I need serious help

anonymous7 · New User Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

Ok, bear with me here. I'm willing to bet you've never heard this one before. I've reached a point where I don't know what to do and I need really need some advice.

I'm 18 as of now (male). I've been having colon-related problems for about 2 years now (maybe more, maybe less, I really don't remember.. but it's been way too long). Anyway, a couple years (or whenever) back, a little while after it first stared, I did see a doctor about it a few times. At the time though, I didn't have any blood in my stools (or at least I said I didn't, I very well could have and just didn't notice) or weight loss (none that I noticed), so he didn't think it was anything too serious. But anyway, he actually ended up moving away soon after this and I never really got a diagnosis or anything.

After that I kinda just started to live with it and not say anything to anyone. I don't know... but one day I noticed a little blood and kinda freaked out. I'd been reading up a lot on colon cancer and was quite convinced that I had it (and still am). I had (and still have) most of the symptoms. Time just kept passing by and I just kept putting it off and eventually it got to the point where I knew that if it was cancer, it'd be way too late to do anything about it (I know about all that early detection crap).. so I've just been ignoring it. Even though it (assuming it's cancer) is making my life kinda hard. I mean.. I live pretty normally. Like I said, I just flat out ignore it. But obviously it's hard to ignore when it's causing me pain and/or discomfort. And OBVIOUSLY I know this isn't just the type of thing that can be ignored. Another thing that worries me is that cancer runs in my family apparently (my mom's dad's dad died of colon cancer).

I know it's most common in older people, and it's extremely rare to get it at a young age, but it CAN happen, right? I read one thing somewhere about someone young having it. Keep in mind this all started when I was 15-16. Also, I wasn't very physically active at the time and didn't eat very well.

I know there's that other disease with similar symptoms (IBD), and I've been reading up on that recently. I really don't know if this is that or not. I'm thinking that's the best I can hope for though.

The thing is it doesn't seem to be getting noticeably worse (though I might just be telling myself that). It kind of fluctuates. Sometimes I feel (mostly) fine, sometimes it's really bad. It's kinda unpredictable, but it's always [i]there[/i]. My bowl movements are never [i]normal[/i].

I'll try to explain the "symptoms" I have. I have that "change in bowl movement pattern" thing and whenever I go to the bathroom, it doesn't feel like I've completely emptied.. y'know. The thing is, this is the case for both bowl movements and urinating (does that mean anything?). Sometimes shortly after a bowl movement, I feel really, really bad (like a really bad discomfort in my stomach, hard to explain). Sometimes I notice a little bit of blood in my stools, sometimes I have diareah. I definitely have fatigue.. and some weight loss it seems. Abdominal pain and discomfort, in general too. Uhh... sometimes I have weird pain/weakness in my joints (I think ..like in my arms or legs or whatever).... I dunno, it's really, really, really hard to explain this stuff.

So what am I supposed to do? Again, this has been going on for over 2 years. I've been living with this, trying to ignore it, because I'm stupid. I tried to convince myself that if I don't acknowledge it, things will be fine. That's stupid, I know. But I've reached a point where I realize I have to do something. But I'd rather continue living in denial than go see a doctor and find out that it [b]is[/b] cancer. Since it's been going on for so god damn long, I know treatment and all that stuff isn't an option anymore. Also, I don't want to put my family through any of this.

I realize I may have totally screwed myself.

Based on all the info I've given, do you really think it's cancer? If so, what the hell do I do? Sad

canyonhome · New User Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Tucson, AZ

Based on all the information you have provided and your level of anxiety there seems only one thing to do...
go get a colonoscopy!. I have no idea if you have insurance but the repeated blood in your stools maye enough to justify this diagnostic procedure.
If all goes well, this screening test should give you years of peace.

Goodluck,
_________________
Cherie

Iron · Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: Seek Medical Help Now

No more delays, get checked out. THe good news is that you are so young that your healing power is at its peak. What ever you may or may not have you need to identify it and get treatments.

Read, study and study some more to be your own expert. The docs have limited scope of treatments so you need to know what is best for you. Colonoscopy is the best place to start. You also need all the rest of your system cheched out, blood, urine, saliva ... the whole thing.

Heed this advice and seek help my friend!!!

Regards,
Iron

yzforce · Regular Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 10

I'm 30 now. Found my tumor at 28, was determined to be there about 3 years prior. I beat it, treatment sucked, but I am living life again.
I am a totally active female, eat well, etc.. but have the HPNCC gene so I am predisposed to have colon cancer.
I went to see a doc when I first started to have stomach probs around 25 and the doc said I was too young and it must be IBS. Unfortunatley, I let that idiot take my life in his hands. You can't do this. You need to go to the doctor and tell them they have to give you a colonoscopy. It is not too late, but if you keep waiting around it would be. Be in charge of your health!!!! Just go, waiting only makes it worse! Please learn from my mistake... you only get one life!

cardoso · Guest

Let´s play a game. Pick what you want to hear:

a) A doctor telling you have nothing but an irritated colon, but thanks for coming, better safe than sorry OR

b) 3 years from now a doctor tell you are going to die because you ignored a simple and easy-to-treat cancer for 4 or 5 years.

pitterpatterpat · New User Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

If you have a relationship with your parents then tell them. From there make a doctors appointment & get your fanny in. The stress of not knowing can make it worse. And if it does turn out to be cancer, get a second opinion. I'm a firm believer in second opinions. As someone already said. Your young and can bounce back. Not to scare you, but my sister has colon cancer and is dying one day at a time. So don't let that happen to you. You have your whole life ahead of you. Life is to precious to ignore. So go for it! Let us know what the doctor says. Pitterpatterpat

anonymous7 · New User Joined: 20 Oct 2006 Posts: 2

First of all, thanks for the replies. I am going to see a doctor soon, that's a guarantee.

But I just have one more.. inquiry. Like I said, these "symptoms" have been going on for 2+ years now, and I'm living [i]very[/i] normally and doing all the stuff I normally do. I've read that colon cancer usually develops a while before the symptoms start. So that would mean that [i]if[/i] it is cancer, it would have been there for potentially a lot longer.

Now, someone tell me this. Is it normal for someone with cancer to be living this long in a fairly active state? Like I said, it doesn't [i]seem[/i] to be considerably worse than it was a year ago or even before that.

Isn't cancer supposed to uh.. y'know.. kill? Why am I still alive and living life pretty normally if it's been there for so long?

Can I use this as a bit of hope? Please tell me it sounds like a good reason for this not to be cancer. I need some positive re-inforcement here. I don't want cancer. Fuck cancer.

cardoso · Guest

Cancer is not the only thing that can go wrong. A lot of diseases can kill you, and yes, some can misbehave for a while, then lurk inside your guts ultil one day... kaput.

dalesmum · Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:59 am Post subject: Re: I need serious help

You really need to stop sitting there typing and go get this seen to.. My son is 20- at 17 he was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer. He survived that, then ignored having his follow up visits to the hospital after fighting it for a year. One year later and his liver was so riddled with it, and he had a spot on his lungs (well this is what he had when he last had a scan 10 months ago), that there is absolutely nothing they can do for him, but give him chemo to make him feel sicker and prolong his life. Because he was over 18, I couldnt make him go for his tests or check ups, and he has refused all treatment now as he wants to enjoy himself while he can. DO NOT DO THIS TO YOURSELF!!!! Go and get checked.

canyonhome · New User Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Tucson, AZ

[b]Isn't cancer supposed to uh.. y'know.. kill? Why am I still alive and living life pretty normally if it's been there for so long? [/b]

The day before they diagnoised me w stage 4 colorectal cancer w liver mets... I flew from Baltimore to Tucson after having completed a research presentation at Johns Hopkins. I have a flight the next day to Boston to teach a new program... In other words I did not look sick.

In fact what was somewhat difficult for me to accept is I used to ask my husband repeatedly..."do I look like I am dying?" I did not look like it, but the cancer was growing & would soon have killed me...but I was one (barely) step ahead..now there is a chance I will live...& I thank God everyday I did not go by what I looked like on the outside.

Cherie
Erladyaz@aol.com
_________________
Cherie

pitterpatterpat · New User Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

First of all, cancer doesn't have to mean a death sentence. You don't even know if it's cancer. Secondly, your asking questions that you need to be asking your doctor. If your car is dripping oil, are you going to wait until all the oil has dripped out & transmission blows up or are you going to take the car to a garage when the dripping starts? When is your doctors appointment (yesterday, I hope)?

pitterpatterpat · New User Joined: 23 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

Canyonhome, Would like to know what treatment your on. My sister has stage 4 colon cancer. Outlook doesn't look good. Thanks

canyonhome · New User Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Tucson, AZ

I think I took the standard chemo FOLFOX+ avastin for 12 doses. I took a 3 week break but my cea began to rise so back to FOLFOX & Avastin. I was accepted as a candidate for SIR Spheres in Nov. I did the initial angiogram w coiling of hepatic arteries in anticipation of the spheres injection. I feel pretty good...a little tired but I am anxiously looking forward to the SIRT treatment.

FYI they initially found my cancer when I was already stage 4 w liver mets. The liver mets were too large to operate or radioablation. (I aslo had multiple mets). My initial CEA was 4600! Now it is 340..a significant drop!

There are many treatments choices. Not each one is right for every person.

Good luck!
Good Health!
Cherie
erladyaz@aol.com

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