Have I got rectal cancer?

[Toby2000]

I haven’t been worrying as much over Christmas but I’ve noticed a few things

TMI: as always on this thread

My movements have been normal seeming, thinner (not pencil thin or anything but just thinner) but that could just be normal for me. Pretty solid. But I always feel like I haven’t emptied properly, like there’s always just a bit more to come out

I haven’t had any UNJUST stomach ache- I say “unjust” because it’s Christmas and I’ve had loads to eat so I’ve felt a bit sick after that. But most of the time I’ve felt alright

My other problem is bone pain, like in my upper back I had a pain earlier and when I was lying in bed watching TV, my shoulder felt weird. And now a very mild pain around my mid back as I’m typing this. Nothing major, and barely even a pain, more a sensation.

What if something’s spread to my bones, which is why my ALP levels had risen?

Also I went to toilet earlier and I’m not sure if it was, but there was the TINEST glimmer of bright red on a bit of mucus. Like super tiny.

What should I do next in terms of this worry? I still feel like something is wrong but I just haven’t been thinking about it as much because I’ve been distracted

All of that aside though, I hope everyone had a nice Christmas

---------- Post added at 22:11 ---------- Previous post was at 22:09 ----------

And I’m not sure if it’s constipation cause my stools are still soft. Not loose, but soft.

Sometimes they’ll be bulkier but right now it’s soft.

Sorry this isn’t the nicest thing to be talking about during the Holidays

---------- Post added at 22:14 ---------- Previous post was at 22:11 ----------

Oh and a slight sensation above my hip on the left, alongside a slight feeling that I need to go to toilet again but I’m not desperate for it

And earlier on I had a slight sensation under my right rib

---------- Post added at 22:15 ---------- Previous post was at 22:14 ----------

I mean I’ve had a pizza but I just feel like these sensations are new

---------- Post added at 23:57 ---------- Previous post was at 22:15 ----------

I've gone to toilet two more times after typing this

[nomorepanic]

Toby we are 57 pages in now - this needs to get sorted one way or another.

We cannot diagnose you - go to a doctor, listen to what they say and take it on board OR treat the anxiety and that will help.

Not sure what else you want us to say really?

[Toby2000]

Sorry. This is a place for me to vent more than anything. Sometimes I feel better after typing things out.

And this forum is a place for people with mental health issues- hypochondria being one of them- so surely longer threads are to expected? It's been my safe place for about 3 years now and is a better alternative than Googling and reading stories from C survivors or something

I wish I could get diagnosed with either nothing or whatever the problem is. But it doesn't feel like that'll happen anytime soon unfortunately.

This could be due to diet, but I haven't had that much today:

I woke up at about 3 pm after a late night and had throughout the day/evening:

- Cake
- Pizza
- 3 creme eggs
- A medium sized bottle of Innocent Smoothie (does fruit juice make you go more?)

I'm so sorry, you probably all think I'm pathetic now but I feel so doomed

[nomorepanic]

But you are not doing anything to help yourself

Look at your diet - we have said this many many times. You are not helping yourself.

Go back to the doctor with this and ask them as you don't seem to want to listen to any advice we give you so what else can we do?

[LunarCoffee]

He might be afraid to help himself because he might be afraid of what he'll do if helping himself doesn't make things better (which will give the impression that the things he fixed weren't causing the symptoms).

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

[Toby2000]

Help myself as in change my diet?

I've eaten badly all my life but I've never had symptoms like this which is the reason why I'm worried. And I don't even think I've eaten a lot today which is why I'm so concerned, it doesn't feel normal for me

I plan on going to the doctors again probably next week but I don't even know what to say because I've already said it like a million times. I'm stuck like this

---------- Post added at 01:31 ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 ----------

And LunarCoffee.. that is a fear of mine because I bet even if I did just eat a more healthy diet my symptoms would remain. But that's not why I'm not "helping myself"- it's just I don't see the point because I've never had these symptoms before so I doubt they're related to my diet tbh

---------- Post added at 01:32 ---------- Previous post was at 01:31 ----------

Maybe it could be a New Year's resolution.. it just feels like a huge change to make. I could add more veg maybe to my diet

[MyNameIsTerry]

You've never had some symptoms so this must mean it is a deadly disease? Wait until you start reaching some of our ages.

The point is, your body is telling you something. Listen to it. Just because you could eat badly before doesn't mean you always will be able to. Besides eating better doesn't even need to be part of this since being more healthy is better for you anyway.

I really don't think continually seeing a GP about the same issue is the way to go either. It's just reassurance seeking. Your GP has already made their decisions and unless anything new crops up or it worsens, why would they need to know? They already are looking into it. It isn't going to change whilst the patient continues to aggravate it by eating foods that mess up the digestive system.

Think this way, something now needs treating. Do you think aggravating a condition with triggering foods is the best way to help yourself?

And you suffer from an anxiety disorder, expect bowel issues because they area part of these conditions. You may wish to seek the typical HAer cancer diagnosis but the simple fact is bowel issues are a likely symptom you can suffer because you have a disorder with them on it's list of symptoms. Then you keep pouring a poor diet into the mix which will only mess it up more.

It's just poking that lymph node all the time. How can it heal?

And now it's onto bone issues, because you are trying to look into a test result that has a load of deadly bone diseases on it's list of possibilities, when the simple fact is you've had some aching which every human being has many times throughout their life. Never judge one offs, no pattern means it's transient.

[BlueIris]

For the record, yes, fruit juice is incredibly sugary and will probably give you bowel issues. This is why people are advised to eat fruit rather than just drink the juice.

You need to stop eating rubbish, and you need to find some interests and activities to take you out of your own head.

[WiseMonkey]

I only read the first few pages of this thread but to update have you seen your Dr and what did he/she say it was?

Fissures due to large bowel motions are very common in young people and can cause bleeding. I had this when I was young. Piles are also common in people of all ages and you say you have them. The Dr would have seen either or when he/she looked through a proctoscope.

Then there's proctitis, which is inflammation of the anal canal, which can cause bleeding (but not always) and is painful when you pass a motion. Proctitis is usually caused by infection but it can be present in people who have autoimmune conditions. This is often identified with a proctoscope as well.

---------- Post added at 07:04 ---------- Previous post was at 06:44 ----------

I just got back;

she did a rectal exam and no hemherroids

she said it was an anal fissure? but I'm confused how it re-opened 3 weeks later and there was a small trace of blood on the paper

she did an abdominal exam and the "bump" i'm talking about was fine (but i didn't specifically point out the smaller ridges or whatever)

she said i only have to worry if i have diarrhoea for more than 6 weeks with no obvious reason and there's a consistent bleeding from the anus - then i have to go back

she said the thinner stools are normal?



i'm feeling better now, at least not terminally ill

---------- Post added at 16:09 ---------- Previous post was at 16:05 ----------





That's very true and my logical mind knew that deep down but.. health anxiety

Ah, I've just caught up with your Drs visit appointment and I see you have an anal fissure. They are very painful and yes they can reopen again weeks, sometimes months after if they don't heal. As I said before, I had them in my early 20's when I fist started teaching. I would feel the urge to go to the toilet but put it off. Impacted motions caused the fissure. I had motion softeners that helped in the short term but I ended up having a small operation in my late 20's which cured the condition.

Even though I have HA, I never thought I had cancer. My rational, logical mind figured out why it was happening and my Dr told me the rest.

All your other symptoms are stress related, you don't have any cancers.

[Pkstracy]

*puts on my stern mother voice to toby and lunar* listen closely young men when you start going down this spiral I want you to ask yourselves these questions
1. Does it run in our family such as does mom, dad, brother, sister have rectal, bowel, colon cancer?

2. Do I smoke?
3. Do I eat a lot of red meat, at least four times a week?
4. Am I overweight or obese, do I have a big waistline smaller hips?
5. Do I get enough exercise?
6. Do I drink alcohol?
7. Am I fifty years of age or older?
8. Am I African American or Jewish?
9. Have I had an exam for these cancers?
10. Did the doctor tell me I have polyps?
11. Do I eat a lot of processed meat?
12 Meat cooked at high temperatures, such as fried, broiled and grilled?
13.Do I have Chron's or IBD?
14. Do I smoke?
If you answered no to a lot of them, and answered yes to the working out and being under fifty you do not have cancer, this series of questions came from the American Cancer Society. There is even an assessment risk tool, I took it, and I can say yes to the overweight and being close to fifty and I hardly exercise, do you know what my chances of getting these types of cancers are ? 0.03 percent in five yeas, 0.06 six percent in 10 years, Its very very and I do mean very rare for you both to be having it at your age, in the case of the young ones that do, they had a genetic disorder, one had chron's and a few had parents that had it, I did extensive research and contacted a friend of mine who is a doctor and without saying names I told them about you both, being your age and such there is no way. That you both can have cancer. What you both have sounded like IBS and a lot of anxiety. If you are that worried go get tested if a doctor has told you you are fine then you are fine, and yes anxiety and stress play
hell with the body and bowels. Stop eating junk food, start eating more fruit and veggies, and drinking water. Get checked for being lactose intolerant as well, that can really mess your poo up. Ways you can prevent these cancers, eat one serving of red meat a day, eat chicken, fish and turkey, don't smoke if you do stop, get plenty of exercise, maintain your weight, eat plenty of fiber, don't drink more than one beer or other drink a day. Lower your sugary snacks eat plenty of fruit and veggies.