Bowel cancer symptoms?

[bubbleandsqueak7]

Currently waiting, anxiously, for my colonoscopy after experiencing some symptoms. Appointment is in January. I wanted to ask, what are the most common symptoms of colon cancer please?

I have a stabbing pain to the left of my belly button. Changed bowel movements for 2 months. Alternating diarrhoea, loose stools and constipation. Straining to get gas out. Some bright red blood on wiping.

Also, how accurate are qFIT tests? Ie, if negative, are the chances of colon cancer very low?

My fit was negative but calprotectin was positive.

Almost all symptoms of bowel cancer can alternatively be being caused by something else that isn't cancer, which is why you need the colonoscopy. Try not to worry - whether or not it's cancer you will be in good hands, they will find the problem and sort it. Worrying isn't going to influence this. While you wait, keep active and do whatever you can to increase your fitness - whatever the issue and whatever the treatment, the better your fitness levels the easier it will be.

I had all the symptoms you describe. Negative colonoscopy. Was put down to ibs. Still get issues now.

My dh had bowel cancer (thankfully he's now cancer free) and his symptoms were a little different to what you've described. Extreme lethargy, feeling of needing the loo all the time, bloating, very narrow, bloody stools but the blood was dark, not bright red. He didn't have pain, constipation or loose stools either.

I know the wait for tests is agonising and wish you the best possible outcome from your colonoscopy.

My symptoms were weight loss, high calprotectin(over 600) fatigue, tummy pain, diarrhoea day and night, some days I was going up to 10 times a day, urgency, low iron, low b12. I was referred for an urgent colonoscopy, the Dr's thought it was crohns or colitis, I was worried about cancer. I had some blood, but it was more likely a haemorrhoid causing that. My colonoscopy, they found a 5mm polyp, biopsies were negative. I had a sehcat scan and was diagnosed with bile acid malabsorption. I hope you get some answers soon.

Thank you everyone for your responses. It seems like a very long wait, wish it could have been before Christmas.

@berrypop oh gosh how scary. I'm so glad he's cancer free.

My poor Nan also had it but sadly passed away from it - she was in her 70s though.

I'm in a similar position @bubbleandsqueak7 and very anxious. My colonoscopy is in January as well. My calprotectin was 230ish. My symptoms are a lot of mucus, a pressure under my ribs and urgency to go. So unpleasant! How have you been over Christmas?

I had diarrhoea for 3 weeks, then dodgy ‘not quite right’ bowels for a few more weeks. Upper left pressure / discomfort / pain, feeling of gas trapped and bloating.

2x FIT negative, calprotectin 36. Abdo pelvic CT all clear. GI says I can have a colonoscopy if I want one due to the ongoing upper left problem (3 months now) but trying to decide if it’s worth it as was told 2x negative FITs put your bowel cancer risk at 1 in 1000.

1 negative FIT is a 1 in 500 risk.

When I was diagnosed with BC I had BC, bleeding, urgency and slight weight loss. Also bloating tho had had that for a long time.

@rose7120 sorry to hear you're in the same position. Mine is on the 9th January, picking up my prep next week, but can't stop thinking about it daily. Just wish I could have it a little sooner, the waiting is the hardest.

I've been told it's more likely IBD / IBS but I just will can't help but panic. Let me know how yours goes.

@mibbelucieachwell sorry to hear that. How are you now?

@XmasElfOnTheShelff sounds like all your tests are normal, a colonoscopy probably isn't needed? Especially with a clear pelvic scan. But for peace of mind I'm sure there's no harm in it either :)

Sorry ! I should have said my diagnosis was 13 years ago. Which speaks for itself.

Try not to worry. Even the worst case scenario is usually treatable.

@mibbelucieachwell oh that's such wonderful news.

Thank you. I lost my lovely Nan to this cancer, so it really worries me. I'm sure it's nothing though :)

@mibbelucieachwell that's great news, how are you doing now?

@bubbleandsqueak7 mine isn't until the 20th although I've already been sent a huge pack of instructions and laxatives which make me a bit 😬 i was considering doing no sedation so I could watch and drive after, but I'm not so sure now! I agree the waiting is the hardest, I can't stop googling. Hope you're doing okay. Let me know how it goes. Did you still have symptoms?

I've had a negative colonoscopy but have l your symptoms. I find that certain foods and drinks can set me off.

@rose7120 I'm definitely going to take the sedation, I am a bit of a wimp with stuff. Dreading the prep. My husband had one a few years ago though and he said it was fine (without sedation).

I do still have symptoms. Mainly stomach pain and constipation. What symptoms are you experiencing? Always find myself googling around this time and it doesn't help at all :(

@bubbleandsqueak7 that's good your husband had a good experience. I have mucus in my stool, wind, either I have to go quite quickly or constipation, I've also had a pain under my right rib which comes and goes. I just find every tiny thing by digestive system does I over analyse. I've always had what I thought was IBS, so I was a bit surprised that I had raised calprotectin. I was quite stressed earlier in the year, so hoping thats related.

I hope you've managed to have a lovely Christmas regardless. Not long to wait.

Hello @bubbleandsqueak7 how did your colonoscopy go? Hope it was okay.

@rose7120 hey. The prep was fine (quite liked the taste haha) and procedure I found a little uncomfortable but gas and air sorted that. They did remove 2 small polyps which he said are almost certainly benign and found internal haemorrhoids but other than that, everything looked normal. I am a little worried about having polyps though. How are you feeling about yours? How's your symptoms?

Try not to worry about the polyps, I had a few 4 and 5mm ones, they removed and tested them and came back clear. Gastroenterology have put me down to have another colonoscopy in 5 years time to monitor, so they may do that for you too.

@GG1986 oh great, thank you! Mine were a similar size at 4mm and 3mm. Did they say they were hyperplastic or adenomatous? Good you get a follow up, better to be safe, I'd like to have that too.

On the letter it just says "large bowel poylp with features of a sessile serrated lesion 5mm with no evidence of dysplasia and no evidence of invasive malignancy.

@GG1986 oo no idea what that means but sounds perfectly ok haha!

@bubbleandsqueak7 I'm glad it went okay and fingers crossed for the polyps, sounds like your low risk. I was worried about the prep, so good to know it doesn't taste too bad! How long were you in hospital for? Are you happy with that result? How are your symptoms? Mine are okay, some have calmed down quite a lot, but some are still there, so still waiting anxiously! Thank you for letting me know how yours went.

@rose7120 I am happy with the result as the consultant wasn't worried. Symptoms have settled a little but still not 100% and no major answer as to why. Rather not have the polyps but at least they're out now and I know they were there. Yes don't worry too much about the prep. I had Plenvu. One tip though - plenty of Vaseline or sudacrem - I got really sore!!!!! Procedure was at 10 and I was at home by 1pm - very quick.

Please let me know how your goes!