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18 years old. Could I have colon cancer?

I'm an 18 year old male. I don't think colon cancer runs in the family. About a year and a half ago I notice bright red blood in the toilet and on the toilet paper after a bowel movement that I had felt slightly constipated during. After that, on and off I noticed blood in my stool. Everntually the bleeding stopped and I also noticed mucus on the toilet paper that smelled foul. That also eventually stopped but I still have constipation an bloating and I notice pellet like stools sometimes but sometime the bowel movements are normal. Now about 6 days ago I noticed in front of my left ear that I have a swollen lump (possibly my preauricular lymph node?) it is firm, painless, and it does not move around. I also notice if I push on my stomach hard enough i can feel slight pain which I guess if u push on ur stomach that's gonna happen probably. But I started reading about colon cancer and I am absolutely freaking out. I also read about irratable bowel syndrome can cause bloating and constipation but now the swollen lymph node is about to make me have a panic attack thinking about colon cancer. I haven't changed my diet at all since this started. I'm in school and have to eat fast food alot because I don't have time for anything else. Please someone tell me what this could be and could I have colon cancer. And does this swollen lymph node have anything to do with this!?!?!?!?!
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Avatar universal
Hi, These are some Symptoms of Colon Cancer:

A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
Persistent abdominal discomforts, such as cramps, gas, or pain
A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely
Weakness or fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you call them if you have similar problems
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Avatar universal
I developed colon cancer st age 21. I went to many doctors thought it was IBS, thyroid, or depression. None of them gave me a colonoscopy.  I am not a person who looks like I would have colon cancer I guess. It is not hereditary and I had a very healthy and active lifestyle l. Started eating organic at age 15. But when the doctors finally found my cancer it had spread and I am now a stage four colon cancer wife and mother of two. It is no longer rare for young people to get this type of cancer. Catch it early and you may not have chemo at all, just a small surgery! I think people are getting more cancer because of our  environment. I don't know, but go see a doctor, at least you will get peace of mind. Does your town have a nonprofit hospital? They will cover your medical expenses. If insurance does not cover it, (Medicaid does) or just pay of a medical bill like the rest of us adults. $1,200 is a lot better than cancer treatments and the other symptoms of cancer
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Avatar universal
I agree with Julius12July although rare it can happen!!  My 18 year was just diagnosed with colorectal cancer.  She had bleeding from rectum for a few months before I took her dr!  Her Dr. is AWESOME.  He couldn't figure it so he right away sent her to a pediatric GI.  She was 17 when we started the process.  So now we are waiting to do more testing to get more answers!  
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2 Comments
B_1971_CC,  Can you share what happens with your daughter? My 18 year old daughter had a colonoscopy and they found 3 polyps...a 5, 6 and 7. Waiting on results
Would love to hear more about yours
B_1971_CC,  Can you share what happens with your daughter? My 18 year old daughter had a colonoscopy and they found 3 polyps...a 5, 6 and 7. Waiting on results
Would love to hear more about yours
Avatar universal
Hi, even though it is rare for an young person to have colon cancer, it can happen. I am an 18-year female, and I noticed blood in my stool for about 6 months before I said anything to my parents and doctor. The first doctor I went to told me I just had hemorrhoids without doing an exam. This was obviously not the case, because I would have felt hemorrhoids. My dad took me then to a different doctor who performed an exam and ruled out hemorrhoids. He did not know what was causing it so he sent me for a colonoscopy. After I found out, I had a 2cm precancerous polyp. This can happen to young people, if you know you are being misdiagnosed or haven't gotten to the bottom of the problem, go and get a colonoscopy to be safe. Just because it is rare doesn't mean it wont happen to you.
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1 Comments
Ive been having stomach problems for quite a while and some of my bowel doesnt look fully process and other day was first time it look like blood in my poop idk if i should go or not i dont even know if medicaid covers it im so fustrated and wish i wasnt going through this... Anyone have answers for me.
Avatar universal
Went to the doc. Did blood work and everything Is fine. Who knows what it is. I guess it's not a big deal he didn't seem worried at all.
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1208572 tn?1276142543
Sorry about that bgb1976...

But you have to remember that if every person that has a symptom of colon cancer(Which could be tons of different things) the healthcare industry would go bankrupt paying for everyone to have a colonoscopy. This is why it is recommended for people 50 and over.

I do believe he should go get checked out by a doctor, but if the doctor finds an obvious hemorrhoid and jbm doesnt have any history of colon cancer, then a colonoscopy would be completely unnecessary. And again, I am willing to bet insurance will not cover it.

I understand your wanting to educate people on the risks with Colon Cancer, and its great that you do, more people need to be aware. But telling everyone to demand a colonoscopy at the slightest symptom will cause many, many people to have unnecessary and expensive colonoscopies.

If his doctor recommends a colonoscopy, great, he should go for it. If not, theres no reason an 18 year old with hemorrhoids should demand it.
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Avatar universal
Hello I am a she and I just had mine done about 3 weeks ago and they told me I had the polyp for about 2 years and within 5 years it could have become cancer. Yes it is rare for this to happen, they had to send polyp off and have it checked for mismatched DNA repair or something like that to determine if this was a hereditary type polyp or not. Fortunately for my children it was NOT. I am thankful for that, I do have to go back every 4 years though and get colonoscopies done. Just be on the safe side and go get your colonoscopy done. Please... Keep us updated.
Helpful - 0
1208572 tn?1276142543
At 18 the chances of you having colon cancer would be extremely, and I do mean extremely rare. Most polyps that are cancerous take 10 years to go from polyp to cancer, which means you wouldve had to start growing this at 8 years old. Very unlikely.
I would be willing to bet all the money in the world that its hemorrhoids and IBS issues. While I agree its best to go to a doctor to get it checked out(The doc will start with a fecal occult blood test, simple stuff) I would not panic at all about it being cancer. bgb1976 is 33 and his case is very rare.
90% of all colon cancers happen to people 50 years and older, hence why they recommend a colonoscopy at 50 years. Statistics show that the chances of someone getting colon cancer at your age to be 1-3 in every 100,000(Meaning out of 100,000 people with colon cancer, only 1-3 people your age would have it) Again, I cannot stress enough how rare it would be for you to have it.
If your mom/dad, sis/bro does not/ did not have colon cancer, it is even more rare. Go to your doctor and get checked out. I doubt they will even refer you to a GI doctor. Also The lump on your ear will have nothing to do with your stomach issues. Read here for more info on IBS. Its a great forum: ****://***.*********.***/******/
Colonoscopies at his age will probably not be covered by insurance. It would be about $1500 out of pocket to get it, and at his age(Unless he has a bad history of family colon cancer) would probably not be warranted.
Keep us updated, but dont stress over it. You will be fine.
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1 Comments
Absolutely right, dunno why young one's are trapped in all problems just go to doctor and let him tell what the problem is...Depression also causes bad stomach health issues...
Avatar universal
Hey there, I am 33, had blood and mucus for about 2 years and I finally went 3 weeks ago and had colonoscopy and they removed a adanoma polyp which is a precancerous polyp which could eventually turn into colon cancer so do yourself a favor and just demand a colonoscopy and get it done and over with and get a piece of mind. It is really very easy. please keep us updated.
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