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Worried about bowel cancer

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lucy49621
lucy49621

I'm a 22 year old female with a 19 month old daughter. I have experienced really odd bowel behaviour/ abdominal problems for longer than a year now. I used to go to the toilet no problem. But it all started when I saw a little blood on some tissue longer than a year ago. I went to my doctor to which they said it's nothing to worry about and properly from straining. I've had severe bloating, sharp pains across my stomach, always tired and I'm getting 8 hours sleep. When I go to the toilet it's not the same as it used to be. I get loose stools randomly out of the blue. I'm finding it harder to go to the toilet. I'm also getting really bad anxiety. I find that sometimes it gets so bad I bloat so when I breath out its so uncomfortable and I can hear bubbling. I am a really healthy Young woman!! And I follow a healthy diet. I find milk, strong cheeses, gluten and anything acidic set it off. I've been going to the doctors for a year about this and gave up when they did blood tests and nothing came back but I went back yesterday and there going to do more on Friday and then maybe refer me to a gastro clinic. Over the year they have thought it was peptic ulcers I took the meds and nothing!! They told me no to ibs, no to lactose and no allergies for gluten. They doctor said it could be something serious in my intestine but it should be easily treated!! I'm so worried now as my man had bowel cancer, so now I'm thinking what if I have it?? I feel like I have all the symtoms!! And I'm soooo worried. My immune system is so bad I'm always getting ill no matter how healthy I eat. I had my hormones checked and my testosterone is really high but they may be because I just stopped breastfeeding. If anyone could offer any advice I would be so greatful. I just want to get to the bottom of this and feel like it's such a long process!!

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • lucy49621
    lucy49621

    Posted

    Sorry about the predictive on my phone, I'm not to sure how to turn it off. I meant my nan (not man) had bowel cancer and died.
  • lucy49621
    lucy49621

    Posted

    I forgot to mention I can also feel pains from my intestine as it feels like it's moving. I had a bug about a month ago and couldn't eat for a week!!
  • PaulBen
    PaulBen lucy49621

    Posted

    Bowel cancer is something people in their mid 50s upwards need to be more concerned about as the vast majority who are diagnosed fall into that age group. However it does occasionaly strike at younger people. Your symptoms could be anything from IBD to bowel cancer or even some food allergy.

    The only way to be sure about discounting bowel cancer is to have a conventional colonoscopy (CC). I should warn you that although CCs can be uncomfortable, there are a few patients on here who found the procedure agonising and they all seem to be women.  I've had 3 over the decade and not found the procedure to be a problem, just a bit of discomfort here and there. The alternative is a virtual colonoscopy (VC) which is painless and can diagnose cancer like CCs except you are exposed to radiation during the procedure. I'd personally go for a CC over a VC as the endoscope literally views the lining of your colon wall and sends back a live image as it advances through your colon. Also if they find any polyps in your colon these can be removed during the CC which cannot be done with a VC.

    Speak to your GP about this and best of luck.

  • Redwoodgirl
    Redwoodgirl lucy49621

    Posted

    I'd like to state first up that bowel cancer CAN happen to younger people, however, in your case, I don't believe it is a cancer. I do think from your description you may find you actually have a food intolerance. It is often the case of people not being aware they are untill they have done an elimination diet. Or in my case, go for the hydrogen breath testing for FODMAP. I had similar experience to you most of my life ( I am now 51!) I was in my early 20's when things started getting bad. I was tested last year and all the things that would set me off were the very ones I was proven to have issues to ferment in the bowel. Things like, stone fruits, cabbage, broccoli, etc. Pretty much within the week of stopping those foods, my gut felt 1000 times better.

    I had also bleeding but randomly and it was also thought to be bowel endometriosis which is more common than we realised. However I did not have that, even though I was bleeding anally the day before my period, I had Artero-venous malformations in the bowel. These also gave me pain across my lower tummy and eating certain foods would hurt. Both issues were addressed in the same week, so that was good for me!

    I suggest you do some reading about FODMAP online, and see if you seem to fit the description of bowel troubles. It is a diet you must be strict with for the first few weeks of trying to figure out what it might be, but I recommend the breath test as it is much simpler! Ok not cheap but simpler!

    Try not to stress about cancer, often people with bowel cancer have no or very little symptoms.

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