Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Female, Age 66, First Time In Life Today Saw In
Question: female, age 66, first time in life today saw in a normal looking bowel movement three drops of red blood right on the three separate stools. Have IBS. Had gray stool two times in one day a month ago and now normal. No pain. Been eating a lot of strawberries and celery for more fiber. I am only 4'11" and 124 pounds. Fecal test and blood test normal 6 months ago. Had mild soreness in area of gallbladder and liver and pancreas for two years off and on so changed diet. I went two more times right after that today but no blood. Is it cancer?
female, age 66, first time in life today saw in a normal looking bowel movement three drops of red blood right on the three separate stools. Have IBS. Had gray stool two times in one day a month ago and now normal. No pain. Been eating a lot of strawberries and celery for more fiber. I am only 4'11" and 124 pounds. Fecal test and blood test normal 6 months ago. Had mild soreness in area of gallbladder and liver and pancreas for two years off and on so changed diet. I went two more times right after that today but no blood. Is it cancer?
Brief Answer:
It sounds like hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi Liptchr,
What you describe sounds like hemorrhoids, especially since the fecal blood test not so long ago was normal. I do however suggest you have a sigmoidoscopy to assess the left part of your colon. Hemorrhoids are completely benign, but may bleed and cause perianal irritation.
Hope this helps.
It sounds like hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi Liptchr,
What you describe sounds like hemorrhoids, especially since the fecal blood test not so long ago was normal. I do however suggest you have a sigmoidoscopy to assess the left part of your colon. Hemorrhoids are completely benign, but may bleed and cause perianal irritation.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Brief Answer:
It sounds like hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi Liptchr,
What you describe sounds like hemorrhoids, especially since the fecal blood test not so long ago was normal. I do however suggest you have a sigmoidoscopy to assess the left part of your colon. Hemorrhoids are completely benign, but may bleed and cause perianal irritation.
Hope this helps.
It sounds like hemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi Liptchr,
What you describe sounds like hemorrhoids, especially since the fecal blood test not so long ago was normal. I do however suggest you have a sigmoidoscopy to assess the left part of your colon. Hemorrhoids are completely benign, but may bleed and cause perianal irritation.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I forgot to tell you I have hemorrhoids for many years that can go a long time without bleeding, but I have never seen blood right into or on the stool. If it is my hemorrhoids bothering me, it is always floating in the toilet water or on the toilet paper so I've never seen a blood dot right into the stool. What is it? Is it cancer, colitis, perio something???
I forgot to tell you I have hemorrhoids for many years that can go a long time without bleeding, but I have never seen blood right into or on the stool. If it is my hemorrhoids bothering me, it is always floating in the toilet water or on the toilet paper so I've never seen a blood dot right into the stool. What is it? Is it cancer, colitis, perio something???
Thank you for responding so quickly. I was a nervous wreck. I don't take or need meds for anything yet. My family genes are good. Why would the left side of colon need to be checked? Is that for cancer or polyps? Is a sigmoidoscopy the same as a colonoscopy? The colonoscopy is the only test I never wanted to do in my life because of the horror stories of unnecessary testing and ripped livers, etc. They'd have to drag me in for that one!
Thank you for responding so quickly. I was a nervous wreck. I don't take or need meds for anything yet. My family genes are good. Why would the left side of colon need to be checked? Is that for cancer or polyps? Is a sigmoidoscopy the same as a colonoscopy? The colonoscopy is the only test I never wanted to do in my life because of the horror stories of unnecessary testing and ripped livers, etc. They'd have to drag me in for that one!
How long does it take to get another answer?
How long does it take to get another answer?
Brief Answer:
It is to rule out cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
The sigmoidoscopy is a less severe examination than a colonoscopy. It is used to rule out cancer and diagnose a possible source of fresh red bleeding.
Hope this helps.
It is to rule out cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
The sigmoidoscopy is a less severe examination than a colonoscopy. It is used to rule out cancer and diagnose a possible source of fresh red bleeding.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Brief Answer:
It is to rule out cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
The sigmoidoscopy is a less severe examination than a colonoscopy. It is used to rule out cancer and diagnose a possible source of fresh red bleeding.
Hope this helps.
It is to rule out cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
The sigmoidoscopy is a less severe examination than a colonoscopy. It is used to rule out cancer and diagnose a possible source of fresh red bleeding.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I am curious as to how often or how many times I would see blood on the stool itself if it is cancer. I went to the bathroom 4 times today because I was so nervous about my dental surgery this afternoon, and only saw the blood at one bowel movement today, the first one in the morning. You think it is hemorrhoids you said, but I never had the blood stick onto the stool. It always just floats in the water when it's my hemorrhoids. Can it really be hemorrhoids like your first answer was??? I would be happy with that of course, but I never heard of it so I wanted to clarify. Thank you.
I am curious as to how often or how many times I would see blood on the stool itself if it is cancer. I went to the bathroom 4 times today because I was so nervous about my dental surgery this afternoon, and only saw the blood at one bowel movement today, the first one in the morning. You think it is hemorrhoids you said, but I never had the blood stick onto the stool. It always just floats in the water when it's my hemorrhoids. Can it really be hemorrhoids like your first answer was??? I would be happy with that of course, but I never heard of it so I wanted to clarify. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
It can easily be haemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
It can easily be haemorrhoids, and a sigmoidoscopy is necessary to distinguish between this and polyps/cancer.
Hope this helps. If it is any consolation, cancer is very unlikely.
Regards
It can easily be haemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
It can easily be haemorrhoids, and a sigmoidoscopy is necessary to distinguish between this and polyps/cancer.
Hope this helps. If it is any consolation, cancer is very unlikely.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
It can easily be haemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
It can easily be haemorrhoids, and a sigmoidoscopy is necessary to distinguish between this and polyps/cancer.
Hope this helps. If it is any consolation, cancer is very unlikely.
Regards
It can easily be haemorrhoids
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
It can easily be haemorrhoids, and a sigmoidoscopy is necessary to distinguish between this and polyps/cancer.
Hope this helps. If it is any consolation, cancer is very unlikely.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
A question I just thought of. Why did you mention to only check out the left side of the colon? I thought the colon is all around the front of the body in a circular shape. Does the sigmoidoscopy check all sides of the colon or only the colonoscopy does that, and you think I don't need that invasive procedure with my symptoms? Thank you. I never knew a general surgeon knew these answers. I thought I needed a gastroenterologist to respond to me but the website assigned you.
A question I just thought of. Why did you mention to only check out the left side of the colon? I thought the colon is all around the front of the body in a circular shape. Does the sigmoidoscopy check all sides of the colon or only the colonoscopy does that, and you think I don't need that invasive procedure with my symptoms? Thank you. I never knew a general surgeon knew these answers. I thought I needed a gastroenterologist to respond to me but the website assigned you.
Brief Answer:
Sigmoidoscopy is usually enough
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
I know it because surgical gastroenterology is a specific interest of mine. Because you have seen fresh blood, it is most likely that the bleeding source is from the left colon, so a sigmoidoscopy will suffice. This procedure requires less bowel cleansing and is less painful. If no pathology is found, a full colonoscopy would be the next step. But if you are up for it, a full colonoscopy to begin with would also make sense.
Hope this helps.
Sigmoidoscopy is usually enough
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
I know it because surgical gastroenterology is a specific interest of mine. Because you have seen fresh blood, it is most likely that the bleeding source is from the left colon, so a sigmoidoscopy will suffice. This procedure requires less bowel cleansing and is less painful. If no pathology is found, a full colonoscopy would be the next step. But if you are up for it, a full colonoscopy to begin with would also make sense.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Sigmoidoscopy is usually enough
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
I know it because surgical gastroenterology is a specific interest of mine. Because you have seen fresh blood, it is most likely that the bleeding source is from the left colon, so a sigmoidoscopy will suffice. This procedure requires less bowel cleansing and is less painful. If no pathology is found, a full colonoscopy would be the next step. But if you are up for it, a full colonoscopy to begin with would also make sense.
Hope this helps.
Sigmoidoscopy is usually enough
Detailed Answer:
Hi again Liptchr,
I know it because surgical gastroenterology is a specific interest of mine. Because you have seen fresh blood, it is most likely that the bleeding source is from the left colon, so a sigmoidoscopy will suffice. This procedure requires less bowel cleansing and is less painful. If no pathology is found, a full colonoscopy would be the next step. But if you are up for it, a full colonoscopy to begin with would also make sense.
Hope this helps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Source is from the left colon? You said it was hemorrhoids. So which is it? Colon or hemorrhoids?
Source is from the left colon? You said it was hemorrhoids. So which is it? Colon or hemorrhoids?
Brief Answer:
Same thing
Detailed Answer:
In clinical terms, when it comes to bleeding, left colon and rectum is indistinguishable. Could be hemorrhoids, diverticulitis bleeding, angiodysplasia, polyps.
Same thing
Detailed Answer:
In clinical terms, when it comes to bleeding, left colon and rectum is indistinguishable. Could be hemorrhoids, diverticulitis bleeding, angiodysplasia, polyps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Same thing
Detailed Answer:
In clinical terms, when it comes to bleeding, left colon and rectum is indistinguishable. Could be hemorrhoids, diverticulitis bleeding, angiodysplasia, polyps.
Same thing
Detailed Answer:
In clinical terms, when it comes to bleeding, left colon and rectum is indistinguishable. Could be hemorrhoids, diverticulitis bleeding, angiodysplasia, polyps.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
What about my other suggestion of another fecal test, and if that is normal like my other one 6 mos ago, don't bother with a sigmoid, but if it is not normal, then the sigmoid? Thanks.
What about my other suggestion of another fecal test, and if that is normal like my other one 6 mos ago, don't bother with a sigmoid, but if it is not normal, then the sigmoid? Thanks.
I thought diverticulitis is a very painful condition. I don't have any pain.
I thought diverticulitis is a very painful condition. I don't have any pain.
Brief Answer:
You can do that
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
You can certainly go with the choice of a new faecal test. However, please note that there may be false negative results, meaning that there could potentially be a polyp or theoretically malignancy, that the test does not pick up.
Diverticulitis is usually associated with some discomfort. Diverticula (i.e., the mere presence of these pouch-like protrusions) may be asymptomatic until they bleed.
Best wishes.
You can do that
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
You can certainly go with the choice of a new faecal test. However, please note that there may be false negative results, meaning that there could potentially be a polyp or theoretically malignancy, that the test does not pick up.
Diverticulitis is usually associated with some discomfort. Diverticula (i.e., the mere presence of these pouch-like protrusions) may be asymptomatic until they bleed.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
You can do that
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
You can certainly go with the choice of a new faecal test. However, please note that there may be false negative results, meaning that there could potentially be a polyp or theoretically malignancy, that the test does not pick up.
Diverticulitis is usually associated with some discomfort. Diverticula (i.e., the mere presence of these pouch-like protrusions) may be asymptomatic until they bleed.
Best wishes.
You can do that
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
You can certainly go with the choice of a new faecal test. However, please note that there may be false negative results, meaning that there could potentially be a polyp or theoretically malignancy, that the test does not pick up.
Diverticulitis is usually associated with some discomfort. Diverticula (i.e., the mere presence of these pouch-like protrusions) may be asymptomatic until they bleed.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Since I have zero discomfort then, and at least not yet, and only a tiny bit of blood once, I assume it is not Diverticulitis. That's why I was surprised you mentioned that after saying it was hemorrhoids. Those fecal tests also give false positives too. They are 60% accurate, though I am told. I figure that is good enough for me. If I keep seeing blood on the stool rather then the toilet for my hemorrhoids, I will get the sigmoidoscopy done. I hope I can find a gastroenterologist here that is willing to do that test first. So many of those type of specialists want you to do a colonoscopy every 7-10 years, even without any symptoms, because they make more money and put you through hell you most of the time don't need to deal with! I am going for an ultrasound tomorrow for a complete abdominal just to see if there are any gallstones or cysts or something in the gallbladder, liver or pancreas because of the soreness I had when I ate certain foods. Do you think the blood could be related to something on that part of the body?
Since I have zero discomfort then, and at least not yet, and only a tiny bit of blood once, I assume it is not Diverticulitis. That's why I was surprised you mentioned that after saying it was hemorrhoids. Those fecal tests also give false positives too. They are 60% accurate, though I am told. I figure that is good enough for me. If I keep seeing blood on the stool rather then the toilet for my hemorrhoids, I will get the sigmoidoscopy done. I hope I can find a gastroenterologist here that is willing to do that test first. So many of those type of specialists want you to do a colonoscopy every 7-10 years, even without any symptoms, because they make more money and put you through hell you most of the time don't need to deal with! I am going for an ultrasound tomorrow for a complete abdominal just to see if there are any gallstones or cysts or something in the gallbladder, liver or pancreas because of the soreness I had when I ate certain foods. Do you think the blood could be related to something on that part of the body?
Brief Answer:
Your plan sounds good
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The blood is not related to the gallbladder or pancreas. I agree that colonoscopies every 7-10 years is of no benefit to you. Only if you have symptoms it should be performed.
Wishing you all the best.
Your plan sounds good
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The blood is not related to the gallbladder or pancreas. I agree that colonoscopies every 7-10 years is of no benefit to you. Only if you have symptoms it should be performed.
Wishing you all the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Your plan sounds good
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The blood is not related to the gallbladder or pancreas. I agree that colonoscopies every 7-10 years is of no benefit to you. Only if you have symptoms it should be performed.
Wishing you all the best.
Your plan sounds good
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The blood is not related to the gallbladder or pancreas. I agree that colonoscopies every 7-10 years is of no benefit to you. Only if you have symptoms it should be performed.
Wishing you all the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Also, how come you said since my fecal test 6 months ago was normal, I probably don't have anything, and it's probably hemorrhoids, and now you are saying those tests can be inaccurate and doing another fecal test can give me false results??? I am confused.
Also, how come you said since my fecal test 6 months ago was normal, I probably don't have anything, and it's probably hemorrhoids, and now you are saying those tests can be inaccurate and doing another fecal test can give me false results??? I am confused.
Brief Answer:
Please read below
Detailed Answer:
A negative result usually means that you do not have polyps or cancer. It does not change the fact that you have blood in your stools and therefore are not strictly "asymptomatic", so general screening tests do not apply in this scenario.
So, no matter how you look at it, the risk of cancer is very low, regardless of the positivity of the faecal test.
Hope this is clear now.
Regards
Please read below
Detailed Answer:
A negative result usually means that you do not have polyps or cancer. It does not change the fact that you have blood in your stools and therefore are not strictly "asymptomatic", so general screening tests do not apply in this scenario.
So, no matter how you look at it, the risk of cancer is very low, regardless of the positivity of the faecal test.
Hope this is clear now.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Brief Answer:
Please read below
Detailed Answer:
A negative result usually means that you do not have polyps or cancer. It does not change the fact that you have blood in your stools and therefore are not strictly "asymptomatic", so general screening tests do not apply in this scenario.
So, no matter how you look at it, the risk of cancer is very low, regardless of the positivity of the faecal test.
Hope this is clear now.
Regards
Please read below
Detailed Answer:
A negative result usually means that you do not have polyps or cancer. It does not change the fact that you have blood in your stools and therefore are not strictly "asymptomatic", so general screening tests do not apply in this scenario.
So, no matter how you look at it, the risk of cancer is very low, regardless of the positivity of the faecal test.
Hope this is clear now.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
