Scared of bowel cancer

[StellaMoon]

Hi, first time on MN and not really sure what I'm hoping to gain. Maybe some reassuring experiences of people with the same symptoms as me?
First of all, I am awaiting a sigmoidoscopy and have been referred to the relevant dept so i'm not seeking medical advice here but just need to see if others have had a similar experience and it turned out to be nothing sinister.
Over the last year or two (two years since I first presented to the doctors with lower left quadrant pain) i've had increasing symptoms, particularly around lower abdominal pain, particularly a left hand side pain like stitch. It started off now and again and I thought it was my ovary, but I was also getting over all lower tummy cramps like period pain so thought it was definitely gyne related. Had all the tests and scans for possible gyne stuff and all clear.
Fast forward to a couple of months back and bright red blood starts appearing in my stool. It's happened twice, one time there was quite a lot, the second it was mixed in with clear mucus. BMs are sometimes one way or the other but mostly one loose one a day. Recently I would say it's been more extreme though. But not increased my toilet visits. No more since, but the latest time was only last week. Now my tummy pain is pretty much constant aswell. its very twingy, like very early labour pains. sometimes bad pain. The stitch pain is pretty much constant too. It's actually these pains that are making it hard for me to not panic because it feels like my body is saying something is up! The blood alone I could hold out hope for piles (not something I thought I would say lol) but then combined with the pain its making me really scared something is up.
So far i've also had terrible indigestion too, lower back pain and tailbone pain, also itchy skin (not sure if its related).
So far the tests i've had are:

• Liver and Kidney Function
• Anemia checked and routine blood work
• Calprotectin
• qFit
• Pelvic Ultrasound
• Chest X Ray (for mid back pain)
• Rectal exam by doc

So far everything has come back fine. Am I right in thinking if I was on deaths door something would show up on at least one of these?

I know cancer needs ruled out, and it's not impossible for someone my age to get it (34), but I feel like I've already decided that's the only thing it could be and I'm hoping there are some level headed people out there who can maybe remind me otherwise?
Coincidently my husband has Chrons, so I do know a bit about IBDs and yet this doesn't feel like possibility to me.

Thanks in advance to all who read! X

My husband had very similar symptoms to yours, but his calprotectin was high so was under a 2WW.
Colonoscopy was completely normal as were the many biopsies taken.
We’re pretty sure we’ve narrowed down the cause as he rarely gets symptoms now without having this - Milk!!

Thanks for your reply @Cardio101 I really appreciate it. Did your DH have blood? And constant pain? I have been thinking about dairy and wheat and trying to cut things out. Thank you again

My Mum has just had BC diagnosed. Yes she had symptoms like a gut infection and blood in poo, but she has piles too. However what really made them jump was the results from blood test readings and feeling a lump.

Good luck and I'm beaming you positive thoughts to get through the worrying wait. Hopefully a diet change will be all that's needed but you've done the right thing and got the checks done first, before tweaking what you eat.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It’s so scary but I’m also trying to remember that it could be other things. I just worry because I’m young(ish!) ive been dismissed so far and it’s been going on for two years! This has all been brushed aside as anxiety which angers me.
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@BattenbergdowntheHatches I agree, I need a colonoscopy, I’ve actually arranged a private consultation for tomorrow because I just feel a sense of urgency and I know they will arrange the full whack not just a sigmoidoscopy (if not least of all because they want the money!). I’m sorry you had to go through BC at such a young age, it must have been very scary!

I had very similar symptoms to what you describe (esp the stitch like pain in the left hand side) and my diagnosis was diverticulitis. Might be worth looking into that to see if that's a possibility. A colonoscopy would easily confirm one way or another.

Hi
Have you lost weight?

Also @BattenbergdowntheHatches
May I ask what your ESR was pls. I've had well into the 80s (meant to be >12) for years which has been put down to autoimmune but I'm starting to worry about tumours due to severe ongoing stress. Sorry to hijack thanks

Get the colonoscopy. I had a few similar symptoms and ended up being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I, like you, was terrified it was bowel cancer. I was put on Mezavant three a day then reduced to two a day and all symptoms have disappeared and I've been nearly 2 years without any trouble. A colonoscopy is definitely the way to go. I also paid for a private one as I did not want to wait for one on the public system. It was 500euros well spent. Good luck to you

Hi, can I ask how your are getting on. I have similar symptoms and getting worried. Have a colonoscopy booked. Really hope all is OK for you xx

Hello @sillysocks22 , I hope you are ok and not stressing out too much. I’m happy to say I had a sigmoidoscopy and I have of internal piles - I’ve never been so relieved to have piles!! The other pains and niggles are IBS and they have genuinely lessened since I stopped feeling so worried about stuff.
even Before my procedure the specialist wasn’t worried about my symptoms so please be reassured by that.
I was utterly convinced it was bad news but just goes to show how wrong we can be.
I hope you are ok and let me know if you have any questions xx

Oh that’s great news! I have a sneaky suspicion that may be the case for me too as I definitely had problems in that area when I was pregnant and sure I felt lumps / piles there before. Like you I have convincing myself of the worst though due to bleeding / bloating and just feel run down. We’re moving house though so I’m extra stressed…

I also have the left hand side stitch / pain you mentioned. It comes & goes but has been worse lately

@sillysocks22 the stitch pain is what was worrying me the most to be honest, but the docs still weren’t concerned about that. What I would say is that when the pain was appearing I would prod and poke a lot and was convinced it felt lumpy there (health anxiety struggler here!) and I think I was making the pain a lot worse. I’ve not had the pain come on for a wee while now but again the colorectal team were unphased by this and they said at the worst they felt it could be some diverticula, but more likely to be muscular (which I now think it is).
I think my mistake was putting all the symptoms together and coming up with the worst becsuee in my mind it’s too much of a coinsidence to have bowel issues, blood and pain in that area. But I’ve now realised that it’s STILL way more likely to be a few different things that the thing we fear the most. My piles are apparently pretty big but internal so I never felt them but if they burst when I’m straining they result in a scary amount of blood. It’s hard not to panic when we see blood. I think this al started after pregnancy for me too. (That was 2 years ago).
having said all this, defo get checked out. That’s the only way you will know and the only way to get peace of mind.
when is your colonoscopy?

I’m not too sure yet when it will be - only got referred this week so guessing a little while. I’m contemplating going private just for peace of mind like you said, I’m feeling so anxious and it’s affecting my day to day life with all the worrying. I’ve had a blood test too so will hopefully get the results of that soon. It’s so easy to put it all together and think the worst, I’m also totally exhausted but all the worrying is draining plus moving house isn’t easy! I think I can feel lumps / glands up in my neck but I’ve had covid recently too so could be that. Who knows but the only way to find out for sure is to get tested I suppose. Was it a colonoscopy that you had? How was the procedure?

@sillysocks22 i completely understand, I was ok for a while then day by day it started getting to me more and my anxiety went off the scale every time I saw blood. But the worrying was making me tired, and feeling generally unwell. I also think I was just fixating on every slight niggle. The blood for sure needs checked out but just remember there’s several things it could be and the thjng you are worried about is the least likely. Also just want to reassure you my glands were swollen for weeks and weeks after I have covid so mostly likely down to that.
it’s good you are getting checked and blood tests will help form the picture.
I was close to going private and then I got a letter for my sigmoidoscopy - I wanted a full colonoscopy at the time but they said I didn’t need one. I think if they had fond nothing at my procedure I would have panicked and wanted the fill procedure but I was reassured by the piles that it must be that. The procedure was fine for me, it’s different for everyone. My husband gets colonoscopy quite often because he has an IBD and he finds them fine in terms of pain, but the liquid you have to drink to empty bowels prior isn’t pleasant . But generally from what I hear others say, it’s never as bad as they think.