Hello all

Im 22 years old and have been having issues with my stomach since February this year. This includes a raise on my abdomen,stitch like pain on the left side of my abdomen,blood in stool,mucus in stool,back pain,burning sensations and shooting pains in my left arm,regular changes in my bowel movements (diorhea and constipation).I spoke to my doctor about this and she did a very mild inspection on me and felt nothing and it was dismissed. Not long after my symptoms persisted and I was sure that I could feel a raise/mass on my left rib. I spoke to another doctor who recommended I changed my contraceptive pill and see if that helps which it did not. Since then I have been having phone appointments with the odd face to face appointment with my GP trying to convince her that there is something not right. She also examined my abdomen and again felt nothing. As I suffer with anxiety around health and death she put all of my symptoms down to that and came to the conclusion that I had ibs. I was happy to accept this diagnosis if she could confirm it but she couldn't. I then went into a&e and I had abdominal pain and constipation for 4ish days (kind of like a dicky tummy feeling). The doctor in a&e did another examination of my abdomen and felt nothing but recommended that I take a calprotectin test. I took the test and my calprotectin levels were raised(I didn't ask how much by). My Gp contacted me on Friday to let me know that she had referred me to the local hospital for further testing. I was told it could take up to three weeks for the hospital to contact

me but I recieved a text from my Gp saying I had been referred to the digestive diseases department.
 

As someone who suffers severely with anxiety especially when it comes to illness and death, I am going out of my mind trying to figure out what the likely result will be of these tests. I have spent countless hours searching for symptoms that differentiate ibd from bowel cancer as I'm convinced it's likely to be one of the two. I just have so many unanswered questions and it would really help if someone who has experienced what I could potentially have to go through in the next coming weeks.
 

1.Are there any symptoms which differentiate the two?

2.What is likely to be the next step when the hospital contact me?

3.how long do these results usually

take to come back?

4.Do symptoms of colon cancer come and go/flare up?

5.If cancer is detected what is the next step?

6.How do I control my anxiety around the whole situation? I am having breakdowns/panic attacks 3/4 times a day. Even during work.

7.if the cancer has spread would that be detected in bloods?

I appreciate that not all these can be answered but any answers would be greatly appreciated!