Worried I have bowel cancer at 23? Please help

[Worriedguy1996]

I woke up about a week ago with a burning sensation while weeing which concerned me as I’ve had an UTI in the past (I’m a male) however I didn’t have chance to see a doctor the same day so I just waited a few days to see how it went. I started to get quite bad abdomen pains, I found it very painful to walk, turn in bed, cough or sneeze, no changes in bowel movement. I’d say on a scale of 1-10 - it was about 5,6. I think the pain was everywhere in my abdomen, not just on the left or right side. So I went to the out of hours doctor expecting it to be another UTI. The nurse said no infection was found which surprised me so she said to visit my GP. The pain went pretty quickly and I can’t feel anything now.

Fast forward a few more days - I have quite bad constipation. I haven’t had a bowel movement since Tuesday and when I do strain a lot, a tiny piece of poo comes out with mucus and dot of bright red blood (sorry to be TMI) and it was long and pencil like! I had blood tests recently which showed as normal except my haemoglobin MCH was a tiny bit low but everything else is within the normal range (I do have an underactive thyroid which isn’t being treated at the moment)

I’ve googled my symptoms (yes - I know doctor Google isn’t my friend) and they all say bowel cancer

I’m going to push my GP for a referral to see the colonoscopy but I’m so worried it is bowel cancer? Has anyone has the same or similar symptoms as me and found out it was something else? I’m not sure if I posted this in the right place and I don’t mean to disrespect those battling with this awful disease - I would just like some help as I don’t know who else to turn to.

Thanks for reading

[Emptyspacex]

Why do people act like cancer is rare? 1in2 people get cancer in there life time so why is it so silly for someone to be concerned they might have it? Yes it might be anxiety/stress but it's better to be safe than sorry!

[Worriedguy1996]

So sorry if I’ve offended anyone with where I posted my post I’m glad it’s been moved as I didn’t know how to. An update for anyone interested :-

My symptoms have calmed down a bit. I’ve put on quite a bit of weight (which I’m happy for as I was quite skinny from not eating for ages and seems to be the opposite symptoms of bowel cancer) and my appetite has completely come back, I’m starting to use the toilet frequently (I’ve always been a frequent as I used to use the toilet 3 times a day and it’s gone back to normal now, I think), my stools are thicker and more solid (tmi sorry guys), I don’t have any urgency to use the toilet which is good and haven’t had any abdominal pain since June so I’m hoping that was a one off and I’m beginning to sleep better .

I’m due a colonoscopy soon which I won’t be fully relaxed about as I’m dreading will find cancer (I guess everyone is) but I don’t have any weight loss, night sweats or abdominal pain which reassures me somewhat but I see blood and mucus in my stool time to time which scares me. I’m trying to work on my anxiety and not reading stories about colon cancer which just aggravates my anxiety.

[Frikonastick]

worriedguy please ask mumsnet to move your thread to a more appropriate health board. Thank you

[Betaboo]

I was too young to have colon cancer, but the Dr. was wrong.

Blood tests, scans etc won't diagnose it, you need to have a colonoscopy.

[NoSauce]

JenMumsnet has a post deleted?

[Dulcedelecherocks]

I know I'm missing the point but you really are talking utter bollocks cherry.
As others said, Leslie was diagnosed at 21, 7 years ago in Maidenhead. She died last April at 28. So please stoop insisting your information is accurate because it just isn't. I could bring more examples but I won't waste my breath. It's people like you who cause others to misunderstand health risks and not look for help. Please respectfully do shut up.

On another note I'm glad it's nothing OP. Please seek help for your anxiety or you'll drive yourself insane!

[myrtleWilson]

Excellent news - but follow up on getting treatment/support for your health anxiety..

[Worriedguy1996]

So I got my FIT test results back and they say negative which is a huge relief! I can’t see blood in my poo anymore - just mucus so I’m not as concerned as I once was.

[YesyouyouCnut]

@Worriedguy1996, why are you so happy you didn’t listen to your GP? You’re making it sound like you have cancer and the first GP missed it. You are doing the classic health anxiety thing of doctor shopping until one of them feeds into your anxiety by giving you what you want (more blood tests, colonoscopy etc)

So if you have more bloods done and they come back fine and the next day you have constipation again or some blood will you go back again?

You’ve had it explained to you over and over that all of those symptoms are classic signs of anxiety and small spots of red blood, which it sounds like you have to search for, are normal with straining.

You are dismissing all of this offhand and jumping on any post which feeds your anxiety and belief that something is very wrong with you.

[Worriedguy1996]

shouldreallybeasleep - didn’t her GP even do a FIT test? Blood test? I feel like that’s the minimum a GP should do when someone has those symptoms

[Worriedguy1996]

MiniMum97 - the doctor says it’s not that bad to treat! Which is so annoying because I feel like it affects me a lot

Teddybear45 - okay, I will try to find one. Sorry

shouldreallybeasleep - that is awful. I’m just glad I didn’t listen to my first GP and I’m getting tested with another GP.

Stuckforthefourthtime -

Nicecupofcoco - thanks for the advice! I hope it’s something like that!

[Nicecupofcoco]

@worriedguy1996 I'm no doctor but your symptoms sound like ibs to me. Something I have suffered with years, and my doctor said is closely linked to stress anxiety etc.
So the blood, sorry if this sounds grim, but I know you mentioned being constipated? Bright red blood can sometimes be from a tear when you are trying to go, but being constipated can cause a tear, and bleed, which may look alarming but not serious.
Im in my thirties and suffer health anxiety too so know how you feel, but it's highly unlikely to be cancer, although I completely understand how easy it is to jump to the worse case scenario.
But try to trust your gp, I think we health anxiety sufferers feel certain we have one thing and it feels hard to trust a gp telling you otherwise.
Good luck.

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

@shouldreallybeasleep next time you should really read the replies. Given the OP's extremely clear health anxiety from later posts, what you've written is not very helpful.

[shouldreallybeasleep]

Also, my friends mum died of bowel cancer 6 years ago and they still told my friend she was too young 😢

[shouldreallybeasleep]

First of all I haven't read any replies so feel free to ignore me.

My friend is the same age as me (39). She's been struggling with abdominal pain, constipation and the runs for a couple of years. She went to the docs and they said it was just stress.

Fast forward a couple of years... stage 3, lots of chemo and radio. She was told yesterday that it has spread to her lungs and it's untreatable.

This is not a post to scare you, this is a post to say, for goodness sake, if things aren't quite right please get checked.

[MiniMum97]

Sorry if I've missed a post but why is your hypothyroidism not being treated? Hypothyroidism causes constipation (and IBS type symptoms) and this can cause piles and fissures which cause blood.

Every cell in your body needs thyroid hormones, if you are hypo you should be taking thyroid hormone replacement medication.

[Teddybear45]

I suggest moving this. MN Moderators can help with a suitable location.

[Worriedguy1996]

TrainWWYD - thanks for the suggestion. I will definitely work on it

[Worriedguy1996]

Teddybear45 - I am so sorry I really didn’t know where else to post this. I’m so sorry if I’ve offended you. I was just looking for some answers as I was quite desperate. Please do not take any offense.

Stuckforthefourthtime - thank you. I will definitely start doing CBT. I’ve noticed I’ve not had any blood in my stools today which is good. Anxiety really does ruin my life

[Teddybear45]

Why is this thread under life limiting illness?

[Stuckforthefourthtime]

People need to be aware that when someone has health anxiety the worst thing you can do is feed it by offering up stories of the exceptions to the rule. His GP knows him better than us. And clearly believes he needs therapy to deal with his anxiety.

This. Please OP get medication as well as counselling. My DH suffered severe anxiety and depression following an earlier physical illness, the CBT and counselling didn't actually work until he'd accepted the medication and they'd got him to a point where he was ready and able to work on it. When your health anxiety is so severe, it feels far too real to 'minimise' with CBT. Please accept your gp's help and good luck.

[Worriedguy1996]

humblebumblebees - thanks! I will be sure to chase up my GP on that!

[TrainWWYD]

People need to be aware that when someone has health anxiety the worst thing you can do is feed it by offering up stories of the exceptions to the rule.

His GP knows him better than us. And clearly believes he needs therapy to deal with his anxiety.

As soon as he is told he doesn’t have bowel cancer it will be something else. Or he’ll just go shopping for another doctor.

OP please deal with your anxiety. I can recommend some of the health anxiety forums on Reddit for a start.

[humblebumblebees]

Sorry again! Add Linseeds, inulin, porridge, Fibogel and lots of water and fruit and veg to your diet. And follow up on the thyroid issue, you might find thyroxine sorts it all out.