Question:

I am 23yrs old and have many GI symptoms- BRB in stools, diarrhea, constant abdominal pain for several weeks now (never stops hurting through out the day). I currently do not have insurance and was wondering if there is even a need to get tested. I do have family hx of cancers but none involving the GI or GU systems. `Im also one of those cases that always has the “low percentage diagnosis”. For example: Mumps after vaccine and booster, viral stomatitis in my twenties, cholosteotoma, etc. Please let me know what you think. Thanks

Answer:

I would recommend that at least you see a primary care physician to have an exam and basic blood work. At age 23, it may be sufficient to do a flexible sigmoidoscopy to assess the cause of the diarrhea and rectal bleeding.

For more information:

Go to the Colon Cancer health topic.