Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Are Blood In Stool And Hemorrhoids Symptoms Of Stomach Cancer?
Question: 80 year old female with stomach problems including GERD, IBS, hemorrhoids. I had a colonoscopy 5 years and they removed 3 small benign polyps. History of stomach cancer in my family. Recently found blood in my stool during a Dr visit. Have to see GI. I'm worried but I hear it takes more than 5 years for any polyps to turn cancerous. Your thoughts please.
Brief Answer:
Polyp can turn into cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX,
1) Symptoms of GERD, hemorrhoids never associated with colon cancer. They are associated other illness and require treatment accordingly.
2) Sometimes symptoms of IBS and colon cancer mimic.
3) You also have intermittent episode of bleeding along with passing stool. If you noticed bright red blood, on surface of stool or on comod then it might be due to anal fissure or large sized hemorrhoids. It is less likely that due to colon cancer. But if you have noticed, dark colored stool, stool occult blood test positive on three consecutive times, low hemoglobin level all these indicate small blood loss since long time with high possibility of colon cancer.
4) Yes, polyps take long time to turn in to cancer,, but also depend on type of polyp. Some polyps never turn into malignancy.
5) In your case, age of 80 years + family history of cancer + episodes of blood in stool + polyps in colon, put you in high risk category where chances of polyp to become cancer is high than normal population.
6) This is why, you require periodic screening for colon cancer but considering your age, periodic colonoscopy multiple times might be relatively contraindicated but you can do blood test of CEA periodically, level of which is proportionally related to possibility of colon cancer.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Polyp can turn into cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXX,
1) Symptoms of GERD, hemorrhoids never associated with colon cancer. They are associated other illness and require treatment accordingly.
2) Sometimes symptoms of IBS and colon cancer mimic.
3) You also have intermittent episode of bleeding along with passing stool. If you noticed bright red blood, on surface of stool or on comod then it might be due to anal fissure or large sized hemorrhoids. It is less likely that due to colon cancer. But if you have noticed, dark colored stool, stool occult blood test positive on three consecutive times, low hemoglobin level all these indicate small blood loss since long time with high possibility of colon cancer.
4) Yes, polyps take long time to turn in to cancer,, but also depend on type of polyp. Some polyps never turn into malignancy.
5) In your case, age of 80 years + family history of cancer + episodes of blood in stool + polyps in colon, put you in high risk category where chances of polyp to become cancer is high than normal population.
6) This is why, you require periodic screening for colon cancer but considering your age, periodic colonoscopy multiple times might be relatively contraindicated but you can do blood test of CEA periodically, level of which is proportionally related to possibility of colon cancer.
Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you Dr. It was just this one test that blood was detected in the stool. Has not happened before. I have blood tested every 3 months because I have Diabetes. Assuming my other levels are fine or my Dr would have shared otherwise. Should I ask what my hemoglobin levels are? Is there information in the test that was done on the stool that would share any insight?
Thank you dr. I fell asleep. So I will look into what you recommend. God forbid if there was something wrong or advanced wouldn't there be more signs?
Thank you dr. I fell asleep. So I will look into what you recommend. God forbid if there was something wrong or advanced wouldn't there be more signs?
Brief Answer:
Not to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I apologize for late reply
1) Definitely, knowing level of hemoglobin is essential and you must ask this.
2) Small amount of blood loss in stool can not be detected by naked eye and therefore Stool Occult Blood test is required. But you should do this test after few days when bleeding stops and do for three consecutive days (three time stool examination)
3) Being you as high-risk category patient, you should also do screening for colon cancer by checking blood level of CEA.
Thus hemoglobin level, stool occult blood test and CEA level are suggested as per your history and family history.
1) What I have replied are just for screening of disease, means to know whether disease is present or not. It is unlikely to have advanced stage on beggining of evaluation without any symptoms other than bleeding in stool.
2) In advanced case symptoms would be, mild abdominal pain, decreased appetite, altered bowel habit (alternate diarrhea and constipation), weight loss, bleeding in stool
Not to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I apologize for late reply
1) Definitely, knowing level of hemoglobin is essential and you must ask this.
2) Small amount of blood loss in stool can not be detected by naked eye and therefore Stool Occult Blood test is required. But you should do this test after few days when bleeding stops and do for three consecutive days (three time stool examination)
3) Being you as high-risk category patient, you should also do screening for colon cancer by checking blood level of CEA.
Thus hemoglobin level, stool occult blood test and CEA level are suggested as per your history and family history.
1) What I have replied are just for screening of disease, means to know whether disease is present or not. It is unlikely to have advanced stage on beggining of evaluation without any symptoms other than bleeding in stool.
2) In advanced case symptoms would be, mild abdominal pain, decreased appetite, altered bowel habit (alternate diarrhea and constipation), weight loss, bleeding in stool
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Thank you Dr. My hemoglobin came back at 13.3 which I'm told is in the normal range.
Brief Answer:
Absolutely normal
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes this normal value indirect indicates that there was no previous small episodes of internal bleeding from intestine other than present episode of small amount of bleeding.
I suggest to do hemoglobin test if you notice any bleeding episode in future (take this hemoglobin value as reference for comparison)
Absolutely normal
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Yes this normal value indirect indicates that there was no previous small episodes of internal bleeding from intestine other than present episode of small amount of bleeding.
I suggest to do hemoglobin test if you notice any bleeding episode in future (take this hemoglobin value as reference for comparison)
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
