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Cancer > Colon Cancer Forum > Symptoms of IBS or Colon Cancer ?
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Q: Symptoms of IBS or Colon Cancer ?
asked by: DoctorQuestion on May 13th, 2007
I have a current diagnosis of IBS and suffer from chronic constipation, alternating with episodes of cramping and diarrhea triggered by certain foods, and relieved by a bowel movement. In addition, I have frequent dull lower left quadrant abdominal pain that sometimes radiates to my rib cage, along with indigestion, reflux, gas and bloating. The LLQ pain comes and goes, sometimes disappears for a few months and then returns. I have occasional mucus in my stools that appear to be blood tinged. I have also had the rare bowel movement that was mucus alone (not blood).

I've been seen by two separate physicians for these problems and been told it was IBS each time, however I am concerned about the possibility of colon cancer as my grandmother died of it in her 30's. Do my symptoms sound typical of IBS? I have been dealing with these issues in some capacity or the other for the last four years. If it were colon cancer, would I know by now?


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on May 21st, 2007
Colon Cancer Answer A2764
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional intestinal disorder without any organic substrate. IBS Diagnosis is established when all other possible diseases, infections, tumors, etc… of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) that have similar symptoms have been excluded. IBS manifests with constipation, diarrhea, bloating, reflux, indigestion, abdominal pain, gases etc. These symptoms and signs are also observed during many other disorders of the GIT. Blood in the stools is not a sign of IBS. Blood in the stool is always a sign of some organic disorder of the GIT. You can request an occult blood test to confirm or exclude the presence of blood in the stool. After that procedure, you can request a colonoscopy to visualize the bowels from the inside and to identify the source of the bleeding. Mucous stools lined with blood are typical for some large intestine inflammations such as colitis but, again, that diagnosis can be confirmed or excluded only by a colonoscopy. Colon cancer is also diagnosed only via colonoscopies. You can consult a gastroenterohepatologist for expert opinion and follow up on your condition.




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