Hi Chantelle

I totally know how you feel. I've an urgent gynae apt tomorrow and I'm terrified. This has moved quick but previously I had issues and pains with my stomach and gallbladder and was fobbed off so many times... did get tests but no gallstones were ever found so was always told ibs or even at one point it's in your head. Ten years later I get a Hida scan which shows gallbladder isn't functioning so I finally got it removed, 

Felt fine for few months now this.

anyway keep going with the doc. X

oh hun I feel for you. I had a blood test done which I asked for, and they were concerned because my white blood count is low. The GP said he would refer me for an ultrasound scan, but has now gone against it and tried to diagnose me with IBS but I know it isn't. I am so scared, it's my worst fear but don't want it to be found too late if it is? Fingers crossed for your app tomorrow, please update me to let me know how it goes!! Just wish someone would take me seriously. I don't want to leave my little boy without a mum and I'm so scared xx 

Can you get a second opinion? Not that i think you have cancer, because you probably don't but either way, you would be better off getting some tests done. Assuming you don't, they would reassure you and on the off-chance there is something serious wrong, it would get treated.

Yeah definitely go back ask for another gp if there is one and tell them you've had enough. In all honesty in the end I was referred after just breaking down in tears!

Aw thanks for the best wishes, I will let you know.

I've two kids,12 and 8, and the thought of not being here.... well I just can't even begin with that.xxx

I am going to ask for a second opinion on Friday! I have a telephone call with the silly doctor who keeps palming me off but also going to ask to see another doctor for a second opinion. Surely i know my body better than anybody else and if I feel something is not right, they should be trying to help? I'm really scared I do, I have so many symptoms and cancer is my worst fear

To be fair, your symptoms could probably be caused by a lot of things. Not saying they should be brushing you off or not investigating because I don't think that, but just in the hopes it reassures you a little. Over the summer, I had rectal bleeding, ongoing for months and continuing even after treatment for hemorrhoids, combined with weight loss, occasional loose stools, gas pains and trapped wind so bad for a couple of weeks that it woke me in the middle of the night and that wasn't helped by gaviscon or other medication and on/off narrow stools. Had a colonoscopy and all they found was hemorrhoids. The other symptoms were probably a combination of the stress of the whole thing and a few coincidences.

I will add that when I did have thyroid cancer, I had no symptoms at all (except a lump on my neck that i didn't even notice) and had no idea at all there was anything wrong. So our impressions aren't always great guides.

That said, your doctor SHOULD be listening to you and at least making an effort to rule out the causes you are worried about.

My doctor said that at my age - 40 - the odds of cancer with my bowel symptoms was less than 1% but he still did the colonoscopy just to be sure, although I think he was pretty sure hemorrhoids were exactly what he was going to find. You are a lot younger than me, so if I am too young for it to be a likely option, you are even more so. I know that is very limited reassurance though.

Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about the symptoms that you have been having and how it has been affecting your life.

I can understand that it must be extremely frustrating when you can't find the cause.

It is very easy to think that because your symptoms don't go away there may be a serious cause such as cancer but there are many other conditions including IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) which might explain your symptoms.

Bowel cancer is rare in someone so young. This is usually a cancer in people in their 60's and older. You might find it helpful to look at other aspects of your life to see if changing some of the things in your life such as diet can help control some of your symptoms.

The NHS has written some information on IBS which you can see here

IBS affects so many people so if this is your situation you are not alone. There is an IBS network which you can see here.

Food plays such an important part in how are body behaves. You may want to look at this dietary advice written by someone who has IBS. Have a look here

You also mention that members of your family have been affected by cancer and I am sorry to hear this. This may have happened to them later on in life but of course I am not sure.

When cancer is in the family, people often assume that this greatly increases their risk of developing it, but this isn't necessarily so. Although the genes we inherit may influence our risk, this may not be by very much. No one is risk free and the risk of cancer increases for all of us as we get older. This is quite a complicated topic and it might be useful to look at our section explaining genes and inherited cancer risk at this link.

See how you go and of course if your symptoms don't improve then do go back and discuss this with your GP. Sometimes it can help to keep a food diary so you can monitor whether there are any food stuffs that make your symptoms worse. 

I do hope that things improve for you.

All the Best,

Catherine