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Hi,
I’m a 24 year old male who has been experiencing belching, stomach discomfort, fatigue and loss of appetite when I wake up. I’ve been experiencing this for about a year now but haven’t really paid any attention to it until recently after hearing Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer which I researched about.
I’ve been paying attention to my stool recently and there’s always black specks and sometimes a little red area within the stool.
Am I overreacting or should I be worried?
Hello and thanks for sharing and posting. I'm sorry to hear about the discomfort you are experiencing. Re: Chadwick...the colorectal cancer community is mourning the loss of such an incredible guy, and philanthropist. We hope that his loss will raise awareness and I'm glad to hear it has you reaching out.
The short answer is that if something feels off, you need to get it checked out by a specialist.
Everyone is different and by a picture alone even a doc won't be able to diagnose just looking at the stool. I recommend that you start with your primary care or even a gastroenterologist (some insurance requires you to first see your primary care).
Keep track of what's going on so that when you see your doctor you can tell them what you've been experiencing. Keeping a diary that tracks food, exercise and bowel movements can be useful (and may show you a pattern).
The fatigue and loss of appetite could be so many things but you'll only know for certain if you get it checked out.
Please reach out to your health care provider for an appointment. And DO keep us in the loop.
Be sure to bring a notepad and paper (and any notes you took ahead of time). Most of us get to the doctor and totally forget all the things we wanted to let him or her know about!
Please keep us posted,
Nicole @ GCCA
Just get yourself to your GP and start the process to get checked out..
It's probably nothing, but you'll worry until they have told you so.
I am considerably older than you and had blood in my stool once only, but I was beside myself with worry.. Just turned out to be an internal hemorrhoid..
I would advise anyone with any doubts, to please get yourself checked out by your GP.
Your very young but some of them symptoms I also had and I found out I had bowel cancer is there blood in your stool, your probably ok but I would get it checked for peace of mind. Good luck
May I ask what are your symptoms? I had bloodly mucus a couple times after diarrhea over the last few years so I am very worried thanks
Blood in the stools, couldn’t empty my bowels properly thin stools, stomach pain, feeling fatigued, some weight loss
Hi, I really hope you are doing okay, when were you diagnosed with bowel cancer? And is that different from rectal/colon cancer?
Bowel and colon I think is the same,I was diagnosed in June 2018 had an operation 4 weeks later and am completely cured now, I didn’t need chemo because they caught it early I get a ct scan and colonoscopy around. Every 12 months, but because of covid19 it’s taking a little longer but I feel fine now thank god
Thank God they caught it early. I am having same symptoms but no pain or weight loss but cramping, gassy, thin stools, consistency and blood in it. What will you say? The dr gave me a referral for anoscopy
I had thin stools with blood I didn’t lose much weight but I was fatigued and couldn’t open my bowels properly
Did you go for a colonoscopy right away? Or they assumed it was hemorrhoids?
They weren’t keen to send me for a colonoscopy untill I told them that bowel cancer ran in my mother’s family and she lost a lot of her brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews to bowel cancer , so I had the colonoscopy within one week and had the operation about 3 weeks later. It was wonderful how quickly they dealt with it. I owe my life to them. Thank god
Did they had any idea for how long you had cancer? If you were on stage 1. It really sucks how quick cancer develops to other organs.
They didn’t say but it does take quite a few years for cancer to develop
Thank you for responding. My symptoms just started maybe 3 months ago with constipation only and just 4 days ago with the symptoms I described so if it’s something serious I hope we caught it soon enough.
How old are you
Just turned 29
I think you are very young for it to be cancer
Thank you, this calms me a little, but it’s weird because of the symptoms I am having and family history of cancer but no colon cancer.
I would get a colonoscopy just to ease your mind good luck and god bless
I will thank you. Once I get my results I’ll let you know. And of course other people here who are experiencing same symptoms.
Hi. May i ask how thin your stools were before you were diagnosed?
My stools were very thin because my colon was blocked
As thin as a pencil?
NeArly as thin as a pencil, and I had to strain to empty my bowels.
Did your stool alternate from nearly as thin as a pencil to a bigger size or was it always thin? Sorry to be asking so many questions.
They were always thin
I see. Are you fine now though?How long did you wait until to have a colonoscopy when you started having the symptoms?
How old are you if you don’t mind me asking?
52 I was 50 when diagnosed
Oh were your stools the same size as the picture above on this post or is it thinner
Why tell someone that their symptoms mimicked yours and you had bowel cancer; this forum is for comfort and advice, not scare mongering 🙄
Hi Stomachache123 - checking in on how you are doing - were you able to make an appointment to see a doctor? If not, please do!
Scared of Colon/Bowel Cancer 
Colon Cancer Diagnosed
Just diagnosed with colon cancer
How long for colon cancer to develop?
I’m worried I have colon cancer 
