Bowel cancer worry- calprotectin & CEA all ok though?

Hi everyone, I've posted recently due to having enlarged nodes in my neck that haven't gone down, which is being investigated. I'm 38 years old. 

But since that's been going on (for a couple of months now) I have been having a dull pain in my lower left abdomen. I ignored it (blamed stress) until I noticed a change in my bowel habits. I used to go once a day (if that) but for the last month I've been getting up and going first thing, quite urgently, with loose stools. GP did a urine test to rule out kidney problems- all fine. And a calprotectin stool test and CEA blood test (looking at tumour markers) which both came back fine. As far as I'm aware, no blood or mucus in my stools. 
 

However in the last week, I've had diarrhoea (twice) and been going to the toilet twice a day. And now I have a feeling like I want to go all the time, except I know I won't (a bit like a pressure). I'm reassured that tests so far haven't revealed anything, but can't help but wonder what's going on? Everyone in my life wants to blame my stress and anxiety (over the lymph nodes) and granted my stomach does sometimes play up when I'm anxious, but not like this. 
 

I am going to call my GP again tomorrow and see what further tests might be helpful. I don't think it's food related but I will eat plain foods to see if that helps. I suppose I wanted some reassurance that these are symptoms of other illnesses, or that cancer is unlikely given my test results? 
 

I hope someone is able to help, or can relate. I feel like I'm going mad. I can't focus. 
 

Danni 

  • If it's any reassurance, I'm 41 and had a bit of a bowel cancer worry this summer and my specialist said that at our age, bowel cancer would be the lowest on his list of concerns and that, while it was possible, I would have to be "the unluckiest person in the world" for it to turn out to be that.

    My symptoms were rectal bleeding (ongoing for weeks), some weight loss, occasional loose stools (maybe once or twice a week) and trapped wind. Given that you don't have bleeding, the chances of your having cancer are likely even lower than they were for me.

    I am no expert but would guess your symptoms could be caused by a number of things including IBD and IBS and even just anxiety or possibly something you are eating (lactose intolerance?). I would imagine there are a number of far more likely options than cancer.