Hi Chazza,

I'm just a patient and not medically qualified but there are several conditions other than cancer that would explain your symptoms.
 

For example, I've been living with ulcerative colitis for over 30 years and during flare ups my symptoms are very similar to yours. I'm told that IBS and Crohn's have similar symptoms too. 

So much so that I've had a couple of cancer scares myself over the years. Ironically when I did develop cancer it was in a completely different part of my body and unrelated to my chronic bowel condition.

Good luck with the endoscopy - I hope the diagnosis is for a less scary condition than cancer. Even if it isn't, an awful lot more cancer patients survive now than was the case even ten years ago.

Best wishes

Dave

I'm no expert but I would say it's pretty unlikely to be bowel cancer. That is still fairly uncommon in younger people; I think something like 99% of cases are in over 40s. Yes, rates in under 50s are increasing, but they are still very low. And I thought inflammation markers were more a sign of IBD?

Hi Dave,

Thank you for replying. I really hope the diagnosis is something less scary but it's so hard to rationalise sometimes. 

I lost my mum to cancer when I was 25 and my stepmum had cancer just over a year ago but has been fortunate with treatment and an operation, thankfully.

I hope you are well x

Hi Margaret Mary 

Thank you for replying. I completely understand the statistics and yes inflammation can be sign of IBD but also cancer. 

I guess the uncertainty makes it hard for me to rationalise and there is always an exception to the percentages. 

I feel stupid for worrying so much then I have a moment and realise that it's completely normal to worry and be scared! 

Take care x

Hi 

I fully understand how you feel 

I myself just hot result that my Qfit test was positive 

I am petrified.. I am now waiting on CT Scan an

Colonscopy . It's been red flagged so should be within the 

next two / three weeks 

my symptoms are like irritable bowel, terrible abdominal cramps 

constantly needing the toilet . Pain in my lower back and right groin .

I've never seen any blood ..

it's the waiting that's the worse and overthinking 

I really hope your tests investigations come back negative 

Your young and the chance of being colon cancer I do believe is 

very low .. Xx

Hi

i'm really just replying to acknowledge how hard it is to wait for tests and results.  We are at the start of this journey - a little bit further on than you, in that my husband has a date for surgery.  I understand how your mind goes down all sorts of horrible rabbit holes. Even though it is ny husband, I convinced myself that I am also ill, to the extent of booking private tests for reassurance! My point here is that Google + stress is a powerful combination and, at the end of the day just heightens every worry you have and can even create physical symptoms.

The colonoscopy is in a few days + that checks the entire bowel. The good thing about NHS is that they do move pretty quick (though it may not feel that way when you're the one waiting) + GP sending you the results is maybe because she knows you're anxious + just wants you to know what's happening.  

You will be in my thoughts and I hope you get all the results back quickly and can be reassured.  I found this site helpful to 'offload' at times when my head was drifting to some very dim places. I also shared what was happening with friends which helped too as they knew if I seemed distracted.

Sending good wishes. Xx

Hi there,

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am also 34 and have experienced blood clots in my stool for around 4 weeks now everytime I go. I am currently waiting on a colonoscopy appointment from my GP. My inflammatory markers were normal. It's very scary and you automatically think cancer, it's natural and I know exactly what you are going through - I am in the same boat. I hope to receive my referral letter next week or the week after. The wait is agonizing though. My wife is also 34 weeks pregnant with our first child through IVF so there's so much going on and I'm pretty petrified all round.

sending you positive thoughts xx

Hi, I'm an endoscopy nurse, I just wanted to offer a little reassurance that the majority of patients that we see with your symptoms do not have cancer. Happy to answer any questions about colonoscopy if I can. 

Thank you so much.... do you get some form of result / feedback after the procedure please or do the results go back to your GP to share with the patient please?

This may vary from hospital to hospital, but in most cases you should get your results on the day - as in, what the endoscopist suspects, you should know. The only thing they won't be able to tell you on the day is the results of any biopsies they take, which obviously have to be analysed at the lab first, before the results are sent to your GP and/or yourself. In our unit, if we suspect a cancer, the patient is informed of our suspicion on the day and this is common practice at most hospitals and units in my experience.