ClareSmith 0 Posted May 8, 2019 Hello! I have been dealing with on-and-off (but mostly on) constipation for the past 9 months. Other than that, I have not had any other intestinal issues. I went to see a GI specialist and they did a fecal occult test, which turned out to be positive. I am 30 years old and do not have a history of colon cancer in my family. I have a colonoscopy scheduled for May 17 but I'm beside myself with fear and anxiety. I can't stop crying thinking about it. I know there are other reasons that you can get a positive fecal occult test but I'm so scared of colon cancer nonetheless. Any advice would be appreciated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bobnnat 496 Posted May 8, 2019 CC at your age is extremely unlikely, like less than 1 in 10,000 per SEER Cancer stats. Much more likely is either a hemoroid (internal or extrnel) or a fissure which is a minute tear Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lofwyr 215 Posted May 8, 2019 There are tons of reasons for blood in the stool that aren't cancer. Parasites, ulcer, illness, inflammation, hemorrhoid and fissures to name a few. Remember, hooves don't mean zebras. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mollyfin 366 Posted May 8, 2019 I've had issues with constipation since I had surgery over a year ago (not 100% sure there's a connection but it seems like it) - constipation = blood in stool a lot of the time. There's a lot of tearing and hemorrhoids involved. I wouldn't freak out until your doctor tells you to. Colon cancer is possible at your age, as it is at any age, but highly unlikely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bin_tenn 1252 Posted May 8, 2019 4 hours ago, lofwyr said: There are tons of reasons for blood in the stool that aren't cancer. Parasites, ulcer, illness, inflammation, hemorrhoid and fissures to name a few. Remember, hooves don't mean zebras. I like that analogy! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garypayton 14 Posted May 9, 2019 hello, first timer here. I am lately accepting i am hipocondriac. I understand your concern and fear, my fears are now totally concentrated on my bowel and today i saw something that looked like blood in the stool. Btw, try to understand which kind of test was your test : if the test is not called FIT, then any type of blood can be detected. I have had bleeding gums and i won't do the guaiaco test because it will obviously result positive. Check your kind of test. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MARC 431 Posted May 12, 2019 My father, may he rest in peace (passed away at 93), tested positively many times for occult fecal blood and a cause was never found. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClareSmith 0 Posted May 12, 2019 thank you all so much for your responses. It means a lot to me. My mind always goes to the worst possible scenario and nothing seems to calm me down. I saw the blood in the stool for the first time last night (before the test, I'd never seen it because it is not very obvious - no blood on toilet paper or anything like that) and that spent me through a whole new spiral of anxiety. I have had severe health anxiety for 10+ years but this is the first time that I've actually had a symptom that requires something like a colonoscopy so my anxiety is 1000x worse than usual. Health anxiety also runs in my family so I've found a little relief talking to my sister. I can't tell you how much it helps to hear from you all though. thank you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClareSmith 0 Posted May 12, 2019 *no blood on toilet paper, is what I meant to say Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClareSmith 0 Posted May 12, 2019 I've been googling (I know I shouldnt be) and everywhere I look it says that bright red blood on stool is a sign of a hemorrhoids or anal fissure. The blood I saw was not bright. It was red but darker than a bright red. I'm also now worried how long the bleeding has been going on because I really had to look hard to see it Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lofwyr 215 Posted May 15, 2019 On 5/12/2019 at 6:40 PM, ClareSmith said: I've been googling (I know I shouldnt be) and everywhere I look it says that bright red blood on stool is a sign of a hemorrhoids or anal fissure. The blood I saw was not bright. It was red but darker than a bright red. I'm also now worried how long the bleeding has been going on because I really had to look hard to see it Red is "bright" red. Blood passing from further up the colon turns black, often turning the entire BM black. My dad went through a colon cancer scare, but it turned out his stool was black from an iron supplement. Having to look hard to see it, means there isn't much of it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MARC 431 Posted May 16, 2019 By the way, good luck on your colonoscopy tomorrow. I am sure you will be fine. Be sure to let us know how things turn out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maddy 19 Posted May 18, 2019 Good luck with everything Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
