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UC, IBS or bowel cancer? Scared!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/15/2015 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there.

So I don't generally suffer from UC as my apparent diagnosis (no tests) four years ago was IBS but I've lately been suffering some worrying symptoms that have been really panicking me. I'm a 30 year old female.

The last few days I've felt really crampy, a lot of rectal discomfort and urges/urgency, and been unable to pass as much as usual (but I do get constipation so this is not unusual). At 6am this morning however, I went to the toilet, and when I went I passed some really weird looking stuff, which looked shredded flakey and pink, but when I wiped it was like a reddish jelly looking mucus which I can only assume may be blood.

I called the doctor later that morning, who spoke to me on the phone and decided as my brother has ulcerative colitis that I would get a referral to a gastroenterologist. It's been four years since "diagnosis" and I have previously asked before to get referred but as this has been my first time having these symptoms, I guess it flagged as more important. I've also been for a blood test today to check for infection I'm guessing, and I have been requested to bring in a stool sample tomorrow (though I'm panicking as to how I'm going to get that one done)

I was wondering if the symptoms are more in line with IBS, UC or whether it is something worse? I'm absolutely scared going out of my mind that it's potentially bowel cancer, and though my brother obviously has UC, I just panic that I have left this too long and that it could be too late.

I managed to go a bit this afternoon after my blood test and it looked like there was still some weird looking stringy stuff on it which i'm guessing is mucus but when I wiped I noticed a couple little specks of red among the rest of the messy brown stool.

Is red mucus more likely to be inflammation? I had taken a photo which I was gonna show the doctor but I didn't get an appointment. Obviously I don't wanna make anyone uncomfortable so I'm not gonna post it here but if anyone has any advice or reassuring words that'd be great. Thank you!!
Posted 9/15/2015 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Bowel cancer is extremely unlikely in anyone under 50, but it could be UC - the family history makes it more likely. Do the blood and stool tests, and this time make sure you also have a colonoscopy.

Edit: Sorry, reading comprehension >_>. Do the stool test! It's easiest to go in a disposable cardboard/plastic bowl and scoop the sample out into the titchy tube they give you.

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 9/15/2015 1:58:01 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/15/2015 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
i'm also sure it's not cancer, maybe your ibs has been really undiagnosed uc from the very beginning and, badly controlled, it has started acting up
Posted 9/15/2015 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hm, maybe. I did think perhaps that it was more likely to be UC than bowel cancer but there's always that niggle in the back of my head. As my brother has been through the works I am sure the gastro will probably send me for a colonoscopy, which I'm not looking forward to but should give me some answers.
I just don't want it to be something worse and I'm leaving it too long.

As for the stool test, I'm just hoping that I need to go tomorrow morning so I can get it to the doctor in time, my body seems to be really unpredictable when it comes to bowel movement!
Posted 9/16/2015 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Red mucous is blood mixed with mucous so that points to inflammation.

You need to get a colonoscopy and other tests done to see what is going on in there...bleeding (unless a hemorrhoid is present) doesn't match up with IBS, there is no bleeding with IBS as there is with IBD.

Colon cancer can most definitely affect someone in their 30's, it's more rare but if you have a family history then it's very possible so getting a C-scope to check for that as well is a good idea.

There's all kinds of bowel diseases/syndrome's so guessing based on symptoms isn't very helpful, you need proper tests done to get a better idea what you're actually dealing with, the increase of colon cancer does increase slightly over so many years of having inflammation affecting one's colon and that's another reason why you need tests done.
Posted 9/16/2015 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I totally agree with Ewa. IBS is such a bunch of BS. With your brother's history of UC it sounds like they didn't even try investigating your condition. Instead they took the easy way out by blaming it on IBS. I doubt you have cancer.
Posted 9/16/2015 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
Best of luck manana, often a mug of strong coffee can precipitate a bowel movement, and if you get up a bit earlier than usual that should help I would have thought. Let us know how you get on.
Posted 9/16/2015 7:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Although I couldn't go much I managed to get a small sample to take to the doctor this morning. I'm very worried as I posted on a cancer forum and was told that I shouldnt wait for the colonoscopy and should push my doctor to move my gastro appointment forward or call the hospital to make them aware. I actually have no idea where I would be referred to so im not sure if it's possible to get someone to move it and I don't get to see my doctor very often at all :(

Obviously IBS is a very broad spectrum diagnosis and alot or the time it gets diagnosed on absense of other symptoms, but having mucus mixed with blood does seem like inflammation to me (though I'm obviously thinking the worst). I haven't seen any in the sample I took, just a browny colored mucus but who knows. And I know blood can be intermittent so I'm not getting too excited.

Thanks for your replies tho, I know with my brother having UC it's more likely to be that but I'm panicking. My mother has no history of bowel cancer though and my father's side of the family had no history of it.
Posted 9/16/2015 10:51 AM (GMT 0)
It's human nature to fear the worst-case-scenario. Your stool test will tell whether the mucus and blood you are seeing has a pathogenic cause (an infection or overgrowth like cdiff). You'll likely need a referral to a gastroenterologist who can do a colonoscopy. Usually most practices have empty spots in their schedule for emergencies. If not, as to fit into any cancellation spots in their schedule. Good luck!
Posted 9/16/2015 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks :) am not sure if my doctor considered it an emergency or not, but I don't feel they are the best doctors I've ever had. Saying that, it's the first time I've been referred so maybe it's not all that bad. Hopefully I'll hear something soon. Have taken the sample in today so will know whether there is anything like an infection or overgrowth in a few days. I get the feeling it's gonna come up negative though.. Not sure if that would be good or bad!

Just a quick question, does ulcerative colitis have symptoms of abdominal pain and discomfort too? I'm not sure of the symptoms all too well, I only know my brother was very ill in a flare up and literally needed to live next to a bathroom.
Posted 9/16/2015 11:22 AM (GMT 0)
A negative on the stool test means the cause isn't pathogenic, so you'd need a colonoscopy to investigate further (common with uc, crohn's).

Yeah, abdominal pain and discomfort are quite common with uc flares. Whether you have uc, I don't know.
Posted 9/16/2015 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
I was also diagnosed with ibs and had bloody stools ( pink) through my 20's and 30's. They never mentioned uc until I quit smoking and really flared in my 40's. During that flare I was just like you and convinced it was cancer. I agree with everyone here. Cancer risk is very rare at your age. I was terrified but also hadn't found this forum and didn't know anyone with colitis. It's scary to see blood. I'm just getting over it now a year later in my second flare and finally accept it doesn't mean I'm dying. But this forum has such great support...take comfort in the fact that there are so many uc patients on here with loads of knowledge.
And yes Abdominal pain is very common with uc.
You're taking the right steps...best of luck!
Posted 9/16/2015 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, it's bewildering that it took so long for your uc to be diagnosed! I really hope things are better for you now though! Thanks for the supporting words :) hopefully it is just an inflammation of some kind but I guess in a way it'd be nice to have some kind of explanation on what's going on with my body. Hopefully with my age being still quite young I don't have to worry too much!
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