Could it be Colon Cancer?

[Worried7725]

Ok well lets start off by saying I am 25 years old. My family has a long history of medical problems, ranging from vascular diseases, to colon cancer in my sister who was diagnosed at 35, BUT they assume it had been there for almost 6 years at least! So I have some questions. Two and a half years ago my bowels were normal. Then after I had my daughter they started to change. First I noticed mucous about two months after I had her. Then it started getting worse. I was only going regularly about twice a week, and when I wasnt going, I was only letting out mucous. NO BLOOD at all. Then about a year ago, my bowels started to become thinner, then got to the point where they were pencil thin. Now a year later (two years after first symptom) my bowels are ONLY pencil thin, I have mucous daily sometimes ALOT of it. When I go to the bathroom or feel like I have to go, sometimes or most of the time nothing comes out except for mucous. And when I do go (maybe every other day if lucky), I never feel satisfied.... Sometimes I lie in bed with the urge to go, and try to go and nothing comes out. I have been feeling SUPER sleepy, and has gotten really bad! I also get FREQUENT headaches and joint pains (dont know if they are related). I actually feel terrible almost daily! As a child I had alot of problems, I got pnuemonia monthly which stopped at around 16 when I got the pnuemonia shot, also was diagnosed with an ulcer when I was 12 (which has since cleared WITHOUT surgery) also had a heart murmur but havent heard anything about it since I was a kid, and never have really gotten it checked since then. Also had a problem with throwing up DAILY with overactivity which actually ONLY stopped after I had my daughter, once born I never experienced that anymore, and ALWAYS got frequent headaches since I can remember, and also have been fatigued for the last two years I would say, but has now gotten to the point where some daily activities have even become hard. I have actually become kind of dizzy lately, with light sensitivity to my eyes which radiats a big headache, I have pain in my right eye and cheek bone, and ALSO at the upper part of my nose on the right side between my eyes but on the right side ONLY and also hurts my nose when I chew but doesnt hurt my jaw, and this has started about a month ago now, where it sometimes seems unbearable and debilitating, I do not know if this kind of sign has ANYTHING to do with my bowel symptoms or not, MEANING if it is colon cancer, could it have spread a cancer to my nasal cavity or something? Anyways my question is, do any of my symptoms seem like colon cancer? I have really become worried now after some abdominal discomfort on my left side kind of towards my hip.... I am reluctant I guess to go to my doctor, since these symptoms have lasted a LONG time and just finally I feel so crappy enough that I am worried now. If anyone has any suggestions etc, or thinks I should really get to the doctor, then maybe I will. I just HATE going! I usually am the type to wait until things are unbeaqrable to go.

[mammo]

Due to your sister being diagnosed so young with colon cancer it is imperative that you see a gastroenterologist to determine what is wrong with your bowels.  All your bowel symptoms are what they tell us to seek medical advice on.  The are hereditary colon cancers that run in families, and anytime a young family member is diagnosed, everyone should be checked out.  Plus, if it's hereditary, you need to know for your children's sake.  We have FAP in our family, it is hereditary, and carries other problems with it.  I'm very surprised that your sister's GI hasn't advised that everyone get checked out!  Colon cancer is NOT a young person's disease, there is more to this. Your sister probably developed polyps very young, and they do turn cancerous by age 38.  Don't guess on this, get to the GI and get a colonoscopy so that you can head off something before it's becomes  serious.  If you wait, trust me, you will have to go eventually, so go now while treatment is an option.

[Jaybay]

You're not overreacting at all.  Your body is telling you something is wrong.  I only meant that there's no point in trying to diagnose yourself.  Do you have a regular family doctor who knows you and your history?  That's always a good place to start.  Most people don't seem to bother with an annual physical unless it's a work requirement.  "I'm not sick.  Why do I have to see a doctor?"  You'd be surprised what can show up in a routine exam sometimes.  A physical is also a great opportunity to establish yourself with a particular doctor or practice.  You said it yourself: you know your body.  It's acting differently than it used to, which means it's time to investigate what is causing the change.  

[Worried7725]

No it was a natural birth. I think we all know our bodies pretty well, and can usually deal with things and I am definately that kind of person. I do go to  the doctor if I have a problem etc usually, if its severe enough. Usually brush things off and go on, except obviously infections. I have had sinus infections before, this is not a sinus infection ALTHOUGH alot of doctors LOVE to just call things like that a sinus infection, and maybe thats why I hate going to the doctors! They look at the simple problems, and call it something else! I usually NEVER complain about things, I am not the type. I always keep things to myself and DEAL with em. BUT this is something different now... My headaches etc, I probably wont even mention... that could possibly be a number of small problems, im not too worried about it, EXCEPT when it does get bad enough where I cant even open my eyes, I was just wondering if it could have anything to do with it, or if maybe the dizziness etc is caused by some other problem, etc. Just wanted to see if any symptoms could be related thats why I mentioned it. My biggest concern is my tiredness, my abdominal pain etc and everything related to that. I know my body, and can tell now with prolonging it, something is just not right. Its not normal to go on daily how I feel. I have NO sickness symptoms, EXCEPT the tiredness which I guess can go along with being sick. No stuffy nose sore throat, caughing etc. NOTHING. And the pain in my head is NOT sinus pressure, its something different and ALL the pain is on my right side of the face ONLY. My head hurts on the right side, my cheek and eye hurt, also my neck on the right side near my shoulder, my nose pain is a sharp pain that comes and goes, and gives me a terrible headache lasting ALL day, and get up in the morning sore and hurting, but yet it doesnt hurt to lie down.... also pain in my nose is sometimes like a pulsing sensation, almost tickles if that makes sense and it virbrates to my eye, the sharp pain is usually when I chew... but its not jaw pain, it happens in my eye, and also at the top of my nose where my eyebrow meets and goes into my cheek bone.... But anyways just confirming some things, cause I dont want to seem like an overeacting kind of person, cause it FAR from the truth, otherwise, I think I would be at the doctor if that were the case. I just wanted to see if anyone thought it had ANY possibility of being cancerous cause if not, i dont think I will go to the doctor, but if someone had gotten back saying yes you should dfeinately get checked, maybe I would have, but you guys seem to think its ok, so I will just go with that and deal with my pain like always.

[Jaybay]

There's no point in speculating or obsessing over sypmptoms.  It's a puzzle for your doctor to figure out.  If your daughter's birth was by c-section, you may have bowel adhesions that are causing all the trouble.  Even hormonal changes can cause a lot of the symptoms you're having like the headaches.

Since you admittedly don't see a doctor with any regularity, I doubt all your symptoms are related.  You could have a few easily treated things going on like sinus infection for the headaches, light sensitivity and dizziness.  Even a simple dietary change could make a world of difference.  It's time for a good, thorough physical.

[Worried7725]

ALSO, would like to add.....my FLAT stools, ARE not wide.... My stools are less wide then my pinky witch is small and thin.... lets say a little wider then a straw... about the size of a smaller dunkin donuts straw if flattened...

[Worried7725]

Thank you for that!! You have at least helped me not to worry now!! I appreciate it, the ONLY concern though is the mucous also in combination? ALSO I havent taken much concern to it, so dont know if it is blood or not, BUT normally my stool is a very light brown color, and then somewhere in it there is a good section that is like a mahogony color. This happens almost everytime I go to the bathroom... Like its all light brown then a small spot maybe in two or three places are a dark brownish red color....could this be blood, is the stool supposed to be only one color when most of it is except for a few small spots??? Just wondering if it would be blood possibly? My stools used to be PERFECT, no problems at all, never saw any mucous or anything! Until obviously after my daughter, no habits changed or anything. And sometimes I do get a pain when trying to pass that is somewhere in my rectum even though my stools are usually soft and small.... It does almost seem like SOMETHING is blocking it from coming out.... And also, I read that with EXCESSIVE mucous it is more of a problem usually...cause I HAVE LOTS of mucous, SOMETIMES will just have mucous clinging to the stool other times, could possibly fill a small dixie cup with it, with no stool present!

[gls2824]

You should obviously go to the doctor.  Believe me, colonoscopies are not that bad!  However, your additional post is interesting.  Most people who think they have pencil thin stools don't -- they have flat stools.  Pencil thin stools mean just that -- they look like pencils.  Flat stools that are wide could mean a lot of things including not enough fiber, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, etc.  It actually sounds like you might have IBS.  IBS comes with a lot of other symptoms similar to yours.

Definitely go to the doctor, especially given your family history.  One cancer is ruled out (which it sounds like it will be), the doctor can tell you what to do to feel better.  

[ggreg]

Well, I suppose could be having a baby has goofed up your digestive tract somehow, and so maybe a scan might detect anything serious going on, thus after your family doc checks you out, if he can't fix it, he might refer you to a gastro doc.  But a couple things you could try in the meantime to help your digestion is, based on all your symptoms, to drink plenty of water daily as a habit and add whole grains to your diet, like whole wheat bread or oat cereal.   Also, you can drink Acidophilus milk or eat Activia yogurt for a couple weeks, helps restore good flora to the digestive tract.  Fresh blueberries, a handful a day, also for a couple weeks, helps digestion.  Eat spagetti once a week and eat more salads, too.  It also sounds like a lot of your other symptoms unrelated to your digestion have to do with being a nervous wreck.  Your indigestion plays a part, also lack of regular exercise can do this, not getting enough solid sleep, and not spending enough time just laying around and resting.  Consider going to a professional massage therapist for a few visits, could be your body is still all tensed up from having a baby, you might have some bunched up muscles in your belly, and rubbing out the tension in your muscles might help your digestive system work more smoothly and also might help you with your non-digestive symptoms.  But those thin stools usually mean you're not getting enough bulk in your diet, and that you're getting constipated from not enough water and irregular bowel movements in general, among other digestive problems.

[Worried7725]

Also, i would like to add, my stool is pencil thin ALSO almost square like with PERFECT edges almost!! Like a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGG rectangle almost! Sometimes its VERY long, but its THIN.....and flat with perfect adges....