What Were Your Cancer Symptoms?

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Hi everyone,

I hope you are well. Was looking for a forum to discuss symptoms as I am very confused and concerned. I would really appreciate any feedback or response.

I am a younger male (under 30). I have been experiencing symptoms ever since I can remember. I am very concerned about anal, rectal, and colon cancer. My questions for you all are below?

1) Is there a difference between anal and rectal cancer?

2) What were the symptom you had prior to going to the doctor?

3) My symptoms are: I notice my stools are narrow and watery. I remember when I was young I had a decent size stool but over the last 3-5 years they are narrow. The stools are light brown and broken most of the time (many pieces). I do not have any blood in the toilet. The only blood I have is on the tissue after wiping and its not a lot. I do have itchiness at night or after stools. After releasing the stool I do notice thats when itchiness happen as well or pain. I do not have unintended weight loss. I am not tired. I run every day and feel fit.

I went to the doctor who said I have nothing to worry about. She sent me to a specialist who said he wasn't concerned. He said he is 99 percent sure its hemorrhoids but in order to be 100 percent he will need to do a colonoscopy.

I do want to mention, when I was younger I did a allergy test. I was allergic to everything about apart from animals. This includes certain types of foods. I do take Lexapro as meds along with multivitamins everyday.

Should I be concerned?

Thanks all!

court over 2 years ago

Hi AmericaGuy

I can’t answer some of your post but I can regarding anal over rectal or colon cancer . It is indeed different and the very end of the anus then comes rectal and after that colon cancer which can be in any location along the colon .

The cell type is often different in the Anus with them leaning more to squamous but can also be skin cancer .

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/anal-cancer/stages-types/types

Thus treatment can also be different for anal cancer .
Rectal cancer treatment and colon cancer treatment can also be different as rectal cancer may involve radiotherapy.

Again various cell types in colorectal cancer so that can dictate treatment pathways .

The colonoscopy is the most robust investigation of the colon . Definitely something to do .

You have a lot of allergies there . Hope you are getting some guidance for them .

Court

Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

Kareno62 over 2 years ago

Hi @AmericaGuy. I’ll try and answer your questions.

1. Bowel cancer tends to be used generally but the position of the tumour can specify the ‘actual’ cancer so rectal cancer means that the tumour is in the rectum and anal cancer means that it is in the anus - the booklet below probably explains it a bit better

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/WhatIsBowelCancer_BowelCancerUK.pdf

2. I had very loose bowel movements and was passing quite a lot of blood into the toilet bowl at the same time

3. The narrow stools could be caused by internal haemorrhoids and the colour could be caused by your diet? The itching could be caused by the clear sticky mucus that the bowel produces when passing stools to help them through your anus or by haemorrhoids.

It sounds like the consultant doesn’t seem too concerned but I’ve attached a link to a symptoms diary that you might like to keep in case you decide to go back to your doctor. Were you offered a colonoscopy? There are a lot of things that have similar symptoms to bowel cancer like haemorrhoids,ibs,colitis etc. and you’ve done the right thing by getting checked out so maybe just keep an eye on things and try not to over-worry as that will only I make things worse?

https://bowelcancerorguk.s3.amazonaws.com/Publications/SymptomsDiary_BowelCancerUK.pdf

Take care

Karen x

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