To be scared I have bowel cancer.

[Germanpandalover1987]

Sorry tmi, 2 months ago I made some poos with bright blood in them then it stops, did blood test and everything normal. However my bowel movements are all over the place. Sometimes constipated, sometimes nothing for 2 days, then diahrea 4 times a day. I have almost all the symptoms for bowel cancer apart from weight loss and tiredness. I have done a fit test and I’m waiting for the results. I’m petrified:( I’m sorry I just need to write it all out there. I’m so anxious :( thank you for reading me

Bright blood isn't normally associated with bowel cancer
What was your CRP?

Could be haemorrhoids.

High blood sugar can result in bowel changes and blood in stools if you are undiagnosed diabetic also.

What is CPR ? I tested for diabetes not long ago but I’m negative. Thank you for answering my thread !

CRP is C-teactive protein

It's a marker for inflammation. Usually if you have some sort of untreated autoimmune illness it goes high.

I don’t think I got tested for that - I’ll call the gp tomorrow

Sorry didn't finish.

So if, for example you had something like Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis CRP would likely be high, but it's not a certified bet.

In the case of cancer highly elevated CRP would be more likely in advanced cases. But in any case if it is elevated it shows something is going on, which can then spur more tests to find what the thing is.

C Reactive Protein🤦🏿‍♀️

Fresh blood is usually just piles xx

It could be ibs c or d ,(diarrhea or constipation) plus fissure or haemorrhoid. You need to get a bowel cancer screen just to rule it out, it's a very simple poo sample test. Also Crohn's/UC as @DysonSphere mentioned. I've got autoimmune disorders but crp always normal but esr elevated.

I had the same symptoms, and it was piles, they were absolutely brutal! The first thing my GP told me was bright red blood isn't an indicator of bowel cancer 🤞

Could be inflammatory bowel disease. I have crohns and have bloody stools, pain etc often. Not nice but better than bowel cancer I guess! Fingers crossed your results are okay x

Just to say, I had normal CRP levels when I was being tested for IBD, so it’s absolutely possible.

You could ask for a faecal calprotectin test , which is a stool sample test.

I’m just so scared

I’m waiting results from stool samples

DW had bowel cancer. It's so frustrating that, even after all the awareness that Dame Deborah James did so recently, you're still being given incorrect (but obviously well-intentioned) advice OP!

Bright red blood is a sign of bowel cancer (even though many GPs incorrectly insist that it isn't). Bowel Cancer UK explicitly state "bright red blood may come from swollen blood vessels (haemorrhoids or piles) in your back passage. It may also be caused by bowel cancer". Many people with bowel cancer also have piles.

If I were you, I'd purchase a FIT test - I think they're on sale at Lloyds pharmacy. It does cost you £12 but, most likely, a GP won't refer you for tests and if they do, they'll take a bloody long time. lloydspharmacy.com/products/selfcheck-bowel-health-test?istCompanyId=203d462d-a278-42b2-b470-f22765919080&istFeedId=6087f665-3748-4780-a8df-71af7e6bf4df&istItemId=prxrixmra&istBid=t&gclid=CjwKCAjw7vuUBhBUEiwAEdu2pIwM-CGQPuPWfO06L6CfEUWL2jx7vgzhTyxy4dJcQQG599ai6R0p5hoCKi8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds. A FIT test isn't exceptionally accurate but it's the same test you'd be trying to convince your GP to do and they're likely to be more receptive to your request for further tests if you have a positive FIT test already. A calprotectin test is somewhat less accurate. Many people with bowel cancer either have to pay for a private colonoscopy (like Dame Deborah James did because her GP laughed at her when she told them she thought she had bowel cancer) or don't get diagnosed until they're in A&E and, usually, stage 4. We rely far too much on the first stage tests and they don't actually detect cancer as well as we like to think they do.

Please don't listen to anyone (including a GP) telling you that you're "too young" for bowel cancer - it's a myth. 1/50 people under the age of 35 get bowel cancer and yet GPs insist it can never happen. Bowel Cancer UK have an entire campaign to try and enlighten people on this. Here are some other people's stories, this is useful to get your GP to actually listen (print them off and say "this person had the exact same symptoms I have and they were ignored by their GP and then they were eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer at X stage...": www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/how-we-can-help/real-life-stories/younger-people-with-bowel-cancer/

It could be many other things other than bowel cancer - it could be piles or ulcerative colitis or IBS/IBD. But please get it checked out and don't be fobbed off. If they haven't actually checked whether it's cancer then they're just fobbing you off.

If you are waiting for the results of stool sample tests it's likely a FIT test and test for inflammation. My results were back in a few days so you shouldn't have to wait long.

I had bright red blood 2 months ago nothing since, just weird bowel movement : ( thank you all for your help

Just to clarify the latter part of Switchin’s excellent post: IBS is NOT the same as IBD, which is inflammatory bowel disease, and includes Crohns and ulcerative colitis. IBS NOT include blood in stools as a symptom, whereas IBD can, as can bowel cancer.

I was fobbed off as having anxiety and IBS, told I’d be “ really ill” if I had IBD, and told “ blood tests never lie” by 2 GPs, before I was diagnosed with Crohn’s; I was having 20-30 bowel movements a day, blood in stools, pain, and lost half a stone in a weekend - all red flag symptoms that should never be waved off by a GP.

That is shocking! My mum has Ulcerative Colitis and it was hard for her to get a diagnosis in the 80s... she was virtually soiling herself in the street, but I had thought diagnosis of Crohns etc had improved vastly since.

Unbelievable in this day and age for you to be dismissed like that.

I know how you feel op. My bowel movements used to be every 5 days or so.
min the past year I’ve started having pain to the left of my belly button to the point where I’m doubled over, sometimes this causes diahorrea immediately afterwards and the pain subsides, sometimes I break wind and it eases, sometimes I get a solid poo followed by diahorrea and then back to solid. My movements are all over the place. I have no weight loss, no blood but I am exhausted.

Im terrified it could be cancer. I felt fobbed off with bloods and a stool sample when I saw GP, they were clear but I’m awfully worried but also worried about being perceived as wasting their time if I go back :(

DysonSphere, it took 6 months for me to be referred to a gastroenterologist “so that they can tell you it’s all in your head”, by which time, not one part of my bowel was healthy.
In the meantime, the GP had put me on antidepressants, sleeping pills and Diazepam for the anxiety they diagnosed me with instead; I ended up having a mental breakdown because no-one believed I was physically ill.

The colour of blood that could indicate bowel cancer, depends where the tumour is. My husband's was in the rectum, and the blood was very bright indeed. Higher up in the bowel, the blood will have time to become dark.

So I'd ask people not to repeat the falsehood that you don't need to worry about cancer if the blood is bright red. My husband was misdiagnosed by a GP who trotted this out, and it resulted in his death.

HOWEVER, OP, piles is the the more likely cause, so please don't let that worry you. You're doing the right thing getting tested, I just don't want people in your position not to bother with a test, because they've been given false information.

Hey op.

I have a colonoscopy next week as I have had bowel issues for a few weeks.
I'm 42 and had to be insistent that I was referred.
My blood tests came back normal and so was my FIT test.
My friends husband died from bowel cancer and his blood was red (he did have alot of other symptoms).
A colonoscopy isn't as bad as you think. U had one 8 yrs ago. The prep is the worst bit.

Yes comparing IBS with IBD is like comparing a broken fingernail to a broken bone.

IBD is Irritable bowel disease which causes inflammation, mucus, bleeding, malnutrition etc, which can cause so many other issues such as arthritis, problems with teeth, and gives you a higher risk of bowel cancer.

However OP, I have IBD and can pass a bowel movement up to thirty times a day, along with lots of mucus and blood (although my inflammation isn't that far up the blood is still dark, not bright red). Anxiety can cause digestive symptoms, and the more you worry, the more symptoms you will experience.

I’m going through similar OP. I’ve had repeated bloody stools for 2/3 months now and pain in my abdomen. Bloods came back normal but my FIT test was positive. I had to go back for bloods last week as felt unwell but again nothing unusual for me. Based on FIT test positive I’m having a colonoscopy on the 26th.

My pain is getting worse and like you sometimes I’m loose and others I’m constipated and there’s always blood :( it’s scary so I’ve just been keeping busy in between tests etc. GP is also keen to do an endoscopy and a CT as well but not sure if that will definitely happen. Sending positive vibes your way x