Terrified i have colon cancer

[whattodo2019]

I have horrendous health anxiety and have ben worried i have colon cancer for about 8 years plus...
Im 48, have really bad stage 3-4 haemorrhoids but also my stools are
often flattened, soft by hard to pass...
I work long hours leaving the house at 6.55am and home 5 nights a week around 7pm so i am tired.
I so worried my tiredness is a symptom.
I know you are going to tell me to get a colonoscopy but the thought of having it done is terrifying me...

[Wolfiefan]

You have health anxiety. Are you having treatment?
Have you been to GP about the haemarrhoids?

[whattodo2019]

@Wolfiefan

You have health anxiety. Are you having treatment?
Have you been to GP about the haemarrhoids?

No, i'm not having treatment for health anxiety. I'm using anusol suppositories at the moment. I have been taking fibre tablets and 5 HTP to help with bowels and anxiety.

I feel so scared, it's a nightmare trying to get a Drs appointment. I'm embarrassed and terrified....

[TheVanguardSix]

What's your diet like?
Have you considered food insensitivities (they creep up in our 40s and 50s. I'm 50 and cannot eat the way I did at 40 without my digestive system going mental)?

[lljkk]

You don't agree that working long hours might be the obvious explanation for your tiredness?

Are you worried because of the high profile stories of people died of CC recently?

This is no way to live your life in grip of obsessive worry.

[whattodo2019]

@TheVanguardSix

What's your diet like?
Have you considered food insensitivities (they creep up in our 40s and 50s. I'm 50 and cannot eat the way I did at 40 without my digestive system going mental)?

I'm really over weight. I eat everything and anything. Yesterday for breakfast I had two pieces of toast (hummus one one and marmite the other.)
Very late lunch- BLT sandwich from costa
Drinks - 2 small glasses of pimms at a fete and can of fizzy orange

That was it.went to bed very early.

Usually i eat at the school i work at and also have a cooked supper.

[whattodo2019]

@lljkk

You don't agree that working long hours might be the obvious explanation for your tiredness?

Are you worried because of the high profile stories of people died of CC recently?

This is no way to live your life in grip of obsessive worry.

I know. Honestly I feel i'm
wasting my life as i spend most of the time obsessing. But i have some symptoms.... my stools are soft, squashed and difficult to pass. When i've goggled they say this can be cancer but also lack of fibre.
I've taken fibre tablets and sometimes
they work...

[Northernsoullover]

I've been having horrible digestive issues and I've just done a FIT test rather a colonoscopy.
My father had bowel problems including rectal bleeding and they found polyps that turned out to have the smallest amount of cancerous cells in. He doesn't need treatment just monitoring. Early intervention has saved the need for invasive monitoring. Please see your GP.

[whattodo2019]

@Northernsoullover

I've been having horrible digestive issues and I've just done a FIT test rather a colonoscopy.
My father had bowel problems including rectal bleeding and they found polyps that turned out to have the smallest amount of cancerous cells in. He doesn't need treatment just monitoring. Early intervention has saved the need for invasive monitoring. Please see your GP.

Are FIT tests accurate?

[Nadal]

To be honest, if a colonoscopy is required, although they are daunting, it is not as bad as you would think.

It is unlikely it is CC but if there is something wrong, it is best to identify it early so you have the best chance of dealing with it.

Ring your GP.

[whattodo2019]

@Nadal

To be honest, if a colonoscopy is required, although they are daunting, it is not as bad as you would think.

It is unlikely it is CC but if there is something wrong, it is best to identify it early so you have the best chance of dealing with it.

Ring your GP.

Why do you think it isn't CC? (please bear with me...) I know i sound ridiculous....

[TheVanguardSix]

It's a hassle and it's never fun (especially when you're overworked and over tired) but the process of elimination is what really helped me turn a corner, OP.
How do you feel after you eat certain foods?
And believe or not, it's less about 'eat broccoli and legumes' (because these foods can also be upsetting) and more about 'what works well' digestion-wise.
I think I'd start with a diet change (not at all easy when you're so busy and tired- the motivation to change isn't easily there, waiting for you).
Maybe start small. Look at anti-inflammatory diets, IBS friendly diets, read up on FODMAP intolerance. Drink a bit more water (I hate water but I do try and drink 3-4 glasses a day along with a cup or two of herbal tea at night).

Have you had your bloodwork done recently?

[TheVanguardSix]

Also, do you eat a lot of dairy? Maybe try a week of lactose free products and things like oat milk.

[whattodo2019]

@TheVanguardSix

It's a hassle and it's never fun (especially when you're overworked and over tired) but the process of elimination is what really helped me turn a corner, OP.
How do you feel after you eat certain foods?
And believe or not, it's less about 'eat broccoli and legumes' (because these foods can also be upsetting) and more about 'what works well' digestion-wise.
I think I'd start with a diet change (not at all easy when you're so busy and tired- the motivation to change isn't easily there, waiting for you).
Maybe start small. Look at anti-inflammatory diets, IBS friendly diets, read up on FODMAP intolerance. Drink a bit more water (I hate water but I do try and drink 3-4 glasses a day along with a cup or two of herbal tea at night).

Have you had your bloodwork done recently?

Thank you. Do you think it's diet rather can CC?

[titchy]

Of course it's diet! Youre overweight, eat anything and everything, take supplements to try and balance out the cheapness of your diet. Change your lifestyle if you really want to sort yourself out.

[lljkk]

Why do you think it isn't CC?
Because CC is quite unusual at your age & most digestive problems are very common things.

Even among the people who get referred for cancer investigation, most of whom have far more red flag symptoms than OP, only a very small minority get any kind of cancer diagnosis. 43/345 referrals here, so about 12%. In a group that were almost 20 years older than OP. So the true odds are >> 90% OP has something else.

Problem with health anxiety is it doesn't matter what logical things we say. Your anxiety is insatiable & nothing can reassure it. The known risk to your health right now is a mental health problem.

[whattodo2019]

@titchy

Of course it's diet! Youre overweight, eat anything and everything, take supplements to try and balance out the cheapness of your diet. Change your lifestyle if you really want to sort yourself out.

You are so right. Thank you

[whattodo2019]

@lljkk

Why do you think it isn't CC?
Because CC is quite unusual at your age & most digestive problems are very common things.

Even among the people who get referred for cancer investigation, most of whom have far more red flag symptoms than OP, only a very small minority get any kind of cancer diagnosis. 43/345 referrals here, so about 12%. In a group that were almost 20 years older than OP. So the true odds are >> 90% OP has something else.

Problem with health anxiety is it doesn't matter what logical things we say. Your anxiety is insatiable & nothing can reassure it. The known risk to your health right now is a mental health problem.

Thank you. How do I get rid of health anxiety? Exercise? Better diet?

[TheVanguardSix]

I do! I actually do think it's diet related. Diet, stress, long hours, worry, poor sleep... our digestion is directly affected by our lifestyles. I would absolutely be thinking along the lines of diet way before CC. I think if you can handle a colonoscopy, it's so worth getting one for reassurance- NOT because you have CC. Like you, the thought of a colonoscopy just scares me. I think it's the prep more than anything (I watched Lee Evans do a sketch on prepping for a colonoscopy years ago and it is hilarious! But I can't unsee it! ).

My 20 year old son, like me, has a lousy stomach/digetive issues. He really had crazy bowel habits, his stools were weird and wild, lots of pain. This went on for ages. He changed his diet through a process of elimination and it's been pretty miraculous to watch. He was very overweight and is now a great weight, looking so bright-eyed and feeling so much more energised and happy in himself. He eliminated the things that he noticed gave him pain and worrying stools. It took about 3 months for him to get the hang of what his body needed and what needed avoiding, but he's now got a total handle on it and eating right in response to his needs has really paid off. It's what motivated me to do the same. Take note of your sensitivities and body's reactions to what you eat and drink. It's easier to figure out than you'd imagine. And it is pretty interesting.
Try fennel tea with a bit of honey before bed, to start with. Something a bit cleansing before sleep. It's very good for digestion.

[JellyBellyNelly]

Op, trust me when I tell you that living with the fear of cancer and not doing anything about it is nothing compared to the fear a person feels feel when the day perhaps comes and they gets a cancer diagnosis.

go and get checked out and not just because there’s no way you’d have had cancer for 8 years and still be well. It will be such a relief.

[VeronicaBeccabunga]

Here is a simple exclusion diet, it's one devised by Addenbrooke's Hospital so is reliable.
It's worth a try to reset your diet and eliminate foods that don't agree with you.

[BattenbergdowntheHatches]

See your GP. A FIT test is no substitute for a colonoscopy. (Mine was clear and I had a large carcinoma in my colon - this was 15 years ago). It’s probably something minor but you really need to rule out the serious stuff first.

[LadybirdsAreNeverHappy]

Colon cancer is in my family. Some of the questions doctors ask if you have some symptoms (like from piles), do you also have really bad/ excruciating stomach pains or black stools, noticeable weight loss etc … I haven’t a clue but I think logically if you had cancer especially for that long I think there would be no mistaking the signs by now. I don’t think you can ignore it for very long. I think it’s just your health anxiety. I also have health anxiety and I think you should go to your gp, explain your concerns just like you have here. If they think there’s a chance there’s something physically wrong they’ll help you with that but either way, talk to them about referring you for therapy and/ or going on an antidepressant that works for anxiety/ ocd to help with the health anxiety if that’s something you might be interested in.
I know it’s awful to go through what you’re going through and I know it won’t help much but this sounds like textbook hypochondria.

Good luck and try not to Google symptoms. You will only put two and two together and come up with cancer.
Google literally any symptoms and you will get results saying it might be cancer. A lot of the information is from private hospitals who want every hypochondriac within striking distance to come and have an extortionate full body check up.