Any ideas? I’m scared

[Abigail32]

I’m new here 🥰

32 year old female, 5’3, 110 lbs.

I’ve been severely constipated and been having A LOT of blood/mucus in my stool for years now and it’s only getting worse. Sometimes I pass only mucus. Sometimes only blood or some kind of liquid. Fatigue from time to time. No other symptoms. Calprotectin levels came back at 3567. Is this something to worry about?

Doc found a mass 4-5 cm inside my rectum. Having a colonoscopy coming up in about two weeks.

I’m so scared. If it’s not cancer, what else can it be?

Thank you in advance.

[GBP4L]

Hello, do you have HPV? Usually that causes cell changes in your rectum that can cause a tumor. You said they found a tumor but afterwards you’re getting a colonoscopy. How did they discover the tumor? It can possibly be Hemorrhoids causing the bleeding. But you already said it’s a tumor. Please keep me updated. Prayers!

[Abigail32 in reply to GBP4L]

I don’t know if i have HPV. I have had sex, so probably, but never had any symptoms. Haven’t shown up on any Pap smears tho. Doc felt a “mass” 1x2cm with his fingers, 4-5 cm up in my anal canal. He did not use the word tumor and didn’t say anything about internal hemorrhoids.

What’s the difference between anal and rectal cancer?

Last week it’s been a lot worse, feels like I have to go but I only pass this 4-5 times a day. No regular bowel movement for a week now.

I’m actually freaking out a bit

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[Worriednanxious]

Hey did he confirm it was a tumor??? Did he mention it could be internal hemorrhoids?

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

He felt something with his fingers, he worded it “mass” so I don’t know exactly what he meant by that.

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

Okay please update us when you can I have something similar to your pictures and I’m freaking out.

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

Just had some bloodwork done. Hemoglobin looks normal, so maybe there isn’t as much blood loss after all. It’s kinda weird tho, after bleeding like this for weeks now.

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

I know you’re having a colonoscopy soon but in the mean time ask for a sigmoidoscopy it doesn’t require anesthesia or being put asleep, it takes a few minutes and the doc can see what’s in your anal canal, the only difference is the colonoscopy goes all the way up and down to the end of your colon. Ask for that as well because the word “mass” is extremely worrying. They usually do it during a physical exams. Update us if you have any news

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

Here they do the colonoscopy when you’re fully awake. Had it done before, five years ago now. Back then they didn’t find anything suspicious and couldn’t tell where the blood was coming from either. We will see, doc said if I get fever or the bleeding gets worse I should go to the ER, otherwise I’ll wait until the appointment 4/11. I will update as soon as I have any updates

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

So you’ve experienced this type of bleeding 5 years ago as well? Just curious they couldn’t find the source of the bleeding and did it just got worse?

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

Yes, it’s been getting a lot worse over the past weeks now. Been bleeding before but not this much. They didn’t find anything back then, everything came back normal. F-calprotectin level was 379 five years ago, now it came back at 3567.

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

Tbh it might be hemorrhoids if he thinks it’s a mass maybe it’s an enflamed large hemorrhoid. Trying to think positive about this. Did they take biopsies back then in your last colonoscopy if so what did it reveal? And was the bleeding the same or was it a different color?

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

Bleeding was more or less the same, just not as much. I don’t remember if they took any biopsies or not, if they did it all came back normal. I’m trying to stay positive, I’ve had these symptoms for years now , would it have been a aggressive type of tumor I probably wouldn’t be alive today. Maybe internal hemorrhoids? Who knows, we will know for sure in about a week or so. 🤯

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

Okay please make sure to update us. Hopefully it’s just internal hemorrhoids !

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

I will. Thank you for your support. ❤️

[feelsotired]

Hello. I feel really bad for you to go through these symptoms at really young age, I am going through the same, despite the fact that my symptoms are really mild and intermittent, I am still worried about cancer. I just want to tell you that you should not think about the worst scenario first, Your symptoms may sound like hemorrhoid or maybe inflamattion cause mucus is often caused by inflamattion. `You asked about anal cancer, anal cancer is caused by HPV so I think you should get tested for it too. Please keep us up to date, we worry about your condition.

[Abigail32]

I read about HPV and anal cancer... Most common in people with HIV... I’m quite sure I don’t have HIV but who knows... With my luck this could be anything...

Seems like anal cancer often causes sores around and outside the rectum tho, I don’t have anything bothersome around there.

[feelsotired in reply to Abigail32]

do not worry, I'm sure you don't have anal cancer or any forms of cancer. Yes, it is said that colon cancer rises in young adults but it's still rare.

[Abigail32 in reply to feelsotired]

I hope you’re right. I just don’t know what else could possibly cause these symptoms. Only a few days left now. I will update you as soon as I know more.

[feelsotired in reply to Abigail32]

Don't worry, there can be many explanations to this. Wish you health and I'm awaiting news from you.

[4littlemonsters]

I am 34 110 pounds and became severely constipated and passing mucus with some blood, I lost over 10 pounds unexpectedly (going to under 100) and I was convinced it was going to be worst case. My blood work came back ok but I was still so worried. I had a colonoscopy, endoscopy and ct scan and everything came back normal - except there are internal hemorrhoids causing the mucus/blood. Try not to worry. My doctors thought colitis or crohns because even though diarrhea is more commonly associated with those, they can cause constipation in some.

[Abigail32 in reply to 4littlemonsters]

Thank you for taking your time. I hope this is the case for me aswell. Did you have as much bleeding/mucus as seen on my pics? (Sorry they’re very graphic) I never heard about IBD with constipation as the main symptom, but maybe that could be the case then. How are you today? Did you get diagnosed with IBD?

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

Hey I was just wondering when your colonoscopy is for and if you’re doing better?

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

It’s only getting worse tbh. More mucus and blood than before. Not as much pain in my lower abdomen, but feel extremely nauseous all the time. The colonoscopy appointment is coming up next week, Thursday. Will update you as soon as I know more Not looking forward to the prep

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

I’m so sorry… really hoping it’s just internal hemorrhoids, I’ve heard stories similar to yours that ended up just being internal hemorrhoids, they can be pretty bad as well. Fingers crossed! Il be waiting for the update, wish you well

[Abigail32]

So. Update 🥰

Just got back from the hospital. No cancer what they could see!!! 😃

But they took 7 biopsies just in case. Will know for sure in 6-8 weeks. They couldn’t find the source of the bleeding either, more than that the last 10 cm of my bowels are inflamed. Probably IBD they said.

The ‘mass’ that the doc felt with his finger they couldn’t see at all... So I don’t know what to believe. Guess I have to trust them on that.

So both good and bad news!

Will update again as soon as I get the test results back

[Djmessiah in reply to Abigail32]

That’s fantastic news!

[Worriednanxious in reply to Abigail32]

Yayy it’s not cancer! Thanks for updating, hopefully you get to know what it for sure is in a couple weeks!

[feelsotired in reply to Abigail32]

trust me it's really amazing news that it's not cancer ❤ congrats

[Worriednanxious]

Hey Abigail have you received biopsies? Wondering what they reveal

[Abigail32 in reply to Worriednanxious]

Hi 🥰 No, not yet unfortunately. They said approximately 6 weeks. Will update as soon as I can 🙂

[worried9999 in reply to Abigail32]

any news?

[berrry4]

I’ve come on here searching because I am going through something very similar, as much as pictures may be gross I’m looking at yours and thinking it looks exactly the same as the stuff I pass most days, either on its own or with a stool. So glad to read it wasn’t cancer. I am currently awaiting a colonoscopy, the waiting is horrible. Keep wanting to take myself to A&E because I panic badly each time I see so much blood/liquid/mucus. Like you I’ve had this for years and it’s only recently that it’s gotten much worse.

[crocwithquestions in reply to berrry4]

Same Berrry4… I’ve been reading everything I can because I just can’t find answers…. Trying to compare pictures and notes with my own situation. Looking back to stories and asking people how they feel and where their health is now months later.

Everyone is coming back with the better of the news so that positive but it’s still something so weird and hard to discuss.

Is the blood painful? Any pains before or does it just happen?

[berrry4 in reply to crocwithquestions]

It’s horrible isn’t it, I am making myself ill with worry. I’m struggling to know what is anxiety and with is a symptom of whatever is wrong with me.

No pain with the blood, sometimes discomfort before it happens but that’s it. I do keep getting random cramps in my lower stomach though, the cramps don’t make me need to use the bathroom but they are very uncomfortable and it feels like the type of pain you would get with diarrhoea but then nothing happens, after a few minutes it goes away. I don’t know if that’s my anxiety or not though. What symptoms are you getting? xx

[crocwithquestions in reply to berrry4]

So awful. I’m sad to see so many people struggling with the anxiety of not knowing.

All the same symptoms as you.

The blood doesn’t hurt but it is in line with the cramping pains. They don’t last long but it’s getting worse the older I get.

I’ve been dealing with some of these issues my whole life but just this past year it’s been lasting days/weeks even.

I actually had two full weeks of bright red blood in my stool.

I’ve started to keep a journal of the days and how I feel when it happens.

Most everything reads hemorrhoids or fissures and everyone is having so many test ran without answers that doing the research and keeping a full log myself is the best option for me now.

[Worriednanxious in reply to berrry4]

Did you get an answer as to what’s happening? Are you having any stomach pain?

[berrry4 in reply to Worriednanxious]

I am having a sigmoidoscopy next Thursday, so I should hopefully have more answers then. Not sure why they aren’t doing a full colonoscopy but that’s the appointment they have given me. And yes I have lower stomach cramps.

[Worriednanxious in reply to berrry4]

Sigmoidoscopy is better than nothing though I would push for a colonoscopy. How bad is your pain? Is it everyday ?

[berrry4 in reply to Worriednanxious]

It’s not too bad, it’s more of a cramp than actual pain tbh, mostly it’s just uncomfortable. It happens everyday randomly and lasts a few minutes at a time. Do you have symptoms too?

[GBP4L]

Any updates? Please don’t forget us.

[danielpet]

I've had virtually the same thing happen to me. Very similar appearance but I am a 51 year old male.

I've had persistent daily rectal bleeding for 6weeks -- over 40 days in a row. It coincided with second dose of Pfizer covid vaxx.

My liver enzymes are elevated and awaiting results from abdominal scan and awaiting appt with surgeon. Have had sweats at night and fatigued. I wish you the best and understand it's scary.