Bowel Cancer Symptoms and Diagnosis

FormerMember over 14 years ago

23 replies
31 subscribers
86517 views

Hi all, I've been following this forum for a while now, amazed at the courage and support amongst members. It's wonderful!

I was just wondering if people could offer their experiences of initial symptoms (or lack of) and how they were diagnosed. Also interested in GP responses when you first went to see them and how long it took to get referred. As a 45 year old, the response to me is "of course it's not bowel cancer. You're not old enough and you don't have a family history". Although i am sure they are right, but i feel slightly dismissed and my fears and concerns not taken very seriously. Thankfully I am seeing specialists and having tests over the next few weeks, so I will finally know.

Thanks in advance for whatever personal experiences you feel able to discuss...Sarah xxx

FormerMember over 14 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hi Jane,

Thank you for your reply. I try not to worry too much, but at the moment just find it difficult to concentrate on anything else... One thing I learnt in these few days is that cancer is sooooo unpredictable - one day it's not there and day after it's back. I've read stories about people with very pessimistic prognosis who seem to be fighting it quite well. Sometimes it's the other way around... Todays medicine, although progressed a lot, still doesn't seem to have control over this illness. I think it's important to seek as many opinions as possible.

I understand that it must be very difficult for Becci to stay strong, but she must find something look forward to. I hope her friends are there for her a lot of time, trying to talk about things other than cancer...

I've had quite a few bad accidents before and sometimes something little, like looking after my dog kept me going.

Lots of hugs to you and Becci xxx

FormerMember over 7 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Hello everyone,

I need your help.

So I made a previous post about some symptoms that I have been experiencing. Namely flatulence, vibrating rectum, some mucus on toilet paper, sometimes in the toilet by itself and other times with stool. It almost looks like clear bubbles sometimes. Maybe a quarter sized amount. Bowel habits have also changed also. I go more frequently maybe 5-7 times a day depending. Sometimes it's normal large and smooth movements, other times it's softer, thinner movements. I have had two episodes of diarrhea that went away almost as fast as it came on. No visible blood.

These symptoms come on in episodes I think depending on what I eat, possibly dairy or wheat. After some time passes and I watch what I eat the symptoms seem to get better and I have pretty normal movements again.

I have recently moved aboard and that's when things seemed to change. I have never had excellent bowel health due to bad living but whatever is going on it seems to have gotten worse since moving. I have been to the doctor here and have had fecal occult test ran as well as blood work. No anemia detected and no blood detected in feces. Had slightly elevated liver enzymes though but they weren't concerned. The doctor is very dismissive and looks at me weird when we seen my concern for colon cancer or parasites. He did a full adominal exam and no pain was felt.

I obviously want a colonoscopy done and for food intolerances as well as checking for parasites.

He looks at me like I'm an anxious mental case.

So my question is this.. obviously nobody can tell me for certain if this sounds like cancer or not but any new insight would be helpful and very much appreciated.

This is affecting my quality of life and when I am in the middle of these episodes I really can't do much like work a full shift or leave the house for extended periods of time because I have to be close to a restroom.

Ellen - Macmillan over 2 years ago in reply to FormerMember

Best wishes,

Ellen
Macmillan Community Team