Worried about possible colon cancer

[WickedBush]

I'm a 27 year old man, at a healthy weight, and no history of health issues (aside from having my gallbladder removed a few years ago).

About 4-5 years ago, I first noticed small specks of blood on the surface of my stool. This was very infrequent, I only ever saw it every couple of months. Then sometime last year I began to notice that I was bleeding from the anus after having a bowel movement, which always showed up as streaks on the toilet paper after wiping. This still occurs sometimes.

Then towards the end of 2021, I began seeing bright red blood on the surface of my stool again, although sometimes it also appeared like it was mixed with strings of mucus. The amount was always very small. This happens once, maybe twice a month. It's been at least several weeks since I know for sure that I saw any blood.

The shape and colour of my stools is still the same, and my bathroom schedule is pretty regular (every other day). I haven't lost any weight, nor do I feel tired of fatigued. However, in the past two weeks I've developed this dull, gnawing hunger-like feeling around the area of my stomach. It's been pretty consistent and still hasn't gone away.

Anyway, this has got me feeling extremely worried and afraid of this being something much worse. I'm checking my stools everytime I go, and while I haven't seen any surface blood lately, I sometimes notice red things inside the stool, and I'm not sure whether this blood or from something I ate. This only adds to my anxiety.

I know first and foremost I should goo speak to a physician, and I intend to, but I just wanted to see if anyone has experienced anything similar and if they could share their thoughts.

[JAB7631]

Hello, praying for you, and finding myself in a similar situation, though I’m 52. I’m on round the clock pain management for failed back surgeries, so have been severely constipated for two years or so, which finally put me in the ER last week. They did a CT scan and found “severe thickening of the sigmoid colon walls” and apparently the opening is down to 2mm. They have also diagnosed colitis and diverticulitis. I have no clue what this means, but the surgeon I met with put me on metronidazole and Cipro, and I see him Tuesday to schedule a colonoscopy and biopsy. I’m terrified this will be cancer, so landed here to hopefully learn from people here and find out how others have fared. Oddly; I have no blood in stool but have all other symptoms. Thanks and I’m praying for a everyone here.

[Alloagirl]

I think you already know that you must see a doctor. They may do a FIT test which will see if there is blood in the stool, also whether you have haemorrhoids. I don’t know if you are UK or US. I think even being young a colonoscopy is required even if just to put your mind at rest. Don’t let them fob you off with being too young for bowel cancer. There are numerous things that it can be and quite honestly cancer is way down the list, but I am not a doctor. I have had haemorrhoids for a few years. Also have had a colonoscopy because of abnormal FIT test. It turned out to be diverticulosis and I had 4 benign polyps removed. So as I said not all signs of blood in stools is cancer. Sooner you see a doctor and get sorted the better. Good luck and best wishes.