To think this doctor was wrong - bowel cancer related.

[DafferDill]

Today DP's friend confessed to him that he has been passing quite a lot of dark blood in his stools for a month. No pain.

He has a family history of bowel cancer, he is 29.

DP made him go to the doctors for an emergency appointment.

The doctor tried to examine him but it was too uncomfortable.

He was told to go back in a few weeks if the bleeding persisted...

AIBU to think it should be getting taken a bit more seriously? Or is this the correct protocol?

Thanks

X posted with skiptonlass GPS should know the difference though

I always thought that piles or a fissure would create bright red blood being close to the anus. I'd definitely make an appointment immediately with a different doctor and say I wanted further investigation.

He needs to go back and ask for a referral, as a UC suffers for 20+ years I know that dark blood is higher up the colon.

As another poster said, some doctors are great and others just crap.

My mum died of bowel cancer because the doctor didn't diagnose her properly. She was anaemic and constipated. The doctor prescribed iron tablets for the anaemia, and kept on saying that was why she was constipated. It wasn't. She had a malignant tumour blocking her colon, which caused the constipation, and it was bleeding slowly, which caused the anaemia.

She was of the generation who unquestioningly followed Doctor's advice. It was only when we (me and ex) insisted she made an appointment on her usual GP's day off, that another GP took one look at her, and was on the phone to the hospital then and there with her in front of him, to book her in for an urgent referral.

It was too late.

Please folks, you don't have to accept what the first GP says - ask for another opinion.

Sorry it wasn't bowel cancer it was prostrate cancer in the family and his father was 70

So, no relevant family history at all then?

My DSis passed away due to bowel cancer aged mid thirties, no family history and a very healthy sort. A close friend had pre-cancerous polyps that presented through rectal bleeding. Due to my sister's illness they pushed and pushed to get the bleeding checked out properly. The friend is doing fine.

I have more examples of bowel cancer being misdiagnosed, but you get the drift. I would nag your friend unapologetically.

I suffer from ulcerative colitis and have had piles many many times. I agree that piles usually goes away after a week or so and is bright red blood... but UC just gets worse and worse and can be both bright and dark blood (but it's different for each sufferer).

I would expect bloods and stool sample to be an obvious next step if the bleeding continues.

In saying all the above. Yes it does certainly warrant an investigation.

I had bleeding for a long period of time, with pain and 3 months of constant diarrhea, had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with diverticular disease.

It turned out that I had an infection. Very treatable and has never returned.

Do please tell him that 90% of it is nothing to worry about.