i have been constipated for almost 2 years, whats my problem???

[11hello11]

so i have been suffering from my stomach problem since november 2009. it started with a real bad stomach ache and constipation but the stomach ache lasted for only a month or so. but i have been suffering from constipation and diahhrea but mainly constipation for 2years now.i would poop a nice piece of poop then a bunch of little pieces. but have been pooping little pieces as of late. i have started to slightly bleed and notice it a little when i wipe my self. light red blood. i started bleeding late december and went to the doctor in jan and she told me its because i dont intake enough fiber but i decided to get a second opinion and this time i got my anus checked out and stuck his finger and said there is not tears or anything visibly wrong. he said at the worst it could be colon cancer but im only 18. i have started to take the fiber for about 3 days now and have seen significant improvment. im not constipated anymore but have gotten gasy and have had this wierd feeling in my stomach and didnt see any blood until yesterday and got real scared! what could i possibly have!!!

[Kaneda2112]

It seems unlikely that you would have colon cancer as you are so young. My brother developed colitis in his twenties, however, the symptoms were incredibly severe, nothing like you've described. The only way to be 100 percent sure is a colonoscopy - the gold standard apparently.

A fecal occult blood test may be helpful. A fecal occult blood test will see if you are regularly bleeding from your intestines - however, you could have internal hemorrhoids or fissures depending on how much you've had to strain due to constipation.

You could also ask your doc to do an anoscopy in the office to see of he/she can see any hemorrhoids further up in your rectum. An anoscopy is an examination using a small, rigid, tubular instrument called an anoscope (also called an anal speculum). This is inserted a few inches into to the anus in order to evaluate problems of the anal canal. Anoscopy is used to diagnose hemorrhoids, anal fissures (tears in the lining of the anus), and some cancers.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  It is extrememly unlikely that you have colon cancer.  I have no idea why the doctor would have told you this.  It sounds like you might have IBS.