Scared 20 year old, please read.

  About a month ago as i was useing the restroom i had a burning pain. When i wiped there was some blood on the toliet paper. Bright blood. Well in trying to figure out what was wrong with me I came across a page telling the symptoms of colon cancer. This kinda scared me. Since then I've noticed that my stools seem rather thin. I usually have a bowel movemnt once or twice a day with not much stool, i've never been constipated or anything. I guess what im wondering is could my thin stools be do to blockage or maybe from colon cancer? I don't have any stomach or abdominal pains or any other symptoms. My mom thinks its from the lack of fiber in my diet, i hardly get any or most of the time none from what i eat. Should i go see a doctor to put my mind at ease or am i just overreacting? Thanks

[HFHSM.D.-rf]

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Dear Help me,
Blood per rectum ( as you describe) can be due to a number of causes.  Among the more common ( given your age) are rectal fissure and hemarrhoidal bleeding.  Colon cancer can occur at your age but is unusual unless you are in a family which has had at least 2 members with colon cancer (first degree relatives to each other and one of these two had the cancer before age 50) and/r there are several family members with gynecologic cancer.  Sporadic cancer can occur in young adults but is unusual.
I suggest that you increase the amount of fiber in your diet (salads, whole wheat bread).  The only way to allay your concerns regarding colon cancer is to see aphysician who will do a sigmoidoscopy ( examine the lowest part of the colon with a telescope).
This information is presented for educational purposes.  Ask specific questions to your personal physician.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: rectal bleeding, colon cancer
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