colon/colorectal cancer?

I am 31, exercise regularly, eat a healthy and balanced diet (most of them time :), and I am still about 25 pounds overweight but have been steadily losing for the past year or so.  A few months ago I had a horrible pain in my right side, which the dr. suspected was appendicitis. Many tests were run, including a CT scan and vaginal ultrasound to check the ovaries, and nothing was found except (embarrassingly enough) trapped gas and stool. I was diagnosed years ago with IBS and this runs in my family, but then it seemed to go away; lately, though, these symptoms--gassiness, pain/cramping/spasms in right side, mild nausea at times--have flared up without warning.  After years of hibernation, I question whether this is really IBS. Would a CT scan show cancer? I have hemorrhoids too (three small ones, although one is a strange color). I have no pain on the left side, only the right, which does seem alleviated at times by a healthy diet and exercise.  When the pain continued (although never as bad as the appendicitis suspicion time), I went to my family dr. (I was on vacation when the first attack occurred--fun, huh?) and she took blood and urine samples and everything came back normal. I am still worried b/c she thought I might be diabetic b/c I was complaining of frequent urination; would blood screenings and ct scans, urine tests, etc have given any indication of possible cancers?

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Any change in bowel movements lately? Colorectal cancers will be usually accompanied by persistent change in bowel movement... Just like IBS. You don't want though to confuse something more serious with IBS, which is quite possible. Althuogh you have had a CAT scan done, I strongly urge you to ask your doctor to give you colonoscopy and endoscopy. These are the only tests that can look at your gut lining up close and not miss anything (small polyps, lesions, etc.)

I also am having lots of GI problems - suspecting IBS but doing more testing to rule out other serious causes. Am scheduled for colonoscopy and endoscopy in early May, that way I know FOR SURE that it's IBS and nothing more serious...

Go insist on getting these done!! You have nothing to lose by doing so. :)

Good luck to you and me both!!