Abdominal Discomfort- colon cancer?

jlstacey
jlstacey Member Posts: 277
edited September 2017 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Does anyone know of any correlation colon cancer and breast cancer, specifically TNBC? It doesn't usually recur in the colon, right?

I have been having discomfort for awhile and some issues. I called my oncologist, and his office said to go to my PCP, so I plan to call tomorrow to set up an appointment.

Because I'm stupid, I looked up colon cancer symptoms, and many are consistent with what I am experiencing. A lot of these things are also consistent with a number of other issues.

I just know I alternate between low-grade constipation and loose stools, a lot of abdominal discomfort, and I have had blood in my stool about three times in the last 6 months.

I've been pretty good about not going to that place where I think something might be a recurrence, but this I can't figure out!


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Comments

  • cive
    cive Member Posts: 709
    edited September 2017

    To me, it sounds very much like irritable bowl syndrome.  Likely your PCP will recommend a colonoscopy if you've not had one before.  While it is possible to have mets to your colon, other mets would likely be found first.

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  • MTwoman
    MTwoman Member Posts: 2,704
    edited September 2017

    I agree with cive, that you do have some IBS-like symptoms. I also get why your 'radar' might be going off right now. While mets to colon is absolutely not "typical", it isn't fundamentally impossible, so I would most definitely want that ruled out. But what I wanted to ask if you'd had any genetic testing? Some Lynch syndrome presentations increase risk for both breast and colon cancer (see: http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lynch-syndrome/cilynch-syndromeprinter) I have a strong family history of colon ca, which is why it came as a shock to get the dcis diagnosis when I was 38. It could very well be IBS, but I get why your mind is going to the dark place. Call your doctor and follow up. If you do get an IBS diagnosis, mindfulness and meditation have been shown to be really helpful in that diagnosis: https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/031912

    Good luck!

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  • wallan
    wallan Member Posts: 1,275
    edited September 2017

    I agree that it does sound like IBS. I have this and cope with what you are experiencing all the time. I find it bothers me depending on my diet, stress levels and sleep. Have you tried a good probiotic? That helps settles things for me too.

    I have had blood in my stool too and had a colonoscopy which did show benign polyps that were removed during the colonoscopy. Because of the polyps, I was told to have a colonoscopy every 3 years.

    Good luck to you.

    wallan

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  • jlstacey
    jlstacey Member Posts: 277
    edited September 2017

    I went to my doctor. I have ultrasound tomorrow AM and they drew blood for a complete blood profile. He wants to check my gall bladder, and make sure the hard areas around my (fake) belly button are related to my DIEP flap and not something else

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  • Lula73
    Lula73 Member Posts: 1,824
    edited September 2017

    I had DIEP too and find I have similar issues now too-waffle between slight constipation and diarrhea. I personally think it's a side effect of the surgery itself and new shape with everything being squeezed in where it wasn't before. On the hard area around your belt button is that new? Or has it been hard since the surgery?

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