Is there a chance I have bowel cancer

Hello I am really worried as I have been getting alot of bleeding when going for a poo. It's not just on it the bowl is cover in blood and so is the toilet roll. This has been going in for about 3 weeks so far. There was a few days where the bleeding stopped where I could see  but it has started again bad. Yesterday there was some small bits of blood clots on toilet roll. My bowl movements have been over the place and a mixture of diahrea types and also solid and some tar like. I have handed a stool sample to my doctor's although I have been getting crapms and when I need to do a stool it just comes like it's urgent. I have also been extremely gassy with farts for full 3 weeks now and this is not the usual. I am worried it's something serious and I'm only 20 

  • Hello and thank you for your post. I am sorry to hear about your situation.

    We are not able to diagnose anyone, or say what the matter is, as everyone's symptoms are individual to them.

    Do discuss this with your GP. I can imagine that this is having a huge impact on your life and it is important that you find out what is causing your symptoms. Cancer is very unlikely at your young age and there are many other bowel conditions that may explain your symptoms.

    Piles, if that is what is causing your bleeding can be uncomfortable, so it maybe helpful to try a course of cream and suppositories from your local pharmacy to see if this helps with these symptoms. Keeping a daily food diary so you can monitor what you are eating to see whether you have any intolerances to certain food stuffs may help. Anxiety and stress about health can also have an effect on how bowels work.

    Try not to let your mind run away with you. GP's have guidelines about when to refer patients for more tests and I am sure that if they were concerned they would refer you for further investigations.

    Let your GP know why you are worried.

    I do hope that you feel better soon.

    All the best,

    Vanda