Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] i have had itching and burning pain in my rectum for a year now.in the past 5 months i have a niggling pain on my right hand side. i dont have piles. and my gp is sending me to a bowel surgeon. but waiting time can be up to 16weeks. i fear this could be bowel cancer
[|AI|]  Hi, Thanks for writing in. Chronic itching and burning in rectum can be due to a superficial skin infection or worms. Cancer of bowel will not cause only burning and itching in the area. Cancer symptoms of bowel includes sudden change in bowel habits like constipation or diarrhea. Some people also experience bleeding in stools. Unexplained loss of weight can also be seen in bowel cancer. Please be assured that you do not have bowel cancer if there are no specific bowel related symptoms. I suggest you get your stools tested for occult blood till the time you have to wait to see your surgeon. This test can be ordered by your GP and will show any invisible blood in stools. Most likely your occult blood stool test will be normal. Please do not worry.