I’m worried - bowel cancer?

Hello, I am a 21 year old male. 

This story is a bit disgusting so please forgive me.

Over the past 2 weeks, my poo has been changing, it's just been between runny and a bit soft, earlier today I went to the toilet and it was hard and in small ball shaped. Then towards the end it was a slightly bit softer but there was blood on parts of it, which I have never seen before. I have also been having this on and off pain in my lower right belly, and always feel a bit bloated. Apart from that I have no other symptoms. 
 

A general background to my lifestyle, I am 5ft 11 weighing 12 stone. I don't exercise, I drink (a lot, not everyday but say if I do, it will be easily a bottle of vodka every 2 weeks ish) - also to mention I spent the summer in a party destination and was drinking a lot over there. and smoke cigarettes. (I haven't drank for about a week and had my last cigarette yesterday).

I don't know if this is the right place to post this but please if anyone can give me any advice or have been in similar situations please let me know, on Monday morning I will call up my GP and try and get an appointment. 

thank you for you help.

Parents
  • Like Cath said, phone your GP. The odds are it's not cancer. Bowel cancer is still pretty rare among under 40s (I think only about 1% of cases are among under 40s) and lots of things could cause your symptoms. It could be something as simple as IBS or a mild infection causing the runny stools and the blood might just be from wiping a lot or that the hard stool scratched something.

    Best to get it checked out, because there are also some possibilities like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's or a polyp (none of them particularly likely, but all more likely than bowel cancer) that would need treatment and besides, it will relieve your mind to have the more serious possibilities ruled out.

Reply
  • Like Cath said, phone your GP. The odds are it's not cancer. Bowel cancer is still pretty rare among under 40s (I think only about 1% of cases are among under 40s) and lots of things could cause your symptoms. It could be something as simple as IBS or a mild infection causing the runny stools and the blood might just be from wiping a lot or that the hard stool scratched something.

    Best to get it checked out, because there are also some possibilities like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's or a polyp (none of them particularly likely, but all more likely than bowel cancer) that would need treatment and besides, it will relieve your mind to have the more serious possibilities ruled out.

Children
No Data