Is There A Distinction With The Way The Blood Would Look If Its From A Hemorrhoid Vs Rectal Fresh Blood From Colon Cancer
Both hemorrhoid blood and colon cancer bleeding from the lower rectum is red rather than brown. Its often described as a bright red or fresh looking.
Its scary to see blood on the toilet paper after you wiped following a bowel movement, and even more alarming when you see blood mixed with your stools.
Typically, bleeding from hemorrhoids usually occurs in the setting of having constipation or frequent straining upon having a bowel movement, says Dr. Neil Sengupta, MD, a general gastroenterologist and assistant professor at the University of Chicago, and GI Research Foundation Scholars Award Recipient.
Bleeding typically is small volume, may be on the top of stools, or present only on the toilet paper after wiping, continues Dr. Sengupta.
Colon cancer may lead to more significant bleeding or blood intermixed amongst stools.
The actual appearance of the blood is the same, meaning, its the same shade of red, whether its from a bleeding hemorrhoid or a cancerous tumor in the lower colon.
Its not as though a certain shade or red means it must be colon cancer.
The shade changes depending on where in the colon the bleeding is originating.
The higher up in the colon, the darker the blood because its older, and it may even appear black when mixed with the stools.
But hemorrhoid blood is always a fresh looking or bright red. It may even be pink if a little is mixed in with a combination of residual fecal smear or urine on the tissue paper.
Do Hemorrhoids Cause Colon Cancer
September 28, 2019 by Sarah
Do hemorrhoids cause colon cancer? Before I answer that question, let us first examine what hemorrhoids are.
Hemorrhoids are bleeding clumps of swollen tissue. They usually appear around your rectal area, they can form both outside and inside.
Hemorrhoids are easily treatable and can be prevented by eating healthy foods that promote easy to pass stools.
They often appear when you are constipated and straining too much while sitting on the toilet.
Treatments are also available if youve already got hemorrhoids, but that is another article in itself. There are too many treatment options to list here.
Let us focus on your question, you want to know whether hemorrhoids can cause colon cancer or not, right? The short answer is no, hemorrhoids do not cause colon cancer.
The problem arises when colon cancer patients thought that they had hemorrhoids when in fact they were seeing the early signs of cancer. You have to be aware that the symptoms are easy to get mixed up.
Most of us dont like going to the doctor for our colon problems, so we make up excuses or try to rationalize that our symptoms are nothing to be concerned about.
This can be dangerous and has in many cases lead to people not getting themselves checked out and later found out that they had colon cancer.
Here are a few warning signs that you should look out for if youre concerned about colon or rectal cancer:
Abdominal Pain And Bloating
Stomach bloating, distention, cramps or pain in the abdominal or bowel region can be symptoms of colon or rectal cancer. These are common issues that can also be caused by a number of conditions, including diet-related gastrointestinal distress, Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis. See your doctor if you experience frequent abdominal pain and bloating that does not have an obvious cause.
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Your Doctor Will Want To Rule Out Serious Problems
In many cases, your doctor will have a good idea of whether or not your symptoms are from hemorrhoids or something more serious. Piles usually itch and burn, although they may have no symptoms aside from rectal bleeding. Cancer and other serious illnesses, however, may cause unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and other issues.
If they still have questions about the cause of your symptoms or if you are over the age of 50 and have not had a recent exam they may recommend a colonoscopy to rule out cancer.
Diagnosing Colon Cancer Is More Difficult
Colorectal cancers are most often diagnosed in individuals over the age of 50, but young onset colorectal cancer incidence is rapidly increasing. Blood in the stool can be alarming, particularly if you have never experienced it earlier. Hemorrhoids are more common than cancer and are the most likely explanation for bleeding or rectal pain.
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Should Young People Get Colonoscopies
Even though colorectal cancer is rising in young people, the incidence is still too low to justify routine colonoscopies for them. Once a screening test is developed for a disease, itâs important to make sure that the number of screenings performed will prevent enough cancers to justify the costs of and risks associated with the tests.
A colonoscopy is performed with the patient under conscious sedation. The doctor inserts a flexible tube with a light and camera on the end through the rectum to examine the colon. The tube also allows a doctor to remove any polyps that may be precancerous, heading off many cancers before they develop. For that reason, colonoscopy is considered to be one of the biggest reasons for the overall decrease in colorectal cancer.
Colonoscopies are recommended for most people at age 50, and repeated every 10 years. They are recommended at age 45 for Black men and women, who have a higher risk of colorectal cancer and sometimes earlier for people who have a family history. But Dr. Reddy does prescribe colonoscopies for people of all ages who have symptoms such as rectal bleeding that they cant diagnose with a different problem.
If youre not satisfied that your doctor has properly evaluated your symptoms, its smart to get a second opinion or even a third.
Detecting Colon Cancer Early Saves Lives
There are several tests that may help doctors find and identify abnormal growths and potential problems in the colon or rectum. The American Cancer Society believes that people who are at average risk of colorectal cancer should have certain tests to identify polyps and cancer before the onset of symptoms.
Polyps can be removed with very little trauma to the patient before they become cancerous and before they cause symptoms.
People with an increased risk of colorectal cancer should seek out the advice of a doctor that specializes in the prevention and treatment of this type of cancer. Because colorectal cancer can be prevented by removing polyps if they are found in the pre-cancerous stage, its important to build a relationship with a doctor that can offer direction as to which preventative tests are most appropriate for your situation.
If you have symptoms of colon cancer, your doctor may recommend a stool DNA test, CT colonography, double-contrast barium enema or flexible sigmoidoscopy as a way to determine whether you should get a colonoscopy.
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Hemorrhoids Vs Colorectal Cancer: Signs Treatment And Complications
Did you know that there are two very different diseases that can affect your rectum and anus? Hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer are both common, but they have very different symptoms, treatments, and complications. In this article, we will compare and contrast these two diseases to help you understand the differences between them.
Hemorrhoids Vs Colon Cancer: Whats The Difference
On the other hand, colon cancer is characterized as abnormal growths on the lining of the colon. When cells deviate from their natural grow-divide-die cycle, they can increase in size and even multiply. When left untreated, polyps can evolve into cancer.
Colon cancer also invades nearby lymph nodes. When blood from the intestine is carried to the liver, colon cancer may spread to the liver once it has targeted nearby lymph nodes.
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Colorectal Cancer Vs Hemorrhoids
In other words, the symptoms of hemorrhoids are inconstant. You may find blood in your stool or on the toilet paper one day, but not the next. Moreover, the symptoms usually go away over time. Colon cancer, on the other hand, doesnt subside in the same way. Neither do the symptoms of colon cancer. Constant rectal bleeding is more often a sign of colorectal cancer than hemorrhoids.
Pain is another major differentiator between hemorrhoids and cancer. While hemorrhoids can cause pain, the rectal bleeding associated with hemorrhoids almost never does. If youre experiencing painful rectal bleeding, you may have something more serious than hemorrhoids.
Pain is usually associated with internal hemorrhoids, which are less common than external hemorrhoids.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away. In fact, many of the symptoms of colorectal cancer can also be caused by other problems, such as infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Its important to get checked if you have any of following problems. In many cases, people who have these symptoms do not have cancer. But you should talk to your doctor if you have any of them so the cause can be found and treated.
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which might make it look dark brown or black
- Cramping or abdominal pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Losing weight without trying
Often colorectal cancer doesnt cause symptoms until it has grown or spread. Thats why its best to be tested for colorectal cancer before ever having any symptoms. Colorectal cancer thats found early through screening, before you have symptoms, might be easier to treat. Screening can even prevent some colorectal cancers by finding and removing pre-cancerous growths called polyps.
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Is Bright Red Blood In My Stool Worse Than Darker Blood
The longer the blood is in your digestive tract, the darker it will typically look. This is because there are digestive chemicals in your body that naturally break down everything that moves through your digestive tract. The blood gets darker the longer its in contact with these chemicals. If your bleeding is higher up in the digestive tract, it might appear darker in the toilet. If you see bright red blood, that can mean its lower in your digestive tract or is moving through your body very quickly. While there are many benign causes of bright red bleeding, there are fewer benign causes of darker blood for this reason, dark blood may be more concerning, and warrants workup by your healthcare provider.
The Difference Between Colon Cancer And Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids and colon cancer are two gastrointestinal complications that are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is a common, curable inflammation the other is notorious for high mortality rates in the United States. Despite the differences in the nature of the diseases, people often mistake one for the other, which can prove detrimental especially if colon cancer symptoms are treated like hemorrhoid symptoms.
So how is colon cancer different from hemorrhoids? Colon cancer is a fatal cancer that mutates from abnormal polyp growth, while a hemorrhoid is an inconvenient yet temporary inflammation around the rectum area.
Sometimes their symptoms may overlap, but its important to understand that hemorrhoid symptoms eventually recede and get better, while colon cancer only further mutates and spreads throughout the body.
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A Crisis In Colon Cancer Care: Misdiagnosis
In the United States, the second-leading cancer-caused death is colorectal cancer. Some of the common signs of colon cancer include blood in the stool, excessive diarrhea or constipation or bowel movement, fatigue, and/or rectal bleeding . Keep in mind, however, that these signs dont necessarily guarantee colon cancer. Nonetheless, it is always important to screen for cancer. In order to make a screening decision, I urge you to read the other articles about screening options such as colonoscopies, FIT, and colonguard. Its a tough decisionone to discuss with your doctor.
While colorectal cancer occurrence has decreased over the years, it is still a major issue, if we consider the amount of people who dont screen early enough to catch their colon cancer. In fact, only 40% of colon cancer cases are caught early . Often times, I will tell family members, Please get screened for colon cancer as early as possible. Unfortunately the typical response may be, Im not 50 yet, Are you cursing me?, or Its too expensive. Even when people find a screening method that is affordable, such as the FIT test, it still may not be accurate enough. Many people still do not screen for cancer when they turn 50, even though this promise is a rule.
It is important to prevent misdiagnoses and be proactive in learning more about the accuracy of screening methods for colorectal cancer.
Vivian Yuen
When Do I Need To See A Doctor About Rectal Bleeding
Its usually a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider whenever you have rectal bleeding. It can be a sign of another health condition that might need treatment. If you have heavy bleeding or are seeing blood in multiple bowel movements, its urgent that you see your provider. Rectal bleeding can have serious causes that need to be treated.
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How To Stay Healthy
You need to practice some healthy habits to have a healthy gut and prevent conditions like hemorrhoids and colon cancer. Below are some of the ways you can achieve this:
Eat Foods Rich in Fiber
Eating foods with enough fiber ensures that your stool is softened and it has enough bulk to quickly and easily move down the digestive tract. These foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and root vegetables.
Drink Lots of Water
Water and fiber go hand in hand because water dissolves soluble fiber to make a gel-like substance that softens the stool. You should drink at least 6 glasses of water daily to prevent constipation.
Eat probiotics
Probiotics are foods that encourage the health of good bacteria in the gut that help in digestion and excretion. They also get rid of toxins and harmful bacteria. Foods that are considered probiotics include kimchi, yogurt, kombucha, pickles, kefir, and sauerkraut.
Exercise
Exercising regularly will boost digestive functions and keep stool moving quickly down the gut. It also lowers your risk of colon cancer because you avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
Practice Good Toilet Habits
Who Is At Risk For Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States. Its actually the third most common cancer overall. Luckily, early detection of the disease can mean more effective treatment and a much better prognosis. There are certain people, however, that are at risk of developing colon cancer. These people may want to make changes in their diet and lifestyle to reduce their risk of colon cancer.
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Can I Get Treatment If I Have Colon Cancer
While colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, its not often a major concern for people. The most common symptoms of colon cancer are changes in your bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation. If you notice blood in your stool, call your doctor immediately. Treatment for colon cancer varies depending on the stage of the cancer, which can be determined by your doctor.
Hemorrhoids Constipation Treatment: Diet And Lifestyle
Your diet must contain fiber in each meal, since fiber stimulate the bowel to work better and empty itself in due time. Food sources containing fiber are full corn cereals, full corn bread, vegetables and fruit.
Your diet must contain the right amount of fat. Too little fat makes the stool hard, too much can irritate the digestion. Vary between these natural fat sources: Fat fish, almonds, olive oil, rape oil, canola oil and flax oil. The fat type in these oils alleviates inflammations in the digestive system. In addition you should consume some, but not too much of these fat sources: Nuts, sunflower seeds, avocados, eggs, spawn, sunflower oil, corn oil and soy oil.
Drink enough water, since water makes the stool softer.
Eat regular meals each day. Do not overfill your stomach at each meal. It can be better to eat four or five smaller meals that three larger.
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Take Action To Prevent Future Problems
Because piles are very common, there is a good chance you will receive a hemorrhoid diagnosis. Your doctor will offer you treatment options, most of which will give you relief within a few days.
You can also take action to prevent future problems and these actions can reduce your risk of colon cancer, too. By eating a diet higher in fiber, including more whole grains and vegetables, exercising regularly even if its a moderately paced walk, and increasing your water intake, you can keep your bowels moving smoothly and keep your colon healthy. At the same time, preventing constipation means a greatly reduced risk of hemorrhoids.
Can A Blood Test Detect Colon Cancer
Colon cancer cant be directly identified from your blood alone. Blood tests are usually supplementary tests performed by doctors to understand your overall health. Trace elements from carcinogens can appear in your blood test results, which inform doctors about abnormalities in your body.
The common blood tests performed to detect colon cancer are:
Fecal occult blood test . Occult blood is blood that is invisible to the naked eye. A sample of your stool is studied to check for problems in the digestive tract. Positive results dont necessarily mean colon cancer benign tumors, ulcers, and other conditions concerning the digestive tract may also cause results to come back positive.
Carcinoembryonic antigen . The CEA is less of a test and more of a trace element. Cancerous cells sometimes produce this chemical in the blood. Doctors usually track the level of CEA in a patients body over a long period of time. This helps them understand how colon cancer is progressing in the body. Treatment efficacy is also based on long-term CEA levels.
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