Colon cancer at 27..scared to say the least

Hi. I'm a 27 year old female who weighs around 143 lbs.  Live a pretty sedentary life.  Don't know where to begin.  Over the past 4 years I've had bright red rectal bleeding off and on due to hemmroids I got from my two pregnancies.  During my second pregnancy I got 3 really bad diarrhea attacks within 2-3 months.  They produced bright yellow burning liquid.  Little over a year later the attacks started up again.  Seems as if they always came around my menstrual cycle.  Again it was yellow sometimes really soft stools and bad cramps.  That would alternate with some occasional constipation.  Meanwhile, the rectal bleeding continued off and on.  It usually occurs with a hard stool, and sometimes I get a quick sharp pain like glass cutting me.  Assumed it was an anal fissure.  I never had any itching.

Things started getting worse about a month ago. In the beginning of the month I had really soft stools, they then went to normal but long stools.  I'm also nauseas a lot now.  They other day my stomach felt terrible.  There was a lot of garggaling and boy was a nauseas.  I ate some toast and felt better.  I've also started getting lower back pains which are worse in the morning upon waking and remain as a dull ache during the day.  3 days ago I noticed that the amount of blood coming out with my stools was increasing.  I went to my PCM.  Blew me off.  

During yesterdays BM I had that quick glass like pain again.  Stool was blood streaked.  Later that day I went to urinate and blood came out of my rectum w/out a BM.  I then also noticed that I had a constant pain in my right lower quadrant, plus it was uncomfortable to sit down.  Felt as if something was inside of me.  Went to the ER.  Blood and urinalysis came back normal.  Was not anemic.  Blood counts normal.  He did a quick rectal exam.  Noticed my external hemmroid, and that it was not inflammed or bleeding.  Did still have blood in my rectum.  He strongly urged for a colonoscopy.

Other symptoms this month that are new besides being nauseas and back pain are: increased headaches, and sometimes vision problems.  Also, my lower abdomen seems a little bloated.
My bowel movements for the past few days have consisted of little pellets followed by a larger stool...always streaked on one side with blood.  I've had a BM every day for the past 4 days.  Before that it was every 2-3 days.  Before this previous month they occured everyday. Today I feel kinda nauseas again.  Stomach making sounds like it has for weeks.

Everybody says that because of my age it's probably Hemmroids (I don't have itching) or polyps, but those don't cause you to be nauseas, have back pains and a chronic upset stomach right?  People my age do get it.

Is there anything else that it could be besides colon cancer?  I've pretty much conviced myself it is cancer.  Plus, I feel like it might be spreading due to my nausea, back pain, chronic headaches and vision disturbances. I'm getting a colonoscopy in 2 weeks.  Thank you

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Cancer would be unlikely at your age.  The colonoscopy with give the definitive answer.  

Other causes would be hemorrhoids, an anal fissue, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteritis or diverticulosis.  The colonoscopy can evaluate for some of these other causes.

You also seem to have some upper GI symptoms.  It may not be a bad idea to also have an upper endoscopy to evaluate for GERD, inflammation or ulcers.  A CT scan or ultrasound can be considered to evaluate the liver, gallbladder or appendix.

These options can be discussed with your personal physician, or in conjunction with your GI physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[diamond79]

When I read your message, I swore it was myself writing it! I am 27 as well and I have the exact same problems as you. It all started when I got pregnant with my 3rd child and has gone downhill since. I have bad nausea, bloating, bright yellow diarrhea that burns, hemmeroids(sp?), occasional blood in the stool (don't know if it is due to the hemmeroids or not), dizziness, intestinal cramping, etc. What worries me is I do have a family history of Colon cancer (my grandfather on my father's side died of it and my moms dad had a hereditary type called familial adenomatous polyposis and died when he was just 34). I have not had a colonoscopy yet, but do plan on asking for one soon. I have had every other test possible done because my dr. said nausea wouldn't be related to colon problems (how true that is, I don't know). I thought that maybe these problems were related to having my GB out over a year ago, but some of the symptoms I have had before that. It has my dr. puzzled because all of the tests I have keep on coming back negative. Let me know if you do find something out. I would be interested to know the results of your colonoscopy!

[amythist2779]

You have got to be kidding me. I am also 27 and have 2 kids. I have been experiencing the same thing as both of you. I have had blood streaks in my BM's. I have fibromyalgia which causes some irritable bowl syndrome problems. I am constipated for the most part, but then I go through these phases where I too have the yellow diarrea (diarrhea), and sometimes when I urinate I pass blood through the rectum, and have the glass cutting pain. Earlier today this happened to me. As I was on the stool I was done urinating but still heard something running from me...it was bright red blood dripping from the behind. (gross explanation I know but the only way I can describe it...sorry) I have asked my doc about it once, he said it was probably hemmoroids (hemorrhoids). I didnt know that they could bleed like that. I have been too embarrassed to bring it up again, so I too hope you post letting us know hwat your test results say.

[Kalio1]

never let embarrasment stop you from getting ANY bleeding from bowel movements checked out, dont let your young age stop you either or telling ourself it is only hemmroids or something! I have a girfriennd who had this issue beeding during bowel movements and she FINALLY went to the doctor had the colooscopy and they found a BIG growth. She is not even 30 It saved her life to get over her embarrasment. Go to the DOCTOR and have it evaluated. It is unusual to get these things young but it is NOT impossible. Check it out, it could save your life. Don't be embarrassed, doctors are trained with this kind of issue.

[I'mallheart]

you never know, i know of a 25 yr old who died from colon cancer after going to the doc for three yrs to complain of same symptoms you are..

[SkylerMA]

>my dr. said nausea wouldn't be related to colon problems

My gastroenterologist disagrees--a blockage in the colon causes nausea & vomiting, and my Chronic Ulcerative Colitis also makes me nauseous sometimes.

All of you who are having those symptoms, go to a gastroenterologist (not a general practitioner) and get colonoscopies and whatever other tests they want. There are a lot of things that can go wrong in the intestines besides cancer, but they all need treatment!

[hmwallace]

Had my colonoscopy today.  Everything came back ok.  I do have internal hemmroids though and possible IBS.  Unfortunately, they didn't do an upper GI.  I'm planning on getting that scheduled for my stomach problems.  Do get yourself checked out.  Having a colonoscopy is a piece of cake.  The worst part was when they put the IV in.  I was laying there talking to the nurse when they administered the medicine to sedate me, and next thing I remember I was waking up in the recovery room.  I didn't feel a thing and I still don't.  Like I said it was a piece of cake.

[SkylerMA]

>Everything came back ok.

Yay!

I've had 2 colonoscopies and didn't mind the IVs, just the fasting beforehand and the electrolyte solution I had to drink in 1992--thank goodness that was replaced by the phospho-sodas.

[hopeandjoy]

HAVING A COLONSCOPY SHOULD TELL YOU EVERYTHING. I THINK MOST OF US HAVE SYMPTONS AND TEND TO IGNORE THEM UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE!
FOR TWO YEARS I NEVER FELT GREAT. I MYSELF FELT NAUSEAS ALOT, BUT I NOTICED IT MORE WHEN I WAS IN A CAR. I AM ONE WHO COULD GET CAR SICK, SO I BLEW IF OFF TO THAT. MY BOWEL MOVEMENTS SEEMS TO BE MORE LONG AND THIN, ALMOST LIKE SPAGHETTI, ONCE AGAIN I JUST SAID OH IT IS STRESS. AS A YEAR PASSED OR SO I WOULD GO TO MY MD AND TELL HIM HOW I WAS NOT FEELING WELL, NEVER MENTIONING MY BOWEL MOVEMENTS OR HOW THEY LOOKED. JUST BY WHAT I TOLD HIM, FEELING TIRES, SICK... HE HAD ME DO TEST TO RULE OUT GB PROBLEMS, DID A RECTAL TEST TO MAKE SURE I HAD NO BLOOD IN MY STOOLS. ALL CAME BACK OK. THEN AS ANOTHER YEAR PASSED, I HAD DIARRHEA FOR ALMOST A WEEK STRAIGHT. I MADE MY APPT TO SEE MY MD, BUT DECIDED TO CANCEL IT, ONCE AGAIN I JUST SAID IT WAS RELATED TO STRESS. AT THAT TIME IN MY LIFE I HAD ALOT GOING ON SO IT WAS EASY TO BLAME EVERYTING ON STRESS. MY MOM SAID IF I WERE YOU I WOULD SEE YOUR DOCTOR, YOU MAY HAVE ATE SOMETHING THAT LEFT AN INFECTION AND A PILL COULD SOLVE THAT. WELL THE NEXT WEEK CAME AND ONCE AGAIN I HAD DIARRHEAR REALLY BAD. MY MD SAID I WANT YOU TO HAVE A COLONSCOPY. I MET WITH THE GI DOCTOC, HE DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK ANYTHING MAJOR, BUT SAID I SHOULD HAVE A UPPER AND LOWER DONE JUST TO RULE OUT ANY PROBLEMS. WELL TO MY SURPRISE AND THE DOCTOR, THEY FOUND A HUGE TUMOR IN MY RECTUM. I HAD TO HAVE A COLON RESECTION ASAP. I WAS 42. THE SURGEON TOLD ME IF I WOULD OF WAITED ANOTHER 6 MTHS TO A YEAR I WOULD HAVE HAD CANCER AND PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL YOU THIS. MY MD SAID I HIT THE LOTTERY, THAT IS THE LOTTERY OR LIFE. I STILL HAVE MANY PROBLEMS FROM MY SURGERY, BUT I AM ALIVE. GOOD LUCK!

[TinAla353]

A related discussion, After effects of hemmroid surgery was started.