23 year old female pregnant 26 weeks. Over the past two months I have noticed bright red blood on the end of my stool off and on approximately 4-5 times. I had a phone call doctors appointment a week ago and my doctor immediately said it was hemorrhoids although I was not comfortable accepting that so easily, so, a few days after that she had me in to her office and visually inspected my anus and preformed a DRE. She said she could see a large vein and also felt some internal swelling which was most likely a hemorrhoid. She again said this is not a colon cancer case. Although, her previous dismissal of my concerns and quick assumption of “there’s no way it’s colon cancer your 23 and pregnant” has made me second guess her diagnosis. Do you think I should try and get a second opinion? I should mention I have horrible health anxiety and I can’t tell if this mental disorder is affecting my ability to accept a diagnosis or I should push harder for more tests.
I have made myself sick with worry and have also spent countless nights crying myself to sleep because of fear and stress.
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Skdj
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Thank you for taking the time to reply I really appreciate it.
I don’t have any constipation or straining while on the toilet and my BM are regular. I told my doctor this and she said it’s possible to have hemorrhoids without constipation especially if you’re pregnant. I’m just still concerned if she’s dismissing me and not doing everything in her power to ensure that it’s not colon cancer. I’ve seen so many people say how they’re doctors don’t listen to young people regarding colon cancer now I’m scared I’m one of those people.
Hi there pls dont worry yourself sick I too have health anxiety although I'm 61 as always been healthy apart from the kids never been in hospital..I had bright red blood quite alot a few times last year but constipation had always been a issue with me straining etc...i had horrific pain lower left pelvic area had a ultrasound wasnt gynie so did a fit test poo test came back positive omg I was besides myself like you..googled everything convinced myself colon cancer had a colonoscopy..it was nothing no polyps no nothing put it down to ibs and straining...so all that worry that made me feel sick for nothing...if u still feel uneasy see a gastro specialist if you can afford to go private around 150.00 tell your gp you want a referral I'm sure its nothing at all but I know with health anxiety it does not matter who tells you this ..they to up your fibre if you have constipation since then I eat more fibre abs fruits less sugar and gojng to the loo everyday now ...try it hun best wishes I know how u feel xx
Thank you for sharing your experience here. I'm so glad to hear that your colonoscopy was clear and that you have made diet changes and have peace of mind over the colorectal cancer fears.
Did they advise you when you'll be due for your next colonoscopy? 10 years is often the time frame when you have a clean colonoscopy and no symptoms. If symptoms persist or get worse, consider talking to your doctor about other options for how to best manage and hopefully reduce or even eliminate symptoms.
Was it determined why your FIT came back as positive? I imagine due to blood in the stool being obviously present?
Thanks again for sharing, and we're so glad your colonoscopy was a success and all clear.
~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.
Hi re my fit test they never said why blood was present I expect it was as I've always strained to have a BMI and sometimes seen blood but hadnt for months it's very strange and I'm trying to reassure others on here not to fear the worse I have health anxiety and it makes everything 100 times worse I have changed my diet more fibre more fruit etc less sugar and so different I go each day now so I'm hoping that this small cyst in my pancreas is harmless it was only 5mm due to have another ct in 12 months I did pay to see a private gastro really for peace of mind he said i was low risk but hes waiting to see my xray so I'm hoping once again my health anxiety dose not kick in as usual.. its very debilitating..this forum is great and it's nice to support others x
Hello Skdj ,Thank you for posting and I'm sorry to read about not just your symptoms, but the anxiety it is causing you. You have a lot of other things that you need to focus on in terms of a healthy pregnancy, and I'm sure this is adding a ton of stress.
As hard as it is, try to not let the anxiety get to you too much. (I know that it is a lot easier said than done!). Our GI systems are very sensitive to stress and anxiety, and can make symptoms worse. I know that's basically asking you to run a marathon in flip-flops - but unfortunately when it comes to anxiety, our GI system gets hit really hard with our stress levels.
We can't offer medical advice and even if we could, I'm not a doctor, and even if I was, no one can tell you if you have colon cancer by reading your symptoms on the internet. Health anxiety is real, and if you scroll through posts, we have many members who are struggling with health anxiety. It seems to have increased with COVID, and I'm wondering if there's a connection there, that we're all on heightened alert about health.
I am disappointed to hear that your doctor said that it's no way that it is cancer because you are 23 and pregnant. Yes, pregnancy often causes hemorrhoids and many other GI issues, but there is no truth in anyone being too young for colorectal cancer.
I do NOT say this to stress you out further. I say this only because when rectal bleeding is involved, we always want tests performed. It is further complicated in that you are pregnant because testing may be limited as to not hurt the fetus.
90% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed in individuals over the age of 50. However, more people under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and we take those rising incident rates very seriously.
There are many reasons for blood in the stool, some are very treatable with medication (over the counter or prescription), diet change, and minor procedures, and of course, there are more serious reasons for blood in the stool as well. It is further complicated due to your pregnancy, but it is possible to have colorectal cancer while pregnant. For that reason, we always advise patients to seek medical care when they have blood in the stool.
Many many people who post in our group are sure that they've got colon cancer, and thankfully, most of the time they do not. We do believe that if something is "off" it is very important to get it checked out. Sometimes that means changing Doctors. If you do not feel that your Doctor is taking your health concerns seriously, they may not be a good fit to be overseeing your medical care.
My advice would be to continue to seek a second opinion, and find out what your options are as far as screening as you are pregnant. This can vary by country and provider of what they can/will do for screening when pregnant.
Keep being your own health advocate. I can understand second-guessing yourself because of your health anxiety, and that's good that you are aware of your health anxiety. But just because you have health anxiety, does not mean that you should accept your symptoms and not push for further tests. The level of stress this is causing you is not healthy, so while you are continuing to seek answers from doctor(s) regarding screening, if you are not currently speaking with a mental health professional regarding the health anxiety, please consider doing so. Talking to a trained professional can make a world of difference.
I hope I have not caused you additional stress. My goal is to encourage you to continue to follow up and seek a second opinion and develop a plan with a medical team that is taking your concerns seriously.
Please keep us posted. We're here for you.
~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.
Sounds like a hemorrhoid to me. Got similar complain, got colonoscopy done & diagnosed to be Grade 1 hemorrhoid. Besides hemorrhoids are common in pregnancies. Take it easy, your anxiety can Cause problems as well
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