Hi everyone
i don’t know where to turn as I am so anxious and scared. I am 36, mum of 2.
I’ve always had a “sensitive” stomach - I know that oily foods will give me the runs. But for a long time now (many months) I’ve noticed I ALWAYS have loose stools. It is very very rare for me to have a “normal” poo, usually only the day after taking Imodium. My stools are usually soft or mush, diarrhoea. I can have all those types on the same day, with or without pain. They are ribbon like stools. The only time they look normal is also the day after Imodium.
GP tested for coeliac (negative) and the ca125 for ovarian cancer (normal) but not blood? They never even called me with the results, I just see them on the nhs app. The GP suggested it may be IBS and was sceptical of cancer.
fast forward a few months…
I have had bright red blood when wiping but also blood in the stool which looked dark red. I sometimes get breathless but I do have asthma too. I have occasionally seen mucus.
my bloods last week showed I am anaemic, I’ve been anaemic on and off for the last 3 years (gets better with tablets then when the tablets stop I’m anaemic again)
last two days I have had bloating and abdominal pain that won’t go away. I thought it was trapped wind but it isn’t, I keep strain it on the toilet hoping to go but nothing comes out. It does feel like a sharp pain when I press my stomach.
my husband passed away 7 years ago and I have no family. I am literally terrified of leaving my children orphaned. I’m worried it’s cancer and it’s spread.
im going to call the GP first thing Monday, what should I ask? For a CT scan? If they do an examination with their finger and it’s normal does that mean I’m ok?
any advice? I’m so scared
Hi Pinklady87.
court is of course right - any rectal bleeding should be checked for cause and colonoscopy ìs one of best ways to visually see what's happening in bowel. A contrast CT scan can also be helpful to see what is happening in and through bowel wall.
In England, the 2 week waitlist (also known as fast track or 2WW) has frustrating weaker assessment criteria for people under 50. Thus I would recommend asking the GP to do digit (finger) examination which can help confirm rectal bleeding and check for simple causes. GP can also check for CEA protein marker in blood, though this may not rise in everyone with bowel cancer.
And of course, remind GP of your abdominal pain, change in bowel habits and anaemia.
GP should then be able to order you a FIT test (sample done at home and sent off to measure level of blood in stool) in parallel to putting you on 2WW (means each investigation step should ideally occur within 2 weeks of each other) for investigating if cancer.
