My Mum and I both have Celiac Disease. I’m not worried for myself (I’m 21 and since being on a gluten free diet I’ve had 95% improvement), but my Mum is still unwell.

She’s 51, very tiny and underweight. I don’t think she sticks to her gluten free diet as well as she should. She’s still have vitamin deficiencies (B12 and iron). She said that there’s blood in bowel movements, often diarrhea. Her doctor knows and I think she’s been sent to have a colonoscopy, but I’m not sure because it’s not a topic that’s easy to talk about!

So, does anyone know if my Mum is at an increased risk of bowel cancer?

I know some cancers can easily be treated and have a high rate of survival, is bowel cancer one of them?

My uncle (who’s a urologist and has Celiac Disease) was mentioning the high rates of bowel cancer in our country the other day. Are the rates higher because people don’t have the testing done? Or because the symptoms are silent?

Thank you.
It’s gluten, not just wheat.

thank you for your replies, i live in the uk where anal dilation is a procedure whereby the surgeon inserts his or her fingers into the anal canal and gently stretches the sphincter muscles. I have heard negative reports about this procedure not least that the US refuses to use it becuase of the risk of fecal incontinence afterwards. I was hoping for a reply from someone in the Uk who has had this kind of operation and how they fared afterwards.

All these symtoms over the years makes sence, as I have always put it down to bowel cancer. I have never heard of cancer of the anus before. Now wounder I have been getting bleeding every 2-3 months in 2005, my bowels have changed 180 degrees now, I am so itchy up my bum 24/7 non stop and it is so frustrating. I also have the HPV virus in me and have had that for a few years now. Today I found out that if you have the HPV you are much more at risk of getting cancer of the anus. I am passing out all mucus in my bowels now, and I feel the urge to go a lot and when I do it is soft and mucusy, this is all the time. I am 38 and female, with a history of cancer in my family. I have a lump of my bum and I will be getting a biopys taken of that soon. Things are now making sence, and it has taken awile to put it all together. I found out colonoscopys do not detect anus cancer, just colon. The itchingness has spread to other areas and I cannot stand it. I am not scared of death
as I know where I am going but I am scared of the process. This itching is driving me mad, and I was told today that cancer of the anus is all part of it. I will have to get my lump biopsyied. so worried here. Any advice for me? Becasue if it does turn out that I have what I now suspect I will accept it. This explains all the diarea over the 2 and a half year period and bleeding and all. wow I am finaly getting to the bottom of this.

Well I lost my dad about 7 years ago to bowel cancer; he was only 45 years old when he died. We’ve been told this is quite young and that all 3 of his children, myself included, should have tests for it as we get older. I was 15 at the time, now I’m 22, what age should I start having tests done? Also if anyone knows, is the risk for me and my siblings of getting bowel cancer very high?
My dad didn’t actually eat vegetables, but I have my 5 servings a day and always have. Mum has always fed us well, dad just left the veggies on his plate. Dad was naturally thin though and didn’t ever get sick, except for that of course. I’m thin too and don’t get sick much either but the doctors did tell us we would need to be tested when we were older, I’m just wondering when should I start?

I think that I might be showing signs of bowel cancer but Im not sure if its just something else. I am only 17 and people say that only 50+ year olds are at risk of having it. Do you think that I should go see my doctor or just forget about it