Since the summer I've had recurring weak pains in my lower stomach below my belly button. It hasn't bothered me much, but has gotten a bit stronger a few times. After having no bowel movements for four days and struggling to make one when I felt the need, I took a laxative. Despite taking it, nothing much came out and I struggled a lot. I noticed it was painful in that area in my lower stomach to do that the last time I tried, and I woke up at night because it was quite painful there when I moved around. It is 7 hours later now and the pain has gotten better. My bowel movements have been fairly normal these past months, but I have had painful diarrhea before not having bowel movements for 4 days and the constipation that followed it, which may have been caused by unhealthy foods I've eaten recently. What do you think is causing these pains? I'm worried and of course think about cancer.