23 and terrified about Bowel Cancer

Evening everybody.

 

So as my title says I am 23 years of age and am terrified that I may have bowel cancer. I had a baby 14 months ago and I first started to experience some rectal bleeding when I was around 34 weeks pregnant. I went to my GP who performed a rectal examination and said I had internal piles and sent me on my way with cream. I used my cream and the bleeding stopped. Fast forward to August 2020 I began experiencing blood again and went to see a GP at a walk in centre as 111 advised me too (my GP is not doing any face to face appointments at the moment) and she performed another rectal examination but said she couldn't feel any evidence of internal piles and advised me to get in contact with my own GP as I could have piles further up which would only be able to be seen with a camera. I did this but my GP dismissed this and said it's likely to be piles and gave me more cream. October 2020 I had a bad spout of food poisoning which made me have severe bloody diarrhoea. I was admitted into hospital where I had stool samples which confirmed I had food poisoning. I was told I would have a flexible sigmoidoscopy appointment sent through the post (they weren't too concerned about it and said I wasn't an urgent case so their would be a little wait). I ended up having to ring my GP several times to chase my appointment up and now finally have an appointment for the 19th April. The last month or so my symptoms have changed. I feel very constipated and notice very slight blood and mucus in my stool. No blood when I wipe. I am also feeling very uncomfortable in my stomach with bloating and like a fullness feeling when any pressure is applied to the area. I feel tired all of the time and am currently awaiting blood test results from my GP to determine if I have any defiencencys or if my inflammation markers are raised. I am also 7 days late for my period and have done pregnancy tests which are all negative. I just don't know what is going on with my body !

 

I am so scared it's unreal. I have a 14 month old little boy who is my world and the thought of leaving him terrifies me. Please somebody give me some positive thoughts

  • Hello,

    Firstly, I wanted to say, I completely empathise. I'm awaiting tests for something myself and have a young son, I completely understand your worry.

    Secondly, please try not to worry. Easy to say, I know. There are many other things it could be, other than cancer. Your age is one thing in your favour.


    Pregnancy can definitely cause piles and these can sometimes be higher up. Fissures can also cause bleeding. If you'd said it was just bleeding, I'd have said it was one of the above but obviously you've got other symptoms that are worrying you.
     

    I'm an ex nurse and it sounds to me that it could be something like IBS? If you look on the NHS website for this, you'll see the symptoms. I'll post the link below.

    Hopefully you'll get some clarity after the procedure. I've had one done before and they normally tell you what they can see there and then or soon after.

    Take care and please try not to fret, you're very young and there many other, far less sinister things it could be. On a side note if you ever feel like you're not being taken seriously or listened to, please get another opinion and insist on it. Not every doctor is right all the time.

    Xx

    www.nhs.uk/.../