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What Causes Acid Indigestion, Intermittent Itching In Rectum And Blood In Stool?
Question: I have blood in my stool irregularly, mostly on the toilet paper after wiping for the past month (red, not black). I'm male, 64, had a colonscopy 10 years ago (no problems). I have acid indigestion that I have treated for 15 years with Pepcid and Tums. No other drugs except Excedrin occasionally. No external hemorrhoids. Very rarely constipated, sometimes rectal itch. My old doctor (who did the colonoscopy) is in management now and has cut patients, and I have a new doctor that can't see me till XXXXXXX I had blood work at the County Health Fair last month; no issues. My wife is a hospice nurse, so she is worried about Colon Cancer (or better, internal hemorrhoids.) Ideas?
--Robert Leibold
--Robert Leibold
Brief Answer:
Most likley internal hemorrhoids!
Detailed Answer:
HI and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this. This is typical of internal hemorrhoids and most often provoked by hard stools and constipation. This is far from cancer of the colon and cancer of the colon presents more with constipation and blood mixed in stools and not blood on tissue paper. With normal lab results, there is great chance that this is not cancer and more suggestive of hemorrhoids and/or hard stools(constipation). It takes several years for cancer to start and develop and ten years after a colonoscopy is probably unlikely. There is no emergency in seeing the doctor very early about this. Be calm and seek further attention only if something else comes up. I will recommend that you always keep your stools soft by increasing fruits, fiber and fluids intake. Regular exercise also helps with this.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Keep me posted on your progress and evolution.
Most likley internal hemorrhoids!
Detailed Answer:
HI and thank you so much for this query.
I am so sorry to hear about this. This is typical of internal hemorrhoids and most often provoked by hard stools and constipation. This is far from cancer of the colon and cancer of the colon presents more with constipation and blood mixed in stools and not blood on tissue paper. With normal lab results, there is great chance that this is not cancer and more suggestive of hemorrhoids and/or hard stools(constipation). It takes several years for cancer to start and develop and ten years after a colonoscopy is probably unlikely. There is no emergency in seeing the doctor very early about this. Be calm and seek further attention only if something else comes up. I will recommend that you always keep your stools soft by increasing fruits, fiber and fluids intake. Regular exercise also helps with this.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thanks for using our services and feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be. Keep me posted on your progress and evolution.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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