Im terrified I have Colon Cancer

[Gordknight]

So here is the story: (sorry in advance if its long winded)

Last year I weighed 200 lbs (Im normally 165-170).  My wife and I started doing the Insanity work out program and within 2 months I was back down to 165 and feeling great.  We moved to a new city so I could finish my grad degree.  One night a few weeks after we moved my stomach felt very odd.  Hard to explain.  Almost like I had a parasite or something. ( I eat a lot of red meat and at the time I was drinking a red bull almost every day just because I liked em)  The symptoms progressively got worse.  My stomach would constantly be grumbling all the day long no matter what I ate.  I started to have quite a bit of acid reflux as well.  I never noticed any blood in my stool, but my BM's were becoming very random.  Sometimes Id have to go only once or twice a week.  Other times Id go three or four times in a day.  Only a handful of times has the stool be loose enough to call it diarrhea.  The stools are fairly normal looking for the most part, though in color they would be like camo turds (multiple different shades of brown to a single stool).  The stomach pain is all over the stomach, never in one specific spot and sometimes its a burning sensation.  One of the worst parts is the gas.  EVERYTHING gives me gas now.  Even a glass of water is capable of it.  I get alot of belching and flatulents.  Going to have a BM has only been an EMERGENCY two or three times, but all these symptoms have been going on for over three months.. almost four.  I stopped drinking redbull and avoid caffeine as much as possible.  I did stop working out around the time this started happening so I was wondering if that could have caused it.  I am 28 years old (almost 29) and have no history of colon cancer in my family.

I went to my schools GP and he did a lot of tests.  Checked for blood in stool (didnt fin any although he only checked once), did full blood tests which all came back normal.  Did parasite and bacterial tests as well as tested me for Chrons and Celiac disease.  All was clear.  He gave me an antacid and gave me a pill for anxiety that I have been on which sometimes helps and sometimes doesnt.  I am really not a stressed out or anxiety filled person so this perscription struck me as odd.  I have been though for the past 5 years or so an extreme Hypochondriac.  The internet is to blame.  The second I search anything it always points the worst case scenario and I read story after story about people my age having the dx of advanced CC and dying.  

I have scheduled a colonoscopy but the Dr cant get me in till Jan 16th to do it, and Im going crazy thinking the worst.  Ive convinced myself I have colon cancer.  Can anyone give any insight or advice?  Ive read many stories of young adults having symptoms similar to mine and having CC.  My GP said it was IBS but I am getting a colonoscopy because I know that is a dx of exclusion and Id rather pay out my *** (no pun intended) and be safe than sorry.

[ducky406]

Nice! That means whatever is causing your issues, IBS or a food intolerance, hasn't done you any damage and you don't have to worry. Good report :D

[Gordknight]

Good news.  Got my colonoscopy and he said I have one of the cleanest colons he has seen.  No problems whatsoever!  

[Gordknight]

Well my colonoscopy is in 5 hours.. Crossing my fingers... and thanks for the advice!

[mammo]

Colon cancer is extremely rare in someone your age so I wouldn't really worry about that, plus you have no bleeding.  It does sound like you have IBS but burning in the stomach is not indicative of this.  You can have anxiety and not really know it and that's one thing that really impacts our digestive tract.  Certain foods are often the culprit as well.  You obviously have some anxiety from researching things on the internet and being a Hypocondriac.  A lot of worry and stress goes along with this.  You need to not go looking for trouble, trust in your doctors or this anxiety and obcessing over more being wrong will take over your life and I know you don't want that!  Anxiety feeds off of our fears and worries so you want to nip this in the bud now.  Whatever is wrong is minor and treatable, try not to think the worse.  I don't want to see you wake up one day wondering where the years have gone....you will have worried them away.  I hope this helps and best wishes!

[ducky406]

My grandma has been battling colon cancer for the past 4 years, she won't win her battle with it because she waited too long. She ignored blood in her stool, painful bms, gas, and pain for 10+ years. Colon cancer is typically a slower-growing, very treatable cancer -so your worst case scenario is no death sentence considering how on top of it you are.

Personally it sounds more less like cancer and more like IBS/ extreme acid issues or an severe intolerance to something.

It's possible to be intolerant to gluten without being a celiac. And from what you describe it reminds me of my old roommate who is gluten intolerant, but not a celiac. He has a beer and DAAAAAMN he would stink! Used to have to fumigate the entire house whenever he did a poo. He would also get painful gas after eating things with gluten in it. So to rule this out, go off gluten for 3 weeks then  come back to it. Is there any difference?

Also because IBS is an exclusion diagnoses have them look at your gallbladder and thyroid. I've had similar problems to you- the high acidity, constipation-diarrhea and it's due to my gallbladder being on the fritz and my thyroid being under active. Although I personally doubt your thyroid because you were able to loose weight. Males are also less at risk for gallbladder and thyroid issues. But again, IBS is an exclusion so rule out your gallbladder (key foods that effect it are eggs, fried foods, high oils, etc.) and then rule out your thyroid (easy blood test done, which it might have already been done).

For now, try not to panic. Jan isn't that far away and in the mean time you can make a list of foods or activities that make it worse. This will help your doctor with a diagnoses.

Now as far as the anxiety medicine. Keep in mind that a lot of pills can do multiple things. E.g. Viagra was supposed to be a blood thinner; I was once prescribed an antidepressant as an insomnia medication. You may not have an anxiety disorder but if your stomach is producing too much acid maybe something in the anxiety medicine helps by slowing down the production or stopping it. I'm not saying blinding follow your doctor- ask question often- but don't be too shocked if it can work for multiple things.