Hemorrhoids compared to colon cancer: key differences

What symptoms are different for everyone?

Hemorrhoids and colon cancer can both cause rectal bleeding. Colon cancer has many other symptoms not present with hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoid symptoms include:

• A bump in or around the anus
• Bright red blood on or in the stool, toilet paper or toilet
• Itching in or around the anus
• Pain during a saddle
• Pain in or around the anus

Colon cancer

Colon cancer has symptoms that occur inside and outside the digestive system. Some people May not have symptoms Until cancer is advanced.

The possible symptoms of colon cancer include:

• Abdominal pain / cramps
• Blood in or on the stool
• Chronic constipation and / or diarrhea
• Feel full without eating a lot
• Feeling as there are more stools in the rectum after a saddle (Ténesmus)
• Narrow stools
• Not wanting to eat
• Stools that are black or tar
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss

What are the causes and risk factors?

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids can appear in anyone from all ages, most often in people aged 45 to 65. Hemorrhoids can be formed because of:

• Constipation, tender and sitting on the toilet for too long
• Diarrhea
• Lift something heavy
• Pregnancy

The risk factors for hemorrhoids include:

• Aging over 45 years
• Be pregnant
• Family history of hemorrhoids
• Have obesity

Colon cancer

The cause of cancer is mutations (changes) to genes. This means that some cells develop out of control. An increased risk of these genetic mutations can be inherited. Certain genetic conditions increase the risk of developing colon cancer.

The risk factors for colon cancer include those that can be changed, such as lifestyle, and some that cannot, such as age. These include:

• Age (especially over 50)
• Chronically weak vitamin D levels
• Smoking
• Eat a diet rich in red meat, charred meat or processed meat
• Ethnic context: rates are higher in the American Indians, Alaska natives and European Jews (Ashkenazi Jews)
• Family history of colon cancer
• Biliary vesicle surgery (cholecystectomy)
• Having type 2 diabetes
• Moderate consumption with heavy alcohol
• Overweight or obesity
• Personal history of colon polyps
• Personal history of inflammatory intestine disease (MII)
• Radiotherapy in the abdomen or basin
• Sex (men are a little more at risk of death)

How are hemorrhoids and colon cancer diagnosed?

Hemorrhoids

The diagnosis of hemorrhoids involves complete health history and physical examination. A health care provider must examine the anal area to diagnose hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids are observed by looking inside the anus with a tool such as an anoscope or a sigmoidoscope.

The bleeding of the rectum should not be self-diagnosed as a hemorrhoid; You should see a health care provider for a diagnosis.

Colon cancer

The recommended age for colon cancer screening without any symptoms or risk factor is 45. Screening of the colon cancer includes one of These tests:

• An annual stool test, such as a fecal immunochemical test (adjustment) or a fecal occult blood test based on guaiac (GFOBT)
• Every three years, a DNA test of multiple stools with fecal immunochemical tests (MT-SDNA or SDNA-FIT or FIT-ADN)
• Sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Virtual colonoscopy every five years
• Coloscopy every 10 years

Suspicion of colon cancer, due to symptoms or a screening result, can lead to tests to diagnose and stage colon cancer. This includes:

How are these conditions dealt with?

Hemorrhoids

The treatment of hemorrhoids includes lifestyle changes and home remedies. Some need medical or surgical treatment.

Lifestyle changes include:

• Avoid sitting on the toilet for long periods
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Treat constipation

Home remedies include:

• Over -the -counter hemorrhoids or ointments
• A Sitz bath
• Taft Hazel Witch applied to the anal area

For hemorrhoids that do not improve, cause a lot of pain or bleeding, or cause complications, a health care provider can recommend:

• Ligature of the rubber band: A health care provider places an elastic band around the base of the hemorrhoid, making it shrink.
• Sclerotherapy: A health care provider injects a solution into the hemorrhoid to shrink it.
• Infrared or electrocoagulation photocoagulation: The infrared light applied to the hemorrhoid causes the scar and the narrowing of the fabric.
• Hemorrhoidectomy: The hemorrhoid is eliminated by exciting the fabric and surgically closing the area.
• Hemorrhoiopx stapled: A hemorrhoid extending outside the anus is rescued and stapled in place.

Colon cancer

The treatment of colon cancer will depend on the scene (from 0 to 4) and is personalized.

Surgery to eliminate cancer and any tissue linked to it is the main treatment for colon cancer. Colon cancer could also spread beyond the digestive system and in other organs. Surgery can involve any body system that cancer has affected.

Chemotherapy and other drugs are also used to treat colon cancer. Medical treatment is personalized for the person and the specific diagnosis of cancer.

Main to remember

• Hemorrhoids and colon cancer can both cause bleeding from the rectum.
• Hemorrhoids are diagnosed after visually insiding the anal area, while colon cancer is diagnosed and staged using many different tests.
• Hemorrhoids are treated at home or with office surgical procedures, while colon cancer often needs surgery and may need chemotherapy and other treatments.