I've been in the situation of awaiting a colonoscopy (and just after our health system here in Ireland was hacked so was waiting over 2 months from the referral to the colonoscopy) and while I knew bowel cancer was unlikely, it was still on my mind almost constantly.

Do keep in mind that there are many more options apart from bowel cancer, piles or an anal fissure and most of those are significantly more likely than bowel cancer, especially with a recent negative screening. While that might not make bowel cancer impossible, it does mean it's probably unlikely.

Apart from anything else, polyps can cause similar symptoms whether they are cancerous or benign and the vast majority are benign or at worst, precancerous. Given a recent clear screening, it strikes me as far more likely, you'd have a benign polyp or even a polyp that might eventually become cancerous but only if it's left unnoticed for a number of years than that you would have one that has already become cancerous. Then there is divertculitis, IBS (which I don't think actually directly causes bleeding but if the changes in bowel habits include constipation, that could cause bleeding), Crohn's, ulcerative colitis... 

Cancer really is one of the less likely options.

I had rectal bleeding, some weight loss, occasional loose stools (maybe once a week?) and trapped wind and...it turned out to be hemorrhoids. 

But yeah, cancer isn't the next most likely option after piles or a fissure. There are many others.

I've been in the situation of awaiting a colonoscopy (and just after our health system here in Ireland was hacked so was waiting over 2 months from the referral to the colonoscopy) and while I knew bowel cancer was unlikely, it was still on my mind almost constantly.

Do keep in mind that there are many more options apart from bowel cancer, piles or an anal fissure and most of those are significantly more likely than bowel cancer, especially with a recent negative screening. While that might not make bowel cancer impossible, it does mean it's probably unlikely.

Apart from anything else, polyps can cause similar symptoms whether they are cancerous or benign and the vast majority are benign or at worst, precancerous. Given a recent clear screening, it strikes me as far more likely, you'd have a benign polyp or even a polyp that might eventually become cancerous but only if it's left unnoticed for a number of years than that you would have one that has already become cancerous. Then there is divertculitis, IBS (which I don't think actually directly causes bleeding but if the changes in bowel habits include constipation, that could cause bleeding), Crohn's, ulcerative colitis... 

Cancer really is one of the less likely options.

I had rectal bleeding, some weight loss, occasional loose stools (maybe once a week?) and trapped wind and...it turned out to be hemorrhoids. 

But yeah, cancer isn't the next most likely option after piles or a fissure. There are many others.

Thank you Margaret Mary,

That's very grounding and reassuring! I appreciate it.