How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed
Diagnosing colon cancer is more complicated than a hemorrhoid diagnosis. Depending on age, family history, and other risk factors, a healthcare provider may recommend that you begin colon cancer screening as early as your 45th birthday.
Colorectal cancers are diagnosed through one of the following screening procedures:
- Fecal tests â A fecal occult test and a fecal DNA test are often used to screen for colon cancer. A fecal occult test looks for blood in the stool while a fecal DNA test screens for altered DNA that may indicate that cancer.
- Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy â Both colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies involve a small scope entering the colon through the rectum. A colonoscopy is more invasive as it travels through the entire colon. A sigmoidoscopy only enters the lower colon. These scopes allow your healthcare provider to check for colon polyps and other colon abnormalities.
- Virtual colonoscopy â A virtual colonoscopy uses x-rays to take a series of images of the colon.
The right screening method for you will depend on your healthcare providerâs recommendation.
/5early Diagnosis Is Essential
A completely emptied bowel is considered to be a healthy bowel. With keeping waste out of the body the bowel serves a major role in the smooth functioning of an individual and as is inevitable an unhealthy bowel movement can lead to several complications. What is noteworthy is that the bowel movement of a human body is quite sensitive to the type of food that one consumes, the type of environment in which one lives and the intake of water. So very often, we tend to disturb the bowel movement and learn to live with it.
Cancer in bowel or the colorectal portion of the body which comprises the colon or the rectum is one of the common cancers in human beings. In this case there is abnormal growth of cells or polyps in the colon area.
Beware: Is It Rectal Cancer Or Hemorrhoids
NICOLE GIBRAN, MD, PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN BURN ASSOCIATION, WITH JINAN ZHANG, TCMD, FOUNDER OF NAITCM
Early Detection Can Spot the Difference
During our years of clinical practice at the North American International Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment Centre, we have found that there is often confusion among patients about the difference between hemorrhoids and rectal cancer. This confusion is understandable because the symptoms of hemorrhoids and early rectal cancer are similar.
Since each condition requires a completely different treatment program, we feel it is important that people learn to tell the difference between the two conditions through education, self examination, and a visit to our clinic.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of An External Or Thrombosed Hemorrhoid
Thrombosed external hemorrhoids are a painful condition. These occurs when a blood clot develops in a hemorrhoidal blood vessel causing swelling and inflammation.
- When a blood clot occurs in a hemorrhoid, the hemorrhoid will become even more swollen. This swelling leads to increased pain.
- The pain is usually worse with bowel movements and may increase with sitting.
A thrombosed external hemorrhoid may resolve on its own however, this condition often needs medical care. Bleeding with a bowel movement is never normal and should prompt a visit to a health-care professional. While hemorrhoids are the most common cause of bleeding with a bowel movement, there may be other reasons for bleeding including inflammatory bowel disease, infection, and tumors.
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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Colon Cancer Screening With Everlywell
Rectal bleeding or the presence of blood in your stool isnât something you should ignore. However, now that youâre more informed about the differences between hemorrhoids and colon cancer, youâre better equipped to monitor your healthâno matter what the cause. Whether itâs a benign case of hemorrhoids or a more serious health issue, be sure to communicate your symptoms to a healthcare professional.
If you want to stay on top of your health, or think you may be at risk for developing colon cancer, start with a simple, convenient, and noninvasive at-home colon cancer test from Everlywell. We help you monitor your wellness with our science-backed tests. All you have to do is collect your sample, mail it to one of our labs, and wait to receive your results within a few days.
What Is The Treatment For Rectal Cancer
Surgery is likely to be the only necessary step in treatment if stage I rectal cancer is diagnosed.
The risk of the cancer coming back after surgery is low, and therefore, chemotherapy is not usually offered. Sometimes, after the removal of a tumor, the doctor discovers that the tumor penetrated into the mesorectum or that the lymph nodes contained cancer cells . In these individuals, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are offered after recovery from the surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer returning. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy given after surgery is called adjuvant therapy.
If the initial exams and tests show a person to have stage II or III rectal cancer, then chemotherapy and radiation therapy should be considered before surgery. Chemotherapy and radiation given before surgery is called neoadjuvant therapy. This therapy lasts approximately six weeks. Neoadjuvant therapy is performed to shrink the tumor so it can be more completely removed by surgery. In addition, a person is likely to tolerate the side effects of combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy better if this therapy is administered before surgery rather than afterward.
Medications
The following chemotherapy drugs may be used at various points during therapy:
Medications are available to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and antibody treatments. If side effects occur, an oncologist should be notified so that they can be addressed promptly.
Surgery
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Abdominal Pain Or Cramping
The most common presenting symptom of colorectal cancer is abdominal pain however, it’s very vague and non-specific. There are many reasons why a person may have abdominal pain or cramping, and much of the time the reason is not cancer. This is why it may not be worrisome at first.
With colorectal cancer, the pain can be occasional or constant. It can be localized or general discomfort. Many times, there will be other symptoms like blood in the stool.
If you are having abdominal pain or cramping for no reason, and it persists, call your healthcare provider. Take note of other symptoms that may also be present, like bloody stools or pain with bowel movements.
Early Diagnosis And Referral Guidelines
Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer is essential in view of the stage related prognosis. Three potential levels of delay occur in the diagnosis of the disease: delay by the patient in presenting to the general practitioner delay in referral by the general practitioner to a specialist and delay by the hospital in either establishing the diagnosis or starting treatment. Detrimental differences between England and Wales and the rest of western Europe in survival rates for colorectal cancer arise primarily in the first six months after diagnosis, suggesting that these differences relate to late presentations or delays in treatment.
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What Causes Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer usually develops over several years, first growing as a precancerous growth called a polyp. Some polyps have the ability to turn into cancer and begin to grow and penetrate the wall of the rectum. The actual cause of rectal cancer is unclear. However, the following are risk factors for developing rectal cancer:
- Family history of colon or rectal cancer
- High-fat diet and/or a diet mostly from animal sources
- Personal or family history of polyps or colorectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Family history is a factor in determining the risk of rectal cancer. If a family history of colorectal cancer is present in a first-degree relative , then endoscopy of the colon and rectum should begin 10 years before the age of the relative’s diagnosis or at age 50 years, whichever comes first. An often forgotten risk factor, but perhaps the most important, is the lack of screening for rectal cancer. Routine cancer screening of the colon and rectum is the best way to prevent rectal cancer.
Bleeding In Colon Cancer Vs Hemorrhoids
Bleeding is a common symptom of colon cancer and hemorrhoids. When people find blood in their stool, they often immediately assume its one or the other since this is a commonly seen symptom.
While true, there are slight differences in the bleeding caused by colon cancer compared to what is caused by hemorrhoids.
Some anatomical knowledge makes it easier to understand the difference between bleeding caused by either abnormalities.
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/5colon Cancer And Hemorrhoids Have Similar Symptoms
Any disturbance in the normal functioning of the body disturbs the bowel movement. While there are many other medical conditions that would give you the feeling of not having emptied the bowel properly, this is also a major indication of the presence of hemorrhoids or the development of colon cancer.
In both hemorrhoids and colon cancer there is rectal bleeding, blood in the stool and the feeling of not having emptied the bowel.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hemorrhoids
Rectal cancer can cause many symptoms and signs that require a person to seek medical care. However, rectal cancer may also be present without any symptoms, underscoring the importance of routine health screening. Symptoms and signs to be aware of include the following:
- Seeing blood mixed with stool is a sign to seek immediate medical care. Although many people bleed due to hemorrhoids, a doctor should still be notified in the event of rectal bleeding.
- Change in bowel habits
- Prolonged rectal bleeding may lead to anemia, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or a fast heartbeat.
- Bowel obstruction
- A rectal mass may grow so large that it prevents the normal passage of stool. This blockage may lead to the feeling of severe constipation or pain when having a bowel movement. In addition, abdominal pain, discomfort, or cramping may occur due to the blockage.
- The stool size may appear narrow so that it can be passed around the rectal mass. Therefore, pencil-thin or narrow stools may be another sign of an obstruction from rectal cancer.
- A person with rectal cancer may have a sensation that the stool cannot be completely evacuated after a bowel movement.
- Weight loss: Cancer may cause weight loss. Unexplained weight loss requires a medical evaluation.
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How Is Colorectal Cancer Diagnosed
In contrast to hemorrhoids, colorectal cancer is usually diagnosed with a combination of tests, including a physical examination, stool sample, blood test, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, and imaging tests.
Your doctor will likely order a colonoscopy, which is the most effective way to diagnose colorectal cancer. This procedure involves inserting a long, flexible tube into your rectum and colon to look for abnormal growths. If any are found, your doctor will take a biopsy, or small sample of tissue, to be examined for cancer.
Imaging tests, such as a CT scan or MRI, may also be used during colorectal cancer workup. These tests can help your doctor determine the size of the tumor and if it has spread to other parts of the body.
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.
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Guidelines For Urgent Referral Of Patients With Suspected Colorectal Cancer Based On Symptoms Presented*
These combinations of symptoms and signs, when occurring for the first time, should be used to identify patients for urgent referral . Patients need not have all symptoms
All ages
- Definite, palpable, right sided, abdominal mass
- Definite, palpable, rectal mass
- Rectal bleeding with change in bowel habit to more frequent defecation or looser stools persistent over six weeks
- Iron deficiency anaemia without obvious cause
Age over 60 years
- Change of bowel habit to more frequent defecation or looser stools , without rectal bleeding, and persistent for six weeks
*Adapted from the NHS Executive’s Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer
As colorectal cancer is the sixth most common cause of mortality in the United Kingdom, a general practitioner will on average care for a patient dying from colorectal cancer every 18 months
Patients With Iron Deficiency
- Patients aged 45 and over presenting with iron deficiency anaemia should be investigated to determine the cause of anaemia
- This will normally require both upper and lower bowel endoscopy
- In patients aged under 45, the cause of the anaemia should also be established, although the likelihood of this being colorectal cancer is low
The second common genetic predisposition to colorectal cancer is hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer. This condition should be suspected in patients describing three or more cases of colorectal cancer within their family. Such patients should be referred for endoscopic screening at the age of 25. Genetic testing for this condition is currently not feasible.
In patients with a first degree relative with colorectal cancer aged under 45 or with two first degree relatives with the disease, the lifetime risk of the cancer rises to over 1 in 10. Such patients should be referred for lower endoscopy screening once they are 10 years younger than the age at which the disease was diagnosed in the youngest affected relative. An earlier article in this series gives more detail on the genetics of colorectal cancer.
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Are Hemorrhoids A Sign Of Cancer
The symptoms for colon cancer and hemorrhoids sometimes overlap, leading patients to believe their hemorrhoid symptoms are actually indicative of polyp growth in the colon.
Hemorrhoids and colon cancer are two separate abnormalities. As explained, hemorrhoids occur when extra pressure is introduced in the rectum area, whereas polyp growth occurs only along the colon lining.
How Are Hemorrhoids And Colorectal Cancer Different
There are several key ways in which hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer are different.
First, hemorrhoids are rarely serious and almost never life-threatening, while colorectal cancer can be fatal.
Second, symptomatic hemorrhoids usually stop causing symptoms on their own, while colorectal cancer requires treatment. This means if your rectal bleeding has persisted for years, you might have colorectal cancer .
Third, the symptoms of hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer are different. Hemorrhoids often cause itching, pain, and bleeding, while colorectal cancer may cause bleeding, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
Fourth, the risk factors for hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer are different. As we mentioned before, hemorrhoids are often caused by straining during a bowel movement, pregnancy, or obesity.
Colorectal cancer, on the other hand, is often caused by a combination of lifestyle and genetic factors. For example, people who eat a lot of red meat or processed foods, smoke cigarettes, or have a family history of colorectal cancer are at an increased risk for the disease.
Then, the complications of hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer are also different. Hemorrhoids can sometimes become irritated and bleed, but they almost never lead to more serious problems.
Colorectal cancer, on the other hand, may require a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The specific treatment depends on the stage of the cancer.
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Patients Presenting With Symptoms
Unfortunately, many large bowel symptoms are common and non-specific and often present late. Recently published guidelines, however, make specific recommendations about which patients should be urgently referredwithin two weeksfor further investigation in the NHS. The guidelines also indicate which symptoms are highly unlikely to be caused by colorectal cancer.
/5colon Cancer Symptoms Which Are Different From Hemorrhoids
Though unfortunately cancer is detectable only after certain progression in the disease, there are certain symptoms which are very specific to colon cancer. These symptoms are: change in the frequency of bowel movement, pain due to bowel obstruction, sudden nausea, sudden vomiting, drop in weight, narrow or ribbon like stool, pain in the rectum area.
Rectal bleeding can be compared to differentiate colon cancer from hemorrhoids. If the blood is red it is most likely that it is hemorrhoid dark blood is an indication that the bleeding is from within the body.
Abdominal pain is a major symptom of colon cancer. Hemorrhoids do not cause pain in the abdomen.
Fatigue is also a common sign of cancer. Bleeding in the intestinal tract will cause loss of blood and anemia which will subsequently lead to weakness.
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What Doctors Suggest
Doctors suggest the patients facing Hemorrhoids use a tepid bath. Moreover, this pain can also be relieved by using moist heat or ice sometimes. Doctors forbid prolonged sitting hours and forced bowel motions too. These ways are sufficient to alleviate the symptoms. The doctors also prohibit patients from using any scented or dyed toilet papers. Creams and other antibiotics are also recommended.
Although antibiotics are an excellent option to eliminate the bacteria, they can often cause pain too. Some diagnostic centers work out ways to provide maximum relief to the patients, such as Gastroenterology Diagnostic Center.