Please answer my question

[bgb1976]

I have had red in stool for over a year now. I have never seen any in it, just always on it. It is bright maroonish red. I am 33 and scared to death. I have been to a rectal dr. he did a rectal exam of some kind in the office. Not sure what he used. Had a light on it and he said nothing was abnormal at all. he then said he felt i should get colonoscopy to find out why I am bleeding. Sometimes it is streaked all the way down on my reg bowel movements. Other times when I have a hard time or my stool is in pellets it looks covered in red, but it looks stringy like. I have had no weight loss, I eat just fine. I go to bed about 9 30 or 10. Get up about 3 x's a night and check on kids, and then I am up at 545 am. Then I go for rest of day. I know its not normal I know I need to follow through with colonoscopy I am just so scared they are going to tell me the worst and that they can't do anything. I have some abdominal pain but it stays n one spot. Above belly button to the right up about 2 in..I had 3 rounds of bloodwork done within a year, and I was never anemic (thats good I hope). Just scared.

[pleasehelp909]

I am 38 year old female when i was 14 i started passing out for reasons unknown dr. said i was dehydrated  well this happen about every 6 months until i got pregnant with my child which is 15 and has only happen about 3 times since but when i awaken my stomach was in bad cramps and had to have bowel movement everytime. After i have had my children i have had severe stomach pains, hemmroids, rectal bleeding i went to see many dr. found one that said i would have to eventually have a hysterectomy cause of endometriosis and i did she did a partial i then hurt really bad and keep bleeding have periods she said i was fine, so i seeked another dr. when he did test he said immediately i still had severe endometriosis that i should and still needed a full hysterectomy so he went back 3 months after my first surgery and completed it both ovaries, appendix, and discovered a hernia on my bowel which was stuck to my wall all this was in 2009 and now i stay constipated, have rectal bleeding (had colonoscopy), severe stomach and side pains sometimes shoots through my back, hemmeroids, feel fatigue, and feverish legs we have did ct's, ultrasounds, and many other test they say they cant find anything but it has to be something wrong as bad as i hurt with these symptoms but me and my dr. are lost cant find anything to diagnose.

[bgb1976]

Hi there, I had my colonoscopy about 6 weeks ago and they removed a Adenoma Polyp. I am only 33. That is what was causing my bleeding. Now I have to go every 4 years but that is ok. Just wanted to update on that.

[azenap]

Colon cancer is may be so familiar to us to hear, you know why? It is because colon cancer is third of the most common cancer in the whole world and second cancer related cause of death in Western countries. The biggest risk factor of this disease is age, hereditary (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer), our racial or ethnic group, and of course, our diet. If you have a history of colon related disease, this could have a higher risk to have a colon cancer.

The most common symptoms of this disease are sudden change in bowel habit, bloody stools, abdominal pains during the bowel movement, blood in our rectal area, feeling of fatigue, and sudden or unexplained weigh lose. Also, colon cancer is linked to our diet. Nowadays, most of our diets are composed of meats and fatty foods. Many of us indulge on fastfood and junkfoods which makes our colon suffer because these kinds of food are hard to process. Our colon is or large intestine is the last part of our digestive track. It extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body. Fibrous food can help the colon on doing its work. Vegetables and fruits are good source of fiber, which helps on regular bowel movement, as a result, helps the colon on waste disposal.

Colon cancer symptoms aren't always obvious, but you can learn what these symptoms look and feel like. It is good to let your physician know when these symptoms happen. Being observant on our health can avoid much risk. If you may notice symptoms of colon cancer in your body, it is a good idea to seek medical advice. Your doctor will advice you to have a colonoscopy. In this process, the doctor will know if the cancer tumor is benign or malignant. Benign tumor can usually be treated. Malignant tumors are cancerous growths and usually scatter and invade.

[Morecambe]

I don't know enough about colon cancer to be able to offer any sort of authoritatave opinion.  All I would say is:-  "got rectal bleeding = consult expert = have colonoscopy unless cause is absolutely minor (anal fissure, haemorrhoids etc)".

My wife's uncle (albeit aged 60+) experienced rectal bleeding for several years and constantly ignored the symptoms.  Eventually, he did consult a specialist who said to him "if only you had come to see us sooner".  He died about six months later from colon cancer.  Don't let this happen to you.

regards
Morecambe

[bgb1976]

I have read that the reason some people are diagnosed with colon cancer at not the latest stages but 1 or 2 is because they let the bleeding go for years thinking its hemorroids. Colon cancer is a slow disease, isn't it?

[Morecambe]

Please do arrange the suggested colonoscopy.  To learn more about the causes etc of rectal bleeding type in "rectal bleeding" to google and click onto one of the many sites - the Medicinenet site is particularly informative.  Then you will be better informed when you discuss the conclusions with your G.I. specialist after the colonoscopy.

You have obviously posted this question on the colon cancer forum because that is what you fear - but there are many less serious causes of rectal bleeding as you will discover from the research that I suggested above.  At age 33 you are very young (and hence highly unlikely) to have developed colon cancer but if the absolute worst befalls, then the chance of a complete cure is much improved by the early diagnosis that you are planning.  

regards
Morecambe