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[ixSaosinss]

very anxious knowing the rise of colon cancer nowadays among the younger individuals.

I’m only 24. Please tell me i’m just anxious right now.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi ixSaosinss,

Thank you for posting on Colon Cancer Connected. I hate to see that you're having to deal with this, but I am glad to see you are not ignoring it. Symptoms and a diagnosis for them should never be based on age. The first thing I would do is get in touch with your doctor and have a FIT test to see if that is truly blood in the stool. This is something you can even order online and have it done at home. It is definitely a good starting point and figuring out what's going on. Although having it checked out at your doctors probably the best thing to do as you can discuss things. One question I would have is if you have any other symptoms going on.

You are young and yes you have that going for you. Another question I would have for you is if there is a family history of certain diseases. Is there a hereditary medical history? That type of information may drive the testing your doctor may want to do.

For me, I have a thing called lynch syndrome and that makes me more susceptible to getting cancers as my immune system is unable to find and fighting cancer. Given that, I get a regiment of annual tests done just to make sure if something does reoccur with me, we would be catching it early. So, is it always good to know if there's a family history.

FYI: Because lynch syndrome is hereditary and passed from the parent to the sibling, there are now tests that can determine if an individual has lynch syndrome when they are born. There are a lot of new things going on. With genetic testing and genomics, what you can know and when you can know it is absolutely amazing now.

You are correct in that there is a rise in younger individuals getting colon cancer. Although it is a very small percentage, it is happening. Colon cancer is a very fightable and preventable disease if you catch it early. What you are experiencing could be caused by many different things. There are tests you can take that can help with that process even at a very early age. If what you are seeing is truly blood, then you need to find the cause. If it is not readily apparent from a physical examination, you may need to get a colonoscopy. I also say you are never too young to get a colonoscopy. And please never accept any reasoning based on your age.

FYI: There are even tests out there they can determine if there is cancer in your body by examining a blood sample. If a cancer is growing, cancer cells are also dying and being flushed into the bloodstream. There are tests that can detect these dead cancer cells and even let you know what part of the body the cancer is in. This is called a Galleri Test which used Grail technology.

We do wish you the very best in finding out what's going on. I wouldn't be overly anxious, just focus on getting an answer to what you're seeing. There could be many different things causing it. Make some notes about any other symptoms you're experiencing so you're sure to cover that with your doctor. And be sure to ask family members if there's a history. I'm definitely proud of you for not ignoring and wanting to get an answer early. That's always key and the best thing to do. Also, when you find out what's going on please let us know. It is that type of information that can prove to be helpful to others on this site.

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.

[1990Pfj]

It's difficult to say. If you are anxious, simply get a colonoscopy for the piece of your mind

[tony11173]

You should consider contacting your doctor and discuss. Several people younger than 24 had bowel cancer in my area so age does not exclude. I have and still do have every bc symptom and yet endoscopy revealed something else. Don't assume.