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Are Bleeding Gums And Anal Fissure Symptoms Of Colon Cancer?
Question: I have had a unclear test result. I am just 60 and have no symptoms. I am having a colonoscopy through choice. I am very anxious, what are the chances that an advanced stage cancer will be found
Brief Answer:
what test result did you have that was unclear?
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your question.
I will talk to you about the colonoscopy but it would help for me to know what test results you had that were unclear and why you had that testing done to start with.
Colon cancer is very common. It is recommended that screening start at age 50 and be repeated every 10 years if all is normal.
It is very difficult to predict your results without more information, but I can tell you that colon cancer is a very slow growing cancer.
It starts with a certain kind of precancerous polyp called an adenomatous polyp. If one of these is seen on colonoscopy then they remove it and no cancer develops from that polyp.
We believe that if colon cancer screening is done from the age of 50 that colon cancer is actually preventable.
If they find an adenomatous polyp when they do your colonoscopy then they remove it and will want to repeat the colonoscopy again sooner than 10 years depending upon how many polyps they find.
I think that your risk of them finding an advanced stage cancer is low if you are healthy, having no symptoms and do not have colon cancer in the family.
Things that increase the risk of colon cancer are having it in the family, having inflammatory bowel disease, having had radiation to the abdomen, being XXXXXXX XXXXXXX smoking and alcohol consumption.
The more of these risk factors you have the higher your risk.
Let me know some more information and I can give you a more specific answer
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
what test result did you have that was unclear?
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your question.
I will talk to you about the colonoscopy but it would help for me to know what test results you had that were unclear and why you had that testing done to start with.
Colon cancer is very common. It is recommended that screening start at age 50 and be repeated every 10 years if all is normal.
It is very difficult to predict your results without more information, but I can tell you that colon cancer is a very slow growing cancer.
It starts with a certain kind of precancerous polyp called an adenomatous polyp. If one of these is seen on colonoscopy then they remove it and no cancer develops from that polyp.
We believe that if colon cancer screening is done from the age of 50 that colon cancer is actually preventable.
If they find an adenomatous polyp when they do your colonoscopy then they remove it and will want to repeat the colonoscopy again sooner than 10 years depending upon how many polyps they find.
I think that your risk of them finding an advanced stage cancer is low if you are healthy, having no symptoms and do not have colon cancer in the family.
Things that increase the risk of colon cancer are having it in the family, having inflammatory bowel disease, having had radiation to the abdomen, being XXXXXXX XXXXXXX smoking and alcohol consumption.
The more of these risk factors you have the higher your risk.
Let me know some more information and I can give you a more specific answer
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi XXXXXXX
I was sent a test kit because I have just turned 60.
It was the test where you Sen 6 samples off on a card.
The results came back unclear.
Could it be relevant that my gums bleed at night. An I believe I have an Anal fissure, as sometimes bright red blood blood is on the toilet paper
I was sent a test kit because I have just turned 60.
It was the test where you Sen 6 samples off on a card.
The results came back unclear.
Could it be relevant that my gums bleed at night. An I believe I have an Anal fissure, as sometimes bright red blood blood is on the toilet paper
Brief Answer:
hi and thanks for the follow up
Detailed Answer:
Either of those things, the fissure or the bleeding gums, can cause a false positive or unclear reading on the stool cards. It is great that you are getting the colonoscopy just to be sure but it does not sound like you have anything to worry about.
Most people with advanced cancers have weight loss or other symptoms. They often just feel bad in general.
Don't worry, just get the colonoscopy and hopefully all will be well.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
hi and thanks for the follow up
Detailed Answer:
Either of those things, the fissure or the bleeding gums, can cause a false positive or unclear reading on the stool cards. It is great that you are getting the colonoscopy just to be sure but it does not sound like you have anything to worry about.
Most people with advanced cancers have weight loss or other symptoms. They often just feel bad in general.
Don't worry, just get the colonoscopy and hopefully all will be well.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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