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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Am I overreacting? Bowel cancer?

    Related Topics
    Appendicitis Bowel Cancer Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    In the past few months, I have noticed a change in bowel habits. I am either constipated or experiencing diarrhoea. When eating, I am becoming full much quicker than usual and have a reduced appetite. I am often bloated and have stomach cramps. I also had one instance of blood in my stools in the past year which I shrugged off and forgot about until now, and one instance of extreme stomach pains that landed me in the emergency room. They thought maybe appendicitis, sent me home with medication and told me to come back if it gets any worse. I am scared out of my mind! I am only 22, but my cousin (by marriage) was misdiagnosed with IBS which turned out to be bowel cancer at age 30, which is adding to my worry. I have an upcoming doctor's appointment for something unrelated but am thinking I should mention this.
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    Bowel Cancer Australia

    Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care for everyone affected by bowel cancer. We … View Profile

    Thank you for your enquiry.

    Due to the detailed nature of your questions they are quite difficult to answer in an online forum.

    If you'd like to send your questions through to Bowel Cancer Australia's Bowel Care Advisory Services team, one of our friendly Bowel Care Nurses would be very happy to get in contact with you to provide an individual response and advice.

    You can send your questions to us using the web form available at http://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/nurse

    We look forward to receiving your questions and to offering you some tailored advice.

    Kind Regards,

    The team at Bowel Cancer Australia

    www.bowelcanceraustralia.org

    Please Note: The information provided by Bowel Cancer Australia’s Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory Services is intended for Australian residents as a reference guide only. It is not a substitute for independent professional advice and is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or disorder.

    If you believe your symptoms are consistent with those of bowel cancer or a digestive illness, please consult your doctor.

    Bowel Cancer Australia, its directors, officers or medical professionals shall not be liable to any person, company or any other body for any loss, direct or indirect or consequential on whatsoever account for any omission or negligent misstatement.

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    Dr Jason Wong

    Bariatric (Obesity) Surgeon, General Surgeon, Laparoscopic Surgeon, Upper GI Surgeon (Abdominal)

    Jason Wong is a skilled Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgeon with expertise in sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, gallbladder, hernia, endoscopic pilonidal, antireflux and emergency general … View Profile

    Whilst your young age makes it LESS LIKELY that you would develop bowel cancer, and there are many aspects of your symptoms that do sound like Irritable Bowel Syndrome - it is important for your doctor to ensure that Irritable Bowel Syndrome remains a diagnosis of exclusion.

    That is - it is important to rule out other causes of altered bowel habit and rectal bleeding, including Inflammatory Bowel Disease and less likely Bowel Cancer.  Given your symptoms, it would also be important to rule out other gastrointestinal problems such as Coeliac's Disease given your bloating and diarrhoea symptoms.

    From the symptoms you have described, a gastroscopy and colonoscopy are not a bad idea.  If they are both normal, this makes the diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome a possibility as well as giving peace of mind.

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  • Bowel Cancer Australia

    Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care for everyone affected by bowel cancer. We … View Profile

    Thank you for your enquiry. 

    Due to the detailed nature of your questions they are quite difficult to answer in an online forum. 

    If you'd like to send your questions through to Bowel Cancer Australia's Bowel Care Advisory Services team, one of our friendly Bowel Care Nurses would be very happy to get in contact with you to provide an individual response and advice. 

    You can send your questions to us using the web form available at http://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/nurse 


    We look forward to receiving your questions and to offering you some tailored advice. 

    Kind Regards, 
    The team at Bowel Cancer Australia 
    www.bowelcanceraustralia.org 


    Please Note: The information provided by Bowel Cancer Australia’s Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory Services is intended for Australian residents as a reference guide only. It is not a substitute for independent professional advice and is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or disorder. 

    If you believe your symptoms are consistent with those of bowel cancer or a digestive illness, please consult your doctor. 

    Bowel Cancer Australia, its directors, officers or medical professionals shall not be liable to any person, company or any other body for any loss, direct or indirect or consequential on whatsoever account for any omission or negligent misstatement.

    Reply to this post
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    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

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