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Sound like bowel cancer?

Posted , 3 users are following.

emily5513
emily5513

My boyfriend is 20 years old, and has been sick like this since he was 17 (2-3 years ago). 

He is really vague with me when it comes to his illness, but ever since he was 17 it became harder for him to use the bathroom. Mainly constipation problems and feeling like he had to go but nothing would happen. No blood or unexplained weight loss.

He was able to live peacefully with this until December.. He started getting waves of nausea every night which he was able to control for a short while, but now it's jumping all over the place. Sometimes he has nausea throughout the day, only when he eats, doesn't eat, etc.. It's really random. 

I never knew about my boyfriend's digestive issues so I thought it was all a stomach problem. He got an endoscopy, tests for H pyroli, lots of blood tests, food allergy tests, gastric emptying test, and an abdominal CT scan which were all clear. Eventually in May a gastrologist said it was all his anxiety and didn't want to do a colonoscopy. But my boyfriend pushed so he is getting a colonoscopy, but he has to wait until July. 

What do you guys think? The doctors have not given any explanation or their own thoughts at all so I'm just left here researching and waiting. But I have anxiety and am always going to cancer now, especially since all of these other tests are coming up clear. Thank you. 

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • camham1111
    camham1111 emily5513

    Posted

    Doesn't sound much like colon cancer, even the doctor said so. But getting a colonoscopy just to make sure is a good choice. Anxiety can cause LOADS of physical symptoms. I have like what?10-20 symptoms? maybe more. I also learned that bowel cancer is uncommon in young people. Since I was really scared I have colon cancer for a few months. Turns out, I have IBS-M and terrible anxiety. Maybe this is what your boyfriend has. Since you said he saw no blood or unexplained weight loss, then he's probably fine. Blood in stool and unexplained weight loss (10 pounds or more in a small amount of time) are the red flag symptoms. It doesn't mean colon cancer either though. It would more likely be IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), but since you said he doesn't have that, don't worry too much. You should be happy all the tests come out clear. I'm not a doctor or anything but i know most tests are very accurate so try to calm down. You honestly sound more anxious than your boyfriend. (I understand but really calm down)

  • anthony10484
    anthony10484 emily5513

    Posted

    The problem with digestion troubles is that there are so many different possible causes, a lot of them having very similar symptoms.  From what you describe, I would agree with camham that bowel cancer is probably the least likely. That a CT scan had not shown anything would also seem to confirm that bowel cancer is unlikely.  You say that an endoscopy session was carried out but that he is now getting a colonoscopy.  A colonoscopy is one element of an endoscopy examination, the other being gastroscopy, so I would have thought that this had already been covered.  Still, there is obviously a problem of some sort so it is best to keep pushing for a proper diagnosis.
    • emily5513
      emily5513 anthony10484

      Posted

      He didn't ever go to the doctor until the nausea kicked in, so they only focused on stomach related testing I guess. But thanks!

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