Several different doctors told me this.I was pushing an later at times blood would pour out of my backside.I had numerous times busted blood vessels.Well that was when I was young .But doctor always said as long as blood id fresh no worry.Its old blood that we all need to worry about.So for future reverence I thought id mention that.I don't think you have anything to worry about.If that concerns you sweetie you're gonna be on here many times.You haven't even begin to enter the problems woman have.I know this is a unisex thing.But woman go through All kind of stuff.From keeping up Mammograms,Female issues,hot flashes,pregnancy,Bladder pressure.Your journey "Has only just begun".......I'm having terrible rectum pressure for weeks.Feels like labor but only the wrong hole.It's constant an nerve racking.I've no insurance.So I tell people not to do exactly what I'm doing but I'm getting curious an I've found so many people who have this.I've found a guy who sounds exactly like me.Trying not to think the worse.
Bowel movements change from the things you eat, vitamins you take, and how hydrated you are... Blood in the stool is the biggy, (my nan passed away from it many years ago and I remember my Mum told me that is how she knew the second time she was diagnosed with it. I am not even sure if people at 20 even really get it. It stems from polyps that take 10 years to become cancerous.
Try to eat healthy, lots of fiber (may be bran or oat meal with flaxseed for breakfast?). I am sure that you are fine. Let us know how it goes!!!
Two other things can cause your bowel movements to change as well. Celiac Disease and Intestinal Candida Overgrowth. Take a look at those. Hope this helps.
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Jeeze.........OK, I "won't even tell you to see a doctor."
Do I have your permission to say I think it's a good thing that you are?
You say that over the past two months, you've had a range of different bowel movements, but in your Google inventory of colon cancer symptoms, you checked "no" in the box that asks if your stools have changed.....we'll just assume that in YOUR opinion, they haven't. Have some/most of these been "normal" for you? Diet, medications, stress.....all of these can play a part in how our stools change. None of us has exactly the same kind of stool every time we have a bowel movement. I personally have had some really fascinating ones and if it wasn't stool, one could almost call it "art!"
Colon cancer normally presents as dark, tar-like stools, which is caused by blood in the stool. Have you had any stools that look like that? And it wouldn't just be one, it would be virtually every bowel movement. Have you passed fairly large amounts of blood with your bowel movements? If you are passing "frank" blood, which means FRESH blood, and trust me, you'd know it if you were, then those two symptoms might indicate colon cancer. Roids WILL often cause bleeding, but it is usually very slight, you may or may not notice a small amount of blood ON the BM in the bowl and a small amount on the toilet paper. This is very common and nothing to worry about. While hemorrhoids CAN develope at almost any age, 20 is usually on the young side. If you know you have them, do not strain while having a bowel movement. That is not a good thing to do.
Since all of your other "markers" were negative, I would say your chances of having colon cancer are virtually nil. Again, your age in very much in your favor.
And to your question about not having a bowel movement for a day and then having a bout of something like, "but not quite," diarrhea, that's normal as well and more than likely related to diet. Many of us skip a day or even two, and that also is nothing to worry about.
Your doctor will probably have you do an at home blood occult test which is where you get to dig around in your poo and send off a sample to a lab for them to check for any hidden blood. This is called "early dectection" and if one were to have colon cancer, it's the best chance to catch it early and cure it. But, I don't think you have colon cancer. You probably will be told to watch your diet, as in lay off the fast food and junk, and add more fiber.
Do let us know how you are.
Peace
Greenlydia