Scared! I have had symptoms and felt a lump in my rectal area.

Hi Marie.

You are definitely not a pain to anybody. You have genuine worries and you have come to the right place to share your worries with.

You know that you don't feel right in yourself and that is always a good indicator. 

It's a pity that your doctor isn't listening to you or taking you seriously and that's the main problem that you have to tackle in the first place.

I'm glad you are going to stand your ground with your doctor because you do need a physical examination just to rule out things like piles.  If your doctor refuses an examination then demand to be referred to the hospital.

It could be something as simple as piles but it could also be more serious and the earlier a diagnosis is made then the better the chance of a cure.

You are very young and I can understand your fear because I've been there 3 years ago when I was 62.......BUT.......if it is cancer then the earlier it's caught, the better.

Hopefully it isn't cancer but you are doing the right thing in demanding that you are taken seriously.  I can't believe that your concerns were dismissed as you being a woman and women get these pains!  That doctor really does need some re-training! 

Please let us know how you go on but please stand your ground and demand an examination/hospital visit. xx

Hi Marianne 

I'm sorry you are so scared and feel that your doctors are not taking any notice of you.  I hope today's visit is more productive.  From what you say you have seen more than one doctor at your practice. 

This is a very difficult situation, I know - I've been there, sent for this test then that - all negative - until one day I went in and said in a very firm but  friendly way "There's something the matter with me, I don't know what it is but I'm ill".   We went through all my symptoms again and decided to send me for a colonoscopy.  

I would suggest you do something similar, stress your problems and say you would like to be referred for a colonoscopy.  Leave your little one with someone so that you can concentrate on you and your problems.  

Bowel Cancer is more common in older people, but young people are diagnosed with it.  Hopefully it will prove to be colitis or IBS but you need to know, and whatever it is, it needs treating now.

Take care,

Lynne

Insist on a flexible sigmoidoscopy (a mini-colonoscopy so to speak). I hope it's nothing but, even if it is rectal cancer it can be cured if caught early enough. Don't be fobbed off - I was lucky as my GP was on the ball and referred me under the two week rule. Other people are not so lucky as it's quite often assumed that young people don't get bowel cancer. This is just bull.

BW

EdP

Hi Marie,

I think you're absolutely doing the right thing by seeking advice and going with your instinct that something isn't right.

I would push for an MRI and a proper colonoscopy. For two years I was going to my doctors asking for tests because I knew things were not right. I had the MRI in 2015 and it showed nothing and then finally got referred for a colonoscopy this past Nov which showed a tumor on my bowel. I've asked several times why nothing was picked up through all the tests I had and was told that GP's just don't look for bowel cancer in young people. I've just turned 33...

I don't want to put fear into you but I do want you to persist with going to the doctor if you know something isn't right. Hopefully these tests will show nothing untoward for you but should anything show up then rest assured that there's a lot of support out there and you'll be in really good hands. 

Hi

 A little defence of the medical side from me

my first show was failing the poo test. I had colonoscopy endoscopy blood tests and scan.

Nothing found as it was to far up my bowel

 Two years later I was on a cruise and suddenly had problems going to the toilet

Came home and had all the tests again  3 were clear  only the colonoscopy found it  and then only just.

 The tumour was growing in the bowel

 They operated it was still in the bowel so no chemo after needed and I am now 3 years clean.

 Ask to have all the tests again  however don't blame them  it can be hard to find  at time

Take care

tony

Hi Tony

Yes, it can be hard to find these tumour if they are in the colon and often we don't have any symptoms but that doesn't mean that we should be fobbed off, particularly if we don't fall into the right statistical group.  I was fobbed off for a year and I was 60, I am not sure what the age criteria is but think it may be 65.  Lots of GPs are't particularly concerned when younger patients present with symptoms but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be taken seriously and all the necessary tests carried out.   Nothing lost if it proves to be IBS or something similar.  

I don't know but I might have been spared chemo had I been taken seriously at my first appointment,  I'm not bitter about this, this is life but chemo isn't nice and if we can achieve earlier detection a lot more patients might be spared going through chemo.  AND look at the saving that would be to our very cash strapped NHS.

Our GPs work hard and on the whole provide a very good service but I feel that they need to be more aware and receive ongoing training into the symptoms of cancer.

That said, Im very pleased to hear that you are well three years on and hope you continue to be so.

Take care,

Lynne

Hi Lynne

 Was not defending them with regard to fobbing us off just thee difficulty in finding it.

My symptoms started when I was 68 and operation at 70

Its not a bed of roses since  I have had legionaires   a blocked heart  and recently two eye operations

 I always enter into sickness with it wont beat me  and crawl out of bed at the earliest oportunity

 The key in my case was to stay on top of the system

 following that staying positive  throughout  the sickness

 I encourage all to go into it  with the attitude that they will not be beaten

 good luck to you as well stay positive always and keep fighting

 Tony

xxx

Hi again Tony

I totally agree with being positive and I have been positive all the way through.  Still worry at times but on the whole I have a very full and busy life.

We are an ageing population and more and more of us are needing more and more treatment for one thing and another and we are lucky to have a health service that provides it.

I was unfortunate to fall in London in December banging my head quite badly.   Paramedic arrived and an ambulance and I elected to go to A&E to be checked over.   Was a bit concerned about the number of people waiting but I was seen quite quickly by a doctor who was very thorough and managed to get the broken contact lens (soft one luckily) out of my eye. We hear such bad report of our ambulance service and A&E but I cannot fault the treatment I received.  Black eye almost gone now but still have a small bump of my head. AND no I hadn't been drinking (lol).   I was on my way into Macmillan's office and was well looked after by them and 'thank you again Michael' if you read this. 

Take care,

Lynne

Well yr stronger than you think and come to the right web site.... seek their support and advise...

You know your body better than anyone else.. believe me you do. yr Drs do Not.... they make assumptoins, they assume the young cannot get bowl cancers, they can... few of course but cancer does not pick and chose....

As many have said demand yr Drs refer you, INSIST on referal to the hospital..... do not take No for an andswer demand it is YOUR right. Under NHS Choices you must be referred. Do not leave the Drs surgery until you get the referralt... last resort is to go to  A&E and demand one but that should not be necessary and long winded way, not necessary

Even if the results are negaitve you owe it yourself and your son. Your life will be much better when action is being taken and things being done.

As many have said the earlier this is resolved the better for your own well being. It really is not an issue,it is not a problem for yr Drs... in fact if yr Dr is not helping see another... BUT get referred. As some have said ask for a flexible sigmoidoscopy, or even a full colonoscopy. IGNORE Drs negative disbelieving reponses, excuses they do NOT KNOW until a full investigation has been done.. no one does. Besides that you have bowl problemsmand that MUST be investigated.

To put it bluntly their own ignorance could Kill you, so protect yoruself your family and do what you already know what is right and Is your RIghts... NHS Choices.

It takes less than 30mins to complete a scan or investigation, OK a bit longer to prepare..... but the actual thing itself 30mins and your done.

Your stronger than you think you are whatever the outcome you know what is right Go for It.....

My Bowl cancer was found at 64.. if found earlier then a cure now I have to wait but chances are good.... 30% of bowl poo tests are thrown away... thats 30% that could become cancers too late....  you are young....wise and know what needs to be done. As an FYI and not to worry you  there is in the Daily Mirror an artcile on a young women of 20yrs with bowl cancer show that to yr Drs wake then Up.

Caught early cure is possible even later stages....

At the Chemo ward I met a young man who was in for throat cancer.... he went to his Drs with a pain in his throat and she intellignetly referred him for a scan... he had very early throat cancer... he is on a  cure chemo.regime as found early. Clever Dr..

Take a friend in with you if needed you can....

Good Luck.... .

Hi Tony

Glad you are all clear now, just goes to show how long a tumour can lie undetected, I had been having symptoms for 6 months in june after a colonoscopy I was diagnosed with bowel cancer. I asked my surgeon how long he thought the tumour had been growing there, he said it could have been over 5 yrs(started as a polyp)

After my resection in july I am now on Folfox until March. Fingers crossed everything will turn out well.