Suspect colorectal cancer

[Beautybee]

I am 47 . At the age of 40 I went for colonoscopy which came fine. In 2021 I started having soft wedged poop .the Dr said I must take high fibre food. The wages poop still continues on and off. Sometimes I am constipated and had to pass that soft stools which come out wedged like. I am scared and see my Dr next week . Anyone with same symptoms and what could it Be?

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Beautybee,

Thanks for posting with us. I hate to hear you’re having these issues. My first question would be what were the symptoms or situation going on in 2016 that lead you to getting a colonoscopy? I’m glad that came back fine, but did you get a definitive diagnosis for your issue in 2016?

I know what you’re experiencing could be caused by many different things. Looks like 5 years later you started experiencing stool changes and more fiber was the diagnosis. Have you had a FIT test? Is there a history of similar issues in your family? I had thinning stools and some abdominal pain. Looks like this has been going for 2 years without a good solution. A lot could be going on from the last time you had your colonoscopy. If a physical examination is unable to provide a good diagnosis, perhaps another colonoscopy would either be beneficial or at least eliminate a lot of speculation and help you get an answer.

I do wish you the best in getting good answers. There’s probably some others on this site that can contribute to this as well. Please let us know what you find out.

Thank you,

Tom

[Beautybee in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

Hi GCCA-survivor

I had ulcers and the Gastro who did endoscopy suggested that i do both colonoscopy and endoscopy.

I did not do FIT test .?What is FIT test maybe I should suggest it with My DR.

I am not sure of the history but greatgrandfather from my mother's side is suspected to have had cancer of what I don't know.

Hard stool comes fine .but soft stool have wedges. Yesterday the had poop had a lot of mucus. My anal area sometimes is itchy or hot. Will communicate the Dr's recommendation and results

[Beautybee in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

I forgot to mention that i had full body test where blood was drown and tests like CA were done .was told those where test to chexk if you have cancer cells in your body and they were normal. I forgot is CA what. But will check when home and update

[Beautybee in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

I did CEA test and CA 125 test in March 2023 which they said is fine. Will update of the outcome from the DR

[NYHour]

sounds like typical IBS symptoms, I say that because I go through the exact issue. To be clear, this is not medical advice so I would suggest you have that diagnosed by a professional. Please keep us posted, wishing you the best!

[kewl1]

In my case, I always got up in the morning, drank my coffee and pooped. But then for a couple of months I was getting thinner and thinner poop until it was pencil thin and going 5 times in the morning instead of one. I wondered if there could be a blockage. My dad, his brother, and two cousins had had colon cancer. So after Googling, I thought for it was a no-brainer.

Previously a a doctor had cured me of HEP C. After a year of treatment she told me that everyone over 50 should have a colonoscopy and gave me one. I was about 53 I think I had 4 polyps, 2 of which were the kind that can turn into cancer. So she had me come back in one year and I just had 2 little "pimples" that she zapped and said to come back in 3 years, after 3 years nothing. Come back in 5.......nothing. OK come back in 7. But this time after 4 years I had what I think was a rather large tumour, type 3c. I'm so thankful that I went for all these tests. But the surgeon who removed the cancer said that people should go every two years. After my operation and chemo as well as a year with an ileostomy, I was finally told that my chance of a recurrence is basically zero. I am going every 3 years now for a colonoscopy. And despite all the family members, also including a grandfather on the other side of the family who also had colon cancer, my genetic test indicated that I do not have the gene. Go figure

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to kewl1]

Hi kewl1, glad you were getting those tests and continue to do so. I have the genetic gene for lynch syndrome and my brother does not. I get annual tests done (colonoscopy & CT scan + blood work). My father had lynch and one of his 4 sisters has it. Two of her son's passed from colon cancer. Question: has any others in your family had the testing? With your dad, two of his brothers and 2 cousins, I would think that's a good target for genetic testing for hereditary disease.👍❤️

[kewl1 in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

I thought so too and was actually shocked to learn that I did not have the gene. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only one who had the geneitic test. I am now having colonoscopies and Endoscopies every 3 years. I also have a bit of Barrettes which also runs in th afamily.

My dad and his brother were in their 80s and just had th tumours remobed. One cousin had operation plus chemo plus radiation. His brother just had the tumour out. I had tumour out, chemo, and a temp Iliostomy which was reversed afterca year. My mothers dad had an operation and an Ostomy and he was about 80. I still weigh 60 pounds less but love it. I have bad neuopathy in my feet from the chemo and lots of bathroom problems ie constipation mostly or it can go the other way. I'm just glad im cured

Best of luck in this crazy journety

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator in reply to kewl1]

Yeah, I still have the bathroom issues mostly on the diarrhea side. I take some meds which don't always help. I had to get a gastrojejunostomy (stomach bypass) which contributes to issues. If I eat too much of something and "it" doesn't like it, I could experience "dumping" which is just like all of the sudden flushing the stomach. Oh, and I have the neuropathy as well. I had the chemo's and radiation my first two years and it's still lingering around 12 years later. It feels like I have something rolled up under my toes all the time. Even barefooted. Strange, but I live with it.

On the genetic testing, it may be good to get as it's just a blood test and if there are any siblings or kids down the line from all those tumors being taken out, it might be beneficial. I believe "23andMe" and "Ancestry.com" does it. Insurance may cover it as you have a lot going on in the family?

In my case, one cousin passed in 1996 and another passed in 2001. My bro and I travelled to the 2001 funeral and there was no talk about getting tested. The whole family on my father's side was there. Nothing. That was a big mistake. But back then things were different. If I got tested in 2001 I would have been 38. So much more is known these days.🤔👍