Riddled with Colon Cancer Fear

[Riddled with fear]

A month ago I was having upper abdominal pain. Thought it was due to the amount of coffee and bananas consumed daily. Went away briefly. Woke up one morning and had diarrhea probably due to some drinking the night prior. It wasn’t until I thought I saw blood that things got crazy. Being the hypochondriac I am, I googled. Since then all I can think about is Colon cancer. Occasionally I convince myself it can be something else but Cancer just keeps consuming me. Since googling I became obsessed with my stool. I don’t know if it’s always been this way but it doesn’t seem normal. While it’s formed, it’s soft. I wouldn’t say it is as thin as a pencil but it’s not thick. I really don’t know what flat ribbon means but it’s does appear stringy sometimes. The color always changes from yellowish brown to dark brown. I have visited the GI Doctor and showed him pictures just for a piece of mind. He agreed it is a little soft but wasn’t concerned as it was still forming. However the more I read, the more I feel. I now have a feeling that I have to go but nothing happens. Some days I go once, other twice but in the last two days I went 3 times. REALLY SCARED. I don’t know if it’s nerves, I don’t know if I’m manifesting symptoms by reading, or if it really Cancer. I’m scheduled for an endoscopy and ultrasound. However, he stated he doesn’t feel a colonoscopy is warranted at this time. There’s times I’m ok and maybe it’s because I’m preoccupied. But most times I’m alone and overthink constantly. Please anyone chime in. I need to hear from others. The biggest fear right now is the feeling of having to use the bathroom and nothing happening. Stomach pain however has been decreasing daily

 

[Julieann90]

Sorry to hear you have concerns over colon cancer. I went through this fear last year, found a soft lump outside my bottom. Wasn’t overly worried, until I started getting abdominal pain, itchy anus, pain in the anus, looser stools, change in the colour, and even blood. I was obsessed with checkin my stool daily! I would go like clockwork, every morning I wake up I go that’s it. I called the doctor they examined me and felt “bumps” (their terms) inside. By this point I was absolutely distraught thinking i had some form of bowel/anal cancer. The doctor referred me for a sigmoidoscopy to check for hemorroids. I was adamant something was wrong. I didn’t wait long for the appointment, had very lovely surgeons and nurses, having the sigmoidoscopy, immediately the surgeon said I can already see the problem, I freaked, he said no no it’s just a skin tag left over from a hemorroid and in loud clear words “NO CANCER THERE” and would you believe it, within 24 hours all of my symptoms went! Completely gone. Massive relief. Recently I have been going to the toilet twice a day which is not normal for me, no change in stools still soft but formed, no bleeding, but I have put it down to the fact I have started to eat a lot more fruit than I would normally, especially grapes haha so I’m putting it down to that! Hope you are ok, sorry for the long post but thought I’d share my experience as is with HA often think it’s cancer when it’s simply nothing serious at all, and the anxiety DEFINITELY brings on more symptoms!

Sorry to hear you have concerns over colon cancer. I went through this fear last year, found a soft lump outside my bottom. Wasn’t overly worried, until I started getting abdominal pain, itchy anus, pain in the anus, looser stools, change in the colour, and even blood. I was obsessed with checkin my stool daily! I would go like clockwork, every morning I wake up I go that’s it. I called the doctor they examined me and felt “bumps” (their terms) inside. By this point I was absolutely distraught thinking i had some form of bowel/anal cancer. The doctor referred me for a sigmoidoscopy to check for hemorroids. I was adamant something was wrong. I didn’t wait long for the appointment, had very lovely surgeons and nurses, having the sigmoidoscopy, immediately the surgeon said I can already see the problem, I freaked, he said no no it’s just a skin tag left over from a hemorroid and in loud clear words “NO CANCER THERE” and would you believe it, within 24 hours all of my symptoms went! Completely gone. Massive relief. Recently I have been going to the toilet twice a day which is not normal for me, no change in stools still soft but formed, no bleeding, but I have put it down to the fact I have started to eat a lot more fruit than I would normally, especially grapes haha so I’m putting it down to that! Hope you are ok, sorry for the long post but thought I’d share my experience as is with HA often think it’s cancer when it’s simply nothing serious at all, and the anxiety DEFINITELY brings on more symptoms!

Also I forgot to add, I lost 10lb in weight between September and November (that was my appointment in November) I was adamant something was wrong. I continued to lose weight afterwards which made me think something else was wrong. I’m putting that down to anxiety too. I lost a whole stone. But in the last month I am almost back up to my original weight. My other half says, “ most women would be happy to lose weight, why aren’t you?” Becuase when I have health anxiety I assume the weight loss is because I have cancer in my body!!!

 

[Riddled with fear]

Sorry to hear you have concerns over colon cancer. I went through this fear last year, found a soft lump outside my bottom. Wasn’t overly worried, until I started getting abdominal pain, itchy anus, pain in the anus, looser stools, change in the colour, and even blood. I was obsessed with checkin my stool daily! I would go like clockwork, every morning I wake up I go that’s it. I called the doctor they examined me and felt “bumps” (their terms) inside. By this point I was absolutely distraught thinking i had some form of bowel/anal cancer. The doctor referred me for a sigmoidoscopy to check for hemorroids. I was adamant something was wrong. I didn’t wait long for the appointment, had very lovely surgeons and nurses, having the sigmoidoscopy, immediately the surgeon said I can already see the problem, I freaked, he said no no it’s just a skin tag left over from a hemorroid and in loud clear words “NO CANCER THERE” and would you believe it, within 24 hours all of my symptoms went! Completely gone. Massive relief. Recently I have been going to the toilet twice a day which is not normal for me, no change in stools still soft but formed, no bleeding, but I have put it down to the fact I have started to eat a lot more fruit than I would normally, especially grapes haha so I’m putting it down to that! Hope you are ok, sorry for the long post but thought I’d share my experience as is with HA often think it’s cancer when it’s simply nothing serious at all, and the anxiety DEFINITELY brings on more symptoms!

Also I forgot to add, I lost 10lb in weight between September and November (that was my appointment in November) I was adamant something was wrong. I continued to lose weight afterwards which made me think something else was wrong. I’m putting that down to anxiety too. I lost a whole stone. But in the last month I am almost back up to my original weight. My other half says, “ most women would be happy to lose weight, why aren’t you?” Becuase when I have health anxiety I assume the weight loss is because I have cancer in my body!!!

Thank you for your response. I’m happy you are doing well and it wasn’t any thing sinister. I pray for the same result. It’s overwhelming because what initially scared me has subsided and now it’s this feeling of needing to poo and nothing happening. Of course what I’ve read about it all points to the worst

 

[Julieann90]

Thank you for your response. I’m happy you are doing well and it wasn’t any thing sinister. I pray for the same result. It’s overwhelming because what initially scared me has subsided and now it’s this feeling of needing to poo and nothing happening. Of course what I’ve read about it all points to the worst

My sister in law also went through something similar, every time she left the house she instantly needed to go to the toilet. Once she had had therapy and meds for anxiety it all cleared up and went away. Maybe it’s anxiety, you are constantly thinking about the issue and it’s going to make you need to go even more.

 

[Riddled with fear]

So yesterday I went to the bathroom and had what appeared to be a normal bowel movement (long formed log). However, after using the bathroom my lower back started hurting which drove my fears through the roof.
later that evening my stomach again started cramping. I’m just so overwhelmed already and going back and forth with the fear of either stomach or colon C. I don’t know how to focus on anything else. I’m always focused on using the bathroom since I haves sensation of having to go but nothing happens.
all replies are appreciated.

 

[Belizz]

Hi Riddle, I have a variety of digestive disorders in my family, on both sides. Including IBS, UC, stomach ulcers, gastritis, gallbladder disease/stones, polyps and food intolerances. Not to mention hemorrhoids, me having some of these ailments and picking the short stick of genetics when it comes to hemorrhoids is not helping.

Many people in my family mentioned having bleeding problems during toilet visits, but none of them have or had colon cancer,
I know that even irritated and inflamed colon can cause slight bleeding, also your back hurting means your colon is upset somehow. I have IBS and gallbladder problems and I always have my abdominal and back pain after I visit the toilet, not before. Those you describe in your last post are IBS symptoms. Bleeding is not an IBS symptom but keep an eye on it, if it doesn't happen frequently I really wouldn't worry.

I suggest you talk to a professional about your worries, they will tell you if it needs to be addressed or not.
Just have it checked to be on the safe side if you can't keep your mind away from it, but don't stress yourself because most likely it's not a major issue. You may have hemorrhoids and as far as I know the internal ones bleed but they usually don't cause discomfort.

 

[Fraser]

loud clear words “NO CANCER THERE” and would you believe it, within 24 hours all of my symptoms went! Completely gone. Massive relief.

I would believe that because that has happened for me several times. It's not that the symptoms were all in my head, but rather I became laser focused on them in a way that I was conscious of them all the time. Then when i didn't think it was because I was dying, real life stepped in and the symptoms faded to the background where they belonged.

 

[Riddled with fear]

Hi Riddle, I have a variety of digestive disorders in my family, on both sides. Including IBS, UC, stomach ulcers, gastritis, gallbladder disease/stones, polyps and food intolerances. Not to mention hemorrhoids, me having some of these ailments and picking the short stick of genetics when it comes to hemorrhoids is not helping.

Many people in my family mentioned having bleeding problems during toilet visits, but none of them have or had colon cancer,
I know that even irritated and inflamed colon can cause slight bleeding, also your back hurting means your colon is upset somehow. I have IBS and gallbladder problems and I always have my abdominal and back pain after I visit the toilet, not before. Those you describe in your last post are IBS symptoms. Bleeding is not an IBS symptom but keep an eye on it, if it doesn't happen frequently I really wouldn't worry.

I suggest you talk to a professional about your worries, they will tell you if it needs to be addressed or not.
Just have it checked to be on the safe side if you can't keep your mind away from it, but don't stress yourself because most likely it's not a major issue. You may have hemorrhoids and as far as I know the internal ones bleed but they usually don't cause discomfort.

Thank you for your response. I never actually saw blood. I saw what I thought was blood but was most likely food. This is what started the fear. I probably would have felt better knowing that for the first time in more than a week my stool was longer and fuller. TMI had I not had the lower back pain after. I would like to think an obstruction would consistently cause thin stool it in fact was a tumor. However I definitely appreciate you responding. Sometimes you get in sites just seeking other experiences and no one answers

I would believe that because that has happened for me several times. It's not that the symptoms were all in my head, but rather I became laser focused on them in a way that I was conscious of them all the time. Then when i didn't think it was because I was dying, real life stepped in and the symptoms faded to the background where they belonged.

I’m working very hard to distract myself. Last week I was a little busier and found that I didn’t really feel these symptoms. It’s times that I’m alone and all I do is think which leads to focusing more on the next pain I’ll get. It’s like I’m always focused on the next time I’ll use the bathroom or if the feeling is truly there. Thank you for your response

 

[Riddled with fear]

Hello all. Back again in the hopes of feedback. I used the bathroom Wednesday and passed what I believe is a parasite. I started taking woodworm black walnut and now my poop looks soft and Sandy. Has anyone ever taken that before? Prior to that I had two days with normal poop, well at least I think so since it’s wasn’t thin.
will any tumors or obstructions cause the stool to always be narrow or can it still be normal? So scared of CC. It’s consumed me to the point where I’m always focused on a bowel movement. An I tricking my mind to feel that way.

 

[Izthewiz]

It's not your fault you have a fear of cancer its pounded into our minds left in right.
Good news 2/3 of people never get cancer.
My wife good friends husband just lost the battle with stage 4 colon cancer at age 42
I've spoke to him a few times his only symptom was horriable fatigue and pregnancy bloating that's it.
A ct scan found a massive tumor.
Stop worrying because even if you're clear you are feeding into fear then the what ifs?
One thing about death is we all get our turn and nothing that we can do about it.