. The only positives are no blood, no pain, fatigue or weight loss so far. I have been to the doctor about this and they try to attribute it all to fiber. They also found a lot of stool lodged in my colon during an x-ray. I want them to give me a scope, but they feel it's unneeded. I am 23, slim, eat too much meat and too little vegetables then I should, have bowel problems on my mom's side and an unknown history on my biological father's side of the family. Due to my age colon cancer would be very unlikely, but not impossible. I'd like some insight on what you all think of my situation.
I am going to scare the bejebus out of you. I had none of the 'red flag'
symptoms of bowel cancer: no blood in the stool or pain. It was easy for my GP (and me) to ascribe my persistent severe anaemia, malaise and developing anorexia (lack of appetite) to panic-anxiety.
I developed sudden onset lower abdominal pain on February 9th which responded to medication but came back with a vengeance on April 2nd.
Good Friday, I had an open right hemicolectomy for my presenting symptoms of ileo-colic intussusception.
Fortunately for me, they removed a stage II poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the caecum before it had spread.
As I said: I had NONE of the "red flag" symptoms.
Whatever you die from, don't let it be from an inability to act in support of yourself because of anxiety or fear of having panic attacks.
By the way, eight days in hospital really sorted out my agoraphobia.
Don't muck about: request a colonoscopy and front up in your life as there are GPs who cannot see past "mental illness"
and will keep fobbing you off with anxiety-related IBS, psychosomatic symptoms.....this is an insidious prejudice. Be wary
to not court a death by medical moron.
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