Colon Cancer Support Group

Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from mushroom-like growths that are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time. The majority of the time, the diagnosis of localized colon cancer is through colonoscopy.

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markarina 05/16/2009

I can go days with out having stomach problems, normal bowel movements then I'll have a day when I spend a lot of time going to the toilet and having loose bowel movements and stomach cramps. It all settles down with an immodium, just frustrating to have days like that.

I think it generally happens if I have a large meal, half get the impression that only having a "semi-colan" my system can't cope with larger meals and it just pushes food through more quickly and doesn't slow down when it has space as a result I feel empty the day after.

Normally you'd think maybe it could be symptoms of bowel cancer, however this has been a fairly common occurrence over the previous couple of years also just had a CT scan about a month ago which was all clear, also nothing in the blood work to suggest anything wrong.

Sorry just blowing off steam at the constant reminder of having had cancer

deleted_user 05/16/2009

That sucks! I have to tell you I didn't have a lot of luck with immodium. The way it works is it slows down the bowels so I think there is a rebound effect. I felt great the day I took one, lousy the next day. Coogee told me about psyllium husks, and I found they really work once my body got the message. I take them every night in a smoothie with fruit, a little juice, and ice.

deleted_user 05/16/2009

spent the better part of the week in the hospital with a small bowel obstruction due to the colon surgery with an NG tube up my nose.
And I m still partly blocked and adding solids in slowly.
I too go from liquid to solid and it is frustrating to know what it can handle and how to get a nice balance of fiber and fluid and bacteria.

Good luck... I know it is frustrating and a little unnerving.

CoogeeMum 05/17/2009

Hey Mark, I've noticed my meals need to be more balanced than before. I can't pig out as much as I used to LOL. My mind still can't figure that one out though, so I can suffer at times. That's okay, blow off steam, it's a safe place here. CM xxx

deleted_user 05/17/2009

Mark - I like that you said this is a reminder of having HAD cancer. Years ago, after I had ovarian cancer, I would worry that every cramp was a recurrence. It took a long time not to feel a twinge of fear, and even longer until my body healed itself.

GG2009 05/17/2009

I've had all of my colon removed, except a small part above the rectum, which she attatched to my small intestine. So my poops are always different, sometimes very messy sometimes kinda firm. And I can get cramps also. I think small frequent meals work best for me. This cancer journey is not a whole lot of fun sometimes. I wish my pretty much constant nausea would go away, I can't get anything done when I feel so sick. Starting next treatment they are giving me a new pill, hope it works. Thanks for listening. gg

deleted_user 05/18/2009

I was told I had IBS over 15 years ago. When really I had problems with milk products and other fiber related products. So I cut out the milk but still always have IBS type problems. I tried all the quick cures and things nothing stopped it. I had digestion issues even after my resection 2 years ago.

I put myself on a low fat diet and was eating oatmeal once a day. I stopped that and I finally got rid of my ibs problem. Oatmeal messed me up a lot. That was about 1 year ago. Also I have an issue digesting milk/cheese that lactose pills do not fix, I tried all the pills for digestion nothing worked.

I avoid things that trigger my problem as much as possible only eating some pizza once a week. I no longer have the ibs type issues. This is after 15 years of pain and problems.

I would suggest if you haven't gotten one already getting a colonosopy not that watered down version(spignoidosopy cant spell it) but it does not work and should never be given. It saves lives. It's very important to get one. It saved my life and I am young.

Between the resection and the cut back on certain foods I finally got control of this problem. I've tried the food cutback in the past and it never really worked. So I was real suprised when it finally worked.

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