COLON CANCER SCARE_IBS

[Billyii]

Hello All,

I been following this forum for a couple weeks and. I just wanted to tell me story just in case someone else was freaking out like me. PS my colonoscopy was good. I started having change of bowels at 20 years of age and stomach pain that does not go away. I went to multiple doctors for blood tests an ultrasound. Even the hospital for a chest extra. This was over the span of 2 years. The third year I started seeing occasional blood in my stool and started panicking that it could be colon cancer. Since Christmas my healthy anxiety kicked into over drive. I couldn't sleep I started feeling fatigued and just kept making up more symptoms. I convinced myself I had stage 4 colon cancer. I ended up getting a colonoscopy today at the age of 23 and guess what. My colon was perfectly normal. I just wanted to make this spot to hopefully easy some other peoples worries. Do not use doctor google! I just have a bad case of IBS. Just because you think you have all the symptoms doesn't mean you do but it also doesn't mean you don't. So make sure you get checked but do not jump to the worst case scenario.

Thanks!

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Billyii ,First off - congratulations on the good news. Sorry to hear you have IBS, glad to hear you do not have colon cancer.

Secondly, THANK YOU so much for sharing this in our community. We get many many posts of people that are absolutely sure that they have stage IV colon cancer, as you thought you did.

It is completely understandable why it is possible to think that, you google, you see the same symptoms... but until you get checked out, you can't know for certain. We advocate for people to see their doctors on a regular basis and if you feel there is something "off" with your body, that you get the tests necessary to determine if there is something going on.

Again, we thank you for sharing. If you haven't joined the IBS Network on HealthUnlocked, check it out: healthunlocked.com/theibsne...

~Nicole, GCCA Staff Member & Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[Billyii in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

Thank you, I will join that group!

[allysmith9]

As a 21 year old still trying to find out whats going on with me, this is such a relief to hear. i've been having issues now for going on 2 years and I'm constantly worried. Just wondering if you experienced any lower back pain at all? That's another one of my symptoms and honestly it's the most worrying for me hahaha.

[Billyii in reply to allysmith9]

Hey,

Yeah on my right side lower back I had some pain but I assume that was just from sitting at a desk all day Haha. Literally anything can seem like a symptom.

[Kjojo999]

How were you able to go get tested was it from the previous exams your doctor mention it was fine ? I honestly have been having symptoms of colon cancer. Abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, weight loose, excessive gas,pencil thin stools but I know my doctor will look at me like a fool if I mention this stuff already told him once and told me to take more fiber and drink water

[Billyii in reply to Kjojo999]

He basically told me that I'm most likely fine and doesn't believe I have a problem. He said I can have a colonoscopy if I wanted to help with my anxiety. I said I wanted it and he allowed me to have it. I had pretty much all the symptoms your talking about. I even lost like 5 pounds but that was due to me not eating because of anxiety.