There are probably a whole load of things it could be. Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and polyp for a start, all have similar symptoms to colon and rectal cancer. And from what I've read, there is a lot of debate about the thin ribbon like stools and whether they are even a symptom at all. One thing I read said the most common cause of them was diarrhea, which you mentioned having and said it was very common to get them after diarrhea.

Given that you said you have young children, I am also guessing you are relatively young. The majority of cases of colon cancer are in over 60s. I am 41 and over the summer, when I was 40, I had a number of symptoms - rectal bleeding, ongoing for weeks, some loose stools (maybe once or twice a week), trapped wind and weight loss. The consultant said that at my age, I had very little to worry about, that if my mother came in with those symptoms, he would be considering bowel cancer as a possible diagnosis but that at my age, it was the least likely of all the possible options.

And you have far more options than I had, because it really was the rectal bleeding that knocked out a lot of the alternatives for me. Things like IBS would explain all the symptoms you are having, but don't have rectal bleeding as a symptom. That is probably the most likely explanation for your symptoms as that is very common. 

Google tends to give the most dramatic results because people are more likely to post about those. If you have cancer, you are likely to discuss your experience online, whereas you are less likely to do so if you have an infection or IBS. Also, the medical sites often play up the possibility of cancer because they want to ensure people get checked out. If they said, "this is highly unlikely to be cancer," then people would think "oh, no point in calling a doctor, so" and there might be one case in 100 where it is and that person would have a delayed diagnosis. So it's better if they say, "get this checked out in case it's cancer," even if for the other 99, it won't be. They are often just covering themselves by including the most serious options. They don't have to take so much care about including things like polyps and IBS because it doesn't matter so much if people don't investigate fo things like that. But in reality, both of those options are probably far more likely.

Thank you for the reply MargaretMary

I really do hope it's not a tumour but the thing is when I'm having a bowel movement I can almost picture what is going on inside from the sensations I'm feeling. I'm going to try to explain it for anyone else who may be having the same symptoms and I will update this thread with the outcome of my colonoscopy.

So this is how it goes, I'll be sitting on the toilet and I can feel the stool wanting to work it's way out, all feels normal until at the point I would guess around where the sigmoid colon and rectum meet (this is also the region where I'm feeling the most pain). Now I have to push a bit hard like I'm forcing it past an object, the stool will very slowly make its way past then I don't have to push to hard as it goes through the anal canal and out the exit. I'm still left feeling like I need to go more but nothing ever comes out, and what does come out is a 2 to 4 inch long some what flattened piece of faeces with the same consistency as Play-Doh. And now I think back I can remember having the same shaped stools in the past but without the difficulty of pushing them out. Maybe the bowel obstruction wasn't as big back then.

3 of my 4 blood tests have come back as normal and the 4th is still pending. I'm also waiting for the stool test results. I'm getting a little anxious about this Omicron and possibility of it delaying my colonoscopy and (if needed) treatment.

I hope you all enjoyed my very detailed poo story but I think it's important to put as much information as possible out there. If I would have known what I know now I would have demanded a colonoscopy over a year ago. I will also say be very careful putting all your trust in what the first doctor you see says. If you're not feeling right always get a second and even third opinion. If I'd listened to my first doctor I would still be taking Senna without a colonoscopy in sight.

Happy new year and I hope to come back here with good news soon

Hi I'm in the situation as you but I'm going for ct scan and a referral to a gastroenterologist in two weeks I hope your 

colonoscopy goes well 

Hi Marg1, hope your CT scan comes quick and all is well.

I've Just been reading up on Diverticulitis and it sounds very similar to my symptoms. So there's a little hope, I'm going to phone the doctors on Tuesday and ask for the strongest antibiotics possible to see if clears up while I wait for my colonoscopy. I'm not jumping for joy yet but this news has really helped with my anxiety.

It's funny because my dad has been telling me he has "pockets in his bowel" and how he needs to avoid certain foods. I was so wrapped up in my internet bowel cancer research I didn't bother to look into it until today.

I just see it's also hereditary

I went to my colonoscopy this morning. I was very lucky to get an early morning appointment at the last minute and I hadn't been eating anyway because of my crazy anxiety.

And amazingly the only thing they found was what I posted above, Diverticulosis. I really hope that anyone reading this who has extreme worries like me can at least get a little comfort. I had symptoms for years that Dr Google made me 100% convinced it was going to be serious. Having said that you should always get checked if something isn't right but just know it could be a whole host of things. And stay the *** away from Google!

I may be in the clear but this is not the end. After reading some of the stories of people diagnosed with this horrible disease I want to get involved in raising awareness, especially with the alarming rise in under 50s getting it. One of the things I want is for the the bowel cancer screening programme (FIT test) to be lowered to at least 40 in the whole of the UK.

Take care and I will continue being part of this amazing community