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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bowel cancer symptoms

19 replies

PinkB87 · 02/09/2023 12:34

I am 36, I've had a "sensitive" stomach for years (for example, oily foods give me diarrhoea pretty quickly) however other than that, and the odd bout of diarrhoea I'd say nothing unusual.

For a while now, months, I would say 90% of the time my stools are loose, mushy or ribbon like. With or without cramps. I rarely have a "normal" stool

I am anaemic also according to bloods last week, though not majorly. I've been anaemic on and off for a few years.

Last week I had red blood when wiping which I attributed to irritation or fissure, but later that day I saw blood on the stool and it looked dark red. No bleeding since or before.

I now have tummy ache for the last 2 days and I'm worried it's bowel cancer. Feels like UTI pain except I have no other UTI symptoms. I'm passing wind and able to go to pass stool so I don't think it's constipation or trapped wind.

I'm really really worried about anal/bowel cancer.

I mentioned it to the GP a few months ago, a stool sample was tested for inflammation (not blood as far as I know) and bloods done, then it was kind of left. GP said unlikely to be cancer but to come back if worried.

I've had a pelvic scan done for other reasons which was normal, so not ovarian cancer or anything.

The only link I can think of is that milk seems to give me wind and loose stools more than if I don't have any milk.

AIBU to ask for a referral to test for bowel cancer or am I being stupid?

I do have health anxiety because I'm widowed and worried about leaving my children (I have no family) so I know I worry a lot and it could be IBS.

OP posts:
Mabelface · 02/09/2023 13:00

I have IBS and dairy definitely exacerbates my symptoms. I've switched to oat milk so it's better. Bizarrely, a beige diet makes a huge difference. Your stool sample will have been checked for blood as well as inflammation markers. Have you been tested to see if you have coeliac disease?

Both of my parents died of bowel cancer, so I'm on it with any abnormal symptoms. I'd always advise speaking to a medical professional if you're concerned, as mum's symptoms weren't taken seriously when she'd had indications for a year, and took doctor's words as gospel.

DinoMummsy · 02/09/2023 14:13

Defo push for tests, I wasn't taken seriously for approx 9 months of back and forward to gp being fobbed off with "oh, it's because you had a baby 6 months ago", "it's probably just piles" etc until I finally got referred for a colonoscopy - it turned out to be rectal cancer which was causing my pain and bleeding. I was only 31 at the time. Luckily they were able to operate, altho had to remove rectum and part of bowel. Been cancer free for 7 years now, touch wood. Hope you get some answers soon, don't let them fob you off. X

Wrongsideofpennines · 02/09/2023 14:19

Please go back to your GP and discuss your symptoms. Tell them you're worried it's bowel cancer and can they investigate.

Possibly it is just IBS, maybe internal piles for the blood, or even anxiety causing some of the loose stool symptoms. But much better to find out what it is to help your anxiety.

Original poster
PinkB87 · 02/09/2023 14:48

DinoMummsy · 02/09/2023 14:13

Defo push for tests, I wasn't taken seriously for approx 9 months of back and forward to gp being fobbed off with "oh, it's because you had a baby 6 months ago", "it's probably just piles" etc until I finally got referred for a colonoscopy - it turned out to be rectal cancer which was causing my pain and bleeding. I was only 31 at the time. Luckily they were able to operate, altho had to remove rectum and part of bowel. Been cancer free for 7 years now, touch wood. Hope you get some answers soon, don't let them fob you off. X

Edited

What kind of symptoms did you have? I'm so glad you're clear now xx

OP posts:
Original poster
PinkB87 · 02/09/2023 14:48

Thanks all, I do worry a lot but I also think there's something going on or I would t be experiencing this

OP posts:
LuciaPillson · 02/09/2023 15:36

I would push for another investigation. Anemia and ribbon like stools may not be anything but they could be. Any weight loss? I'm not sure whether or not a pelvic scan would catch a higher up bowel cancer like one in the transverse colon.

I had unusual stools which I didn't mention to anyone. I said to a couple of docs that I wasn't sure if my weight loss was intentional or not but it wasn't taken further. Eventually started to get afraid but was still reluctant to see the docs, and by then.... let's just say you don't want to be in the situation I'm in now. Even if you aren't losing weight you need to get it checked out ASAP.

It may not be cancer and I hope it isn't, but whatever it is you'll still need some kind of treatment, a dietitian for example to help you know what you can and can't eat.

Original poster
PinkB87 · 02/09/2023 15:39

That sounds awful :( I'm not losing any weight, I weigh myself weekly to be fair. I'm just really worried, I even thought about going to A&E because of the stomach ache but I don't think they'd do much

OP posts:
HelenaHandbasket84 · 02/09/2023 15:41

You need a FIT test which tests for blood in the stool - you can get them in Boots if you can't wait for a GP appointment. I had one recently for same reason (was negative).

Sapphire387 · 02/09/2023 15:41

I think you should see your GP and ask if they will refer you for a colonoscopy, tell them you are really worried.

Of course it is likely not to be anything too sinister but on the off chance, you need to know so you can get treatment.

LuciaPillson · 02/09/2023 16:21

PinkB87 · 02/09/2023 15:39

That sounds awful :( I'm not losing any weight, I weigh myself weekly to be fair. I'm just really worried, I even thought about going to A&E because of the stomach ache but I don't think they'd do much

If you ever find you aren't passing stool/wind get yourself to A&E, otherwise yes you can do the test as Helena suggests but above all ring the GP on Monday and make many noises. Ask if you can for a CT of abdo and/or colonoscopy, but CT should show anything that's there without being invasive. Hopefully it's nothing but better safe than sorry. Please don't take the risk of ending up like me, especially at your age and with children.

LuciaPillson · 02/09/2023 16:23

Oh and going to Emergency saved my life, at least in the short term so if the pain is bad and persists I'd say go.

vibecheck · 02/09/2023 16:24

Not to scare you, but look at the symptoms for pancreatic cancer as well. And maybe ask the GP about it. It’s very undiagnosed and late-diagnosed and can have vague symptoms like this.

Tulipblank · 02/09/2023 16:28

Likely to be nothing, but push for a FIT, like a poster above suggested. I have just this moment read a story on an old friend's Facebook about the link between anaemia and bowel cancer.

amanda171 · 02/09/2023 16:34

Sounds like Ulcerative colitis to me. Those were my symptoms. Wind, stomach cramps, some blood/mucus in stools or when wiping and not really solid poos. They can identify it from bloods - although it took me 15 months and a locum doctor to spot that's what I had and order the tests. That was many years ago, so I hope things have improved on that front at least!

Tessisme · 02/09/2023 16:43

amanda171 · 02/09/2023 16:34

Sounds like Ulcerative colitis to me. Those were my symptoms. Wind, stomach cramps, some blood/mucus in stools or when wiping and not really solid poos. They can identify it from bloods - although it took me 15 months and a locum doctor to spot that's what I had and order the tests. That was many years ago, so I hope things have improved on that front at least!

I was going to mention Crohn's Disease, which my son has. Similar symptoms to UC. I imagine a Calprotectin test would be carried out to test for inflammation as part of any investigations, but it wouldn't do any harm to ask for one.

SharonEllis · 02/09/2023 16:50

HelenaHandbasket84 · 02/09/2023 15:41

You need a FIT test which tests for blood in the stool - you can get them in Boots if you can't wait for a GP appointment. I had one recently for same reason (was negative).

This. I had one recently thru gp. Tho results discussed with a consultant. Pretty quick & apparently a good indicator. Good luck - its so worrying.

mechanicalpencil · 12/11/2023 11:22

@PinkB87
How is everything going?

HelpIcantfindaname · 12/11/2023 11:51

I thought I just had IBS & thought it was getting worse, with constant trips to the loo for a poo but never feeling I'd finished going, always feeling I needed to go again. And I started getting pains after eating.

It took me a few months to see the gp, because I thought it was just IBS. She got me to do a fit test - blood showed up in this but it was not visible to the naked eye. So I was put on the 2 week pathway. I had a colonoscopy, then CT & MRI scans, & was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. I had just turned 54.

Hopefully, yours is not cancer, but you should definitely see the gp to rule it out.

millyskye3 · 24/01/2025 19:53

Hello, how are you? Did you get any answers? x

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