I am feeling a little nervous & really just want someone to tell me that nothing is wrong & that I am going to be fine. I am the silly 33 yr old woman who has been having some pain in her left back rib/flank area & other issues like palpitations & weight loss (nearly 20% of my body weight in 3 months)who just was shocked when I heard that my hemocult tests came back positive for blood. I don't see any. No diahrea or anything. I have been going every day, the same old firm poo as always. I have notice black spots, but that's it. This is nothing to be too worried about, right? If it was cancer I would know, right? I am sure there would be lots of blood & the runs & change in habits or something. The only thing is I have been going a bit more often.... Just with my brother being diagnosed, I have been a bit nervous. & now there has been more of my relatives diagnosed since my brother. It's horrid. And I am a little scared, to be honest. Just looking for some reassurance that I am not facing that same evil C word like my brother is.

My post won't make you feel better.:(

Most people with colon cancer (which I think you are alluding to) do not get symptoms until it is very advanced. My co-worker was diagnosed when she was 45. No symptoms. They found it when she went to her OB/GYN for her annual checkup. The OB/GYN did a rectal exam and examined part of her stool that they can get during this exam. It had blood in it when the chemical was added. They did another test, and there was still blood. So she immediately had a colonoscopy and there was cancer. She had no clue.

If you ever get to the point of passing visible blood in your stool and having symptoms you are in trouble. Occult blood means "hidden" blood. You can't see it, you won't see it. It occurs higher up in the colon and mixes with your stool and turns color. So, only a test can pick this up.

What kind of cancer does your brother have?

This is kinda scary for me. It has to be a 'roid or ulcer or something I am sure. I hope...

It's hard because I don't want any of my family to know how badly I have been feeling/hurting because I don't want them to worry – they are already dealing with my brother (stage IV pancreatic cancer) & my father-in-law (terminal kidney cancer spread to spine) & my aunt (lung cancer) etc..... I just went to the doctor for a kidney infection then pain in my back rib/flank area & thought they would tell me it was a pulled muscle or something & it would be better by now. That was the end of June & now I have been sick & in pain for a while & lost so much weight without trying at all. This waiting to hear from the doctor is killing me & I just wish I would get this all figured out & at least know for sure the cause of my health problems.

Well I can't tell you what is wrong with you, but I can say that I have blood on occasion and I do not have cancer. I have Crohn's disease and when I flare up I will bleed (a lot). I have pain and about everything you described also (I am now 37). It's scary when you don't know what is it, but you will know soon enough and be on your way to better health.

Positive thoughts!

Well, I don't think it's cancer. I mean, I posted on another board & someone said if it's red that's when you worry. I don't have anything visable. (I do have some black spots sometimes, but that makes me believe maybe it's just an ulcer.) No runs or anything like that. I can't believe it would crohns or colitis since I don't have the runs or any change in bowel habits. :)

I didn't say it was Crohn's. It's one of many many possibilities. As far as blood. I sometimes have dark blood and many more times have had bright red blood. I was told it was the inflammation in my intestines (by my gastro). The darker the further away from the colon (it turns dark as it travels down), so I don't think blood color indicated disease as much as location of the bleeding.

My bowel habits don't change as much as the pain I get in my lower intestines. Occasionally I will get mucus or diarrhea, if I let the flare up go untreated. I don't get diarrhea regularly. Usually when I have blood present I have no pain or change in bowel habits, which was puzzling to me. I think it's all a bit of a mystery as to how each body reacts to disease or infection.

I also don't understand why your doctor isn't able to answer this for you. What other tests have you had? I'd call, a nurse should be able to give you some answers.

Sorry, I am just surprised I have any digestive issues... I am shocked, actually.

I have had Normal CT scans (kidney stone protocol/& abdomen/pelvic with/without contrast); MRI (showed "increased signal in the subcutaneous tissue in the area of concern but the underlying splenic tissue was normal); Normal IVP; Normal Bone Scan; Blood & Urine work-up (told it was fine); PAP (haven't heard back yet on this one - should hear any day it's been 3 weeks); pelvic ultrasound (found ovarian cysts - no biggie I was told by the doc); & Normal Chest/Rib/Cervical X-rays. And of course, we can't forget the FOBT, which 2 of the 3 came back positive.

This started with feeling sick & I got a bad cold the beginning of May followed by a bad bout with the flu. Then pinched nerve in shoulder/back/neck (LEFT side like all my other problems) & 4 days later I was in urgent care with a severe kidney infection. The docs thought I had kidney stones when I went into urgent care for severe flank/pelvic pain a week or so after starting my Cipro because of the infection, but that turned out to be negative. After the Cipro was done I was still having blood in my urine, sometimes protein, sometimes, WBCs. But that seemed to clear up although I haven't had a urine test lately. Pain is still there. Worse at night. Eating makes no difference. Tums don't help. I have been on vicodin & am trying to quit taking them (I worry about getting addicted or having side effects).

I never get lower abd. pain. The only pains I get (which have been better lately are attributed to my ovarian cyst & I get those in my groin, very very low. I don't get cramps with BMs or just cramps in general. I don't see blood in the toilet or on the tissue. I was shocked when she told me that I was positive in the FOBT. Now they want the EGD & colonscopy ASAP. I just heard back from the referral dept. though, & she said I should hear when my appointment is by Tuesday. Ugh. I want to know what's going on now.

BTW, has anyone ever had something weird in the toilet after a BM? Whitish, like skin?

We aren't qualified to tell you what your problem is, but just wanted to say that as a young woman in your early 30s, you don't fit the usual profile of someone with stomach cancer. From what I've read, it's most often older males usually in their 70s. Don't get complacent, do follow through and insist on an endoscopy, but don't fret too much in the mean time. It's entirely possible you have an ulcer or IBS or something else treatable. You must be under tremendous stress with your family situation as it is, and ulcers can certainly be exacerbated by stress. Let us know how you're doing!

We aren't qualified to tell you what your problem is, but just wanted to say that as a young woman in your early 30s, you don't fit the usual profile of someone with stomach cancer. From what I've read, it's most often older males usually in their 70s. Don't get complacent, do follow through and insist on an endoscopy, but don't fret too much in the mean time. It's entirely possible you have an ulcer or IBS or something else treatable. You must be under tremendous stress with your family situation as it is, and ulcers can certainly be exacerbated by stress. Let us know how you're doing!

Thanks so much for responding. You are totally right. The more I think about it I am pretty sure it is an ulcer. And yes, I have been under quite a bit of stress lately. The most stressful time in my life so far....

Well, in regards to how I am doing... I'm still losing weight. I try not to, eating junk food every day, but it still is coming off. Just not as quickly as before, which is good. I have only been losing a couple pounds every week or so, not like when I lost 18 pounds in July... The worst part is I just don't feel well. I am so tired I want to sleep all the time, but can't, life's too busy. I do sleep at night & get my 7-8 hours, but I can only sleep comfortably on my right side. If I am working from home or have a moment I try to take a nap. I do my yoga as much as I can every day. I only do simple twists & things, nothing extreme so as to not make the pain worse, in case it's some kind of muscle thing, (which it doesn't seem to be). But anyway... I think the high heart rate & palps are bugging me a lot right now. I have been a little light-headed lately, too & I am not sure what is going on. Maybe it's just the palps that are making me dizzy, I don't know. I just want to feel better. Any suggestions would be great. I would love some info on bringing down this heart rate....

Just wanted to update that I have an appointment with the general surgeon for a consultation on Tuesday. I will know more after I see him & I will be sure to post!

You're under a lot of stress right now and that could be a reason for your heart palpatations. Be sure to mention it to your doctor.

Yes, I have been having the palps since about the beginning of July right after this all started. My brother & aunt weren't diagnosed until August, but being sick back in July caused a lot of stress on my body. They did an EKG & wanted to do more heart workup but I don't have insurance. Plus, I had sinus tachychardia when I was pregnant 11 years ago & it feels a lot like the same thing. I was told then that there was stress on my body from the pregnancy & to stay away from caffeine & chocolate & coffee & alcohol – just like what they told me now. I am not concerned about it, I just don't like the feeling. My heart rate has been over 100 constantly at rest. Lately it's been 120-130 at rest. It's just very annoying.

Yes, I have been having the palps since about the beginning of July right after this all started. My brother & aunt weren't diagnosed until August, but being sick back in July caused a lot of stress on my body. They did an EKG & wanted to do more heart workup but I don't have insurance. Plus, I had sinus tachychardia when I was pregnant 11 years ago & it feels a lot like the same thing. I was told then that there was stress on my body from the pregnancy & to stay away from caffeine & chocolate & coffee & alcohol – just like what they told me now. I am not concerned about it, I just don't like the feeling. My heart rate has been over 100 constantly at rest. Lately it's been 120-130 at rest. It's just very annoying.

As long as you don't have any real heart problems, I don't know why they won't give you a beta blocker drug like Inderal. It is dirt cheap and works really well (plus helps with anxiety). I've had to take it for sinus tachycardia.

Your heart rate is pretty fast if it's at 120-130 at rest. Has your doctor seemed concerned? I once read that you slow things down by massaging your temples. (of course, there was a big medical reason for it, but I forgot exactly what all it was!)

Yes, my palps have been bugging me. The doctor did finally call & want me to get right in, but I have been having them for a while so if I wait a few days until like Monday when it is more convenient, I don't think it's a big concern. I have been taking a couple deep breaths & that seems to help. I will try the rubbing of the temples!!

I just saw the general surgeon today and he said he thinks the pain is a totally seperate issue from the weight loss & occult blood in stool. He believes the pain is nerve pain, and he thinks it could be caused by arthritis! Weird, huh? Anyway, I am am to get scoped. He didn't really say what he thought, he wouldn't know until after the scopes. He doesn't think I have one because it doesn't hurt when I eat, but I still think that's what it is...

Had the scopes today. Surgeon thinks it's colitis. He took 3 biopsies. I will know more when I see him in 3 weeks.