SCARED SH*TL*SS!!

[Verymotivated1]

First off let me apologize for the disgusting picture 🙏 I’ve had issues pooing for over 10 years! I go maybe 4 x’s a month. I used to have IBS type episodes once a month with the cramps, sweating, nausea, being lightheaded, weakness etc that last about 2 hours and it’s nonstop pooping!! I just recently had an episode about 2 weeks ago after about a year or so of not having them. Today, I was extremely weak and cramping really bad in the front abdominal area and I eventually had to go. Prior to today I haven’t gone in 2 weeks( I eat healthy and unhealthy) After finishing, Something told me to look down and when I did this is what i saw😮😮I am terrified but I do have a doctors appt scheduled for Wednesday already for a full blood work up but boy am I terrified!!

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Verymotivated1,

Thank you for posting on Colon Cancer Connected. I hate to hear you're having to deal with this issue. I'm glad you have that doctor appointment on Wednesday. That is absolutely the best way to start getting answers.

You're gonna have a full blood workup and that's good. Also ask your doctor if he's going to do a FIT test on your blood which would determine if there is any blood in your stool. It is also a good idea to make a list of the symptoms you are experiencing just so you make sure you cover them. Fatigue, cramping in the abdominal area and anything else that may be going on. Also, is there any history of these symptoms being hereditary? Are there other family members that have similar symptoms or have had other issues. This type of information can help your doctor determine what tests should be done.

It's really tough to determine what's going on with a picture and it's a good idea to get things checked out when they just don't seem to be “right”. You know you have a history and this seems to be outside what you have been experiencing. So, it's definitely a good idea to have this checked out. You're doing great. You also need to realize that there are so many things that could be causing this. You mentioned you already having IBS type episodes once a month with cramps, sweating, nausea, being lightheaded, and fatigue. Having the doctor check it out is a great idea as you won't have to speculate so much and we'll have some information to focus on. You need a direction. You need a path. Your doctor should be able to administer some tests that should be very beneficial.

I would also say that considering your 10-year history and the way you described it, you already know there are some issues going on and you just need to narrow down what could be causing them. Your doctor should be able to put you on this path. That would be a good reason to not be “terrified.” You're doing exactly what needs to be done and hopefully after Wednesday your results will come back quickly.

We do wish you all the best in finding the answers you're looking for. Remember to make that list so you don't forget anything to tell your doctor. When you find out what's going on, please give us an update as this is the type of information that can prove to be helpful to others on this site. Please don't be terrified. You're doing what needs to be done and that should lead you to some good answers. 👍

Thank you,

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - 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.

[Verymotivated1 in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

Thank you very much for the encouraging response. I do have a family history as my aunt past away from colon cancer after going through many surgeries, chemo, radiation and so many other issues. I’ve had a endo and colonoscopy done a few years back just to find “minor swelling of the stomach lining”. I know there is more because of what in experience daily but the doctors didn’t take me serious because of my age. I am now 40 a with lupus which causes many other complications and they seem to be more in tune with doing proper testing but it has caused many diagnoses that I believe could have been nipped in the bud a bit earlier if they would have listened more to my symptoms and not just brush it off as “you are young”

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to Verymotivated1]

I am sorry that you have a family history of cancer but that is good information to know. My family also has a history of colon cancer. We have what's called lynch syndrome. I don't know if you already know if your family cancer is germline or somatic. Germline would be about the genetics you were born with. Somatic cancer mutations are developed overtime and have various causes. Germline would be what my family has and by getting genetic testing we found that everyone on my father's side of the family also needed to be tested to see if we shared the same biomarker that I have.

From what I know about lupus being an autoimmune disease, I would think that if you had cancer in your family, you should know if it's hereditary. So, if you have not had genetic testing and know if you have biomarkers related to a hereditary cancer, that would be another question to ask your doctor during your visit. Anytime there's cancer in a family you need to know if it's hereditary. They can do that from a simple blood test. If you want to learn more about biomarkers here's a good site to reference.

knowyourbiomarker.org/

When I got cancer one of the first things I did was get genetic testing. They found out that I was positive for a hereditary biomarker and because of that I get an annual colonoscopy, annual CT scan, annual blood work, and an endoscopy every three years. This is just so that if something comes back they will catch it early. My hereditary biomarker was MSI-H with dMMR (deficient mismatch repair). This means that my immune system is not able to locate the genetic mutation and repair it. It was actually an immunotherapy clinical trial that saved me. So, I have an immune system issue as well.

You mentioned that a few years back you had an endoscopy and colonoscopy and found minor swelling of the stomach lining. After those procedures, did they tell you when you should have this repeated? Or even if you needed to repeat it?

You touched on something that is near the top of my list of things that are absolutely unacceptable. That is diagnosing somebody because of their age. It is worth a discussion with your doctor regarding the increase of young-onset colorectal cancer and why your doctor is not screening you for the disease. Again, while the majority of people who are diagnosed with the disease are over 50, that does not mean that screening should not be performed when you are experiencing symptoms. You have to be sure.

I am the poster child for missing symptoms and not taking actions. I was first diagnosed at age 49 and at that point I already had stage four metastatic colon cancer. I'm doing OK now. My oncologist told me that the tumor they took out of me was a polyp 6 years earlier. Minimum I should have been getting a colonoscopy at age 43. I had two cousins passed away from cancer and the most recent date was 1996. Had I known about the hereditary aspect of the cancer, I should have been getting a colonoscopy at age 34. My first colonoscopy was a few days before I had the tumor removed.

So, I think you are all over this. That's great. I think you know what needs to be done and the questions that need to be asked. Never accept a diagnosis based on your age. 😁

I wish you all the best in getting the answers you need. 🧡👍