Please Help Need Answer to Question

Hi, I am a 23 year old female with severe OCD.  I used to worry about having colon cancer among other diseases, about 2 years ago after I saw what I believed to be blood in my stool but I showed it to my mom and dad and they said it was not blood, and got over it after having a internist/gastro doctor he examined me he did not do any actual physical exam expect feeling my stomach and he attempted to do a blood fecal test but could not get a sample to do one.  He said he did not think as far as he could tell that I had any symptoms of colon cancer.  I did have a blood fecal test which was negative about 3 years ago. After seeing the internist/gastro doctor I did an at home colon cancer detection test EZ detect on my own it was clear.  I have done a few them since two years ago and they all have been negative even when I thought I saw blood.  I have had CBC's and they did not show any irregularities. Recently however, I noticed that there was some blood on the toilet paper, I do have a slight cut on the inner part of my cheek, after I wiped I put some of the stool that was in the toliet on to the EZ detect pad and it came up with a positive result for blood.  My questions are first after I read the directions again to see if you could check for blood in the stool this way and it did not say you could but it also did not say you could not, could the fact that I did the test this way instead of following the instructions carefully made the test inaccurate or could it simply be from my cut.  Thank you for your time.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The cut can certainly cause the blood on the toilet paper.  Other causes of blood in the stool would be an anal fissure, hemorroids (hemorrhoids) or inflammatory bowel disease.  Things like colon cancer or a polyp are also possible, but less likely in someone in your age group.  

If there continues to be concern, you can discuss whether a flexible sigmoidoscopy can be considered for further evaluation.  This can evaluate for any polyps, inflamamtion or cancer in the sigmoid part of the colon.  

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.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[surgeon]

As digusting as it may be, the most reliable way to test for blood in stool is to get a sample from the inside of the stool, rather than the surface. Also, it's EXTREMELY rare for a 23 year old to get colon cancer, unless there's a very strong family history of it. Blood on the stool at your age is nearly certainly from the anal surface: hemorrhoids, cuts, etc.

[ddaw899833]

sometimes if you look to hard and examine everything , you will find things that really are not relevant.  Don't get me wrong, blood is but if you know you have a cut in that area than its a good chance that is what it is......I've been reading this web site for about 4 months now, very informative.....but I really just hate to see people worry so much and cause themselves more mental and physical pain.  If you worry all the time and scrutinize everything....you will be miserable and make those around you miserable.  I know from experience, I posted awhile back and worried all the time .  Had test done, and ended up with acid reflux...take aciphex and seem to be doing better...
I'm just saying don't let it take control of your life.  Your body will let you know if there is something wrong.