Colon Cancer Symptoms Blood In Stool

The colour of your stools may tell you a good deal about yourself. Pale, clay-colored stools might typically indicate liver malfunction while a dark, tarry stool can lead a doctor to explore bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. Although this kind of bleeding can be unnerving, especially if profuse, what exactly does this tell us?

Called hematochezia, it is a condition characterized by the passing of new blood and is indicative bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract.

The most common causes are diverticulitis (inflamed pouches of the colon) and hemorrhoids (swollen veins in the vicinity of the anus).

However, hematochezia can also be a sign of colorectal cancer especially in association with other tell-tale symptoms.

Hematochezia for a Symptom of Cancer

Malignant tumors have a tendency to bleed--not profusely but sufficient to manifest together with changes in stool color. The variations can frequently tell us where the bleeding is occurring.

If bleeding is in the ascending (right-side) colon, the stools will be more maroon or purple in color since the bleeding is happening further away in the rectum. In the case of colon cancer, it may not also result in much discoloration whatsoever since the bleeding will often be low to nominal.

By contrast, hematochezia will bring about bright red stools because the bleeding happens in the descending (left-side) colon. If the tumor is in the rectum or toward the close of the colon, the bleeding will be new and more apparent.

Two additional, co-occurring symptoms may suggest the existence of colorectal cancer:

iron deficiency (ferropenic) anemia

Since this kind of bleeding isn't generally profuse, it is often confused with tooth decay.

Things to Do If You Have Bright Red Stools

Hematochezia, in and of itself, is not -- nor should ever be contemplated -- an indicator of colorectal cancer.

There can be so many other, more probable causes of these symptoms, even beyond the most probable suspects (hemorrhoids and diverticulitis).

Reasons For bright red stools may include:

Intestinal infections (such as bacterial enterocolitis)

inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Recent trauma

abnormal growths in the lining of the colon (polyps)

Eating beets or ingesting beet juice

Whatever the cause, it's always best to call your physician if you notice blood or any changes in the color in your feces. Avoid self-diagnosis, especially if the symptom persists.

When you do meet your doctor, be sure to notify her or him if you have a family history of cancer or any form of colon cancer.

These can include symptoms such as:

Unintentional weight loss (happening without dieting)

Loss of appetite

Anemia (especially iron-deficiency anemia)

Jaundice (the yellowing skin and whites of the eyes)

If you experience any of them for any period of time, even a couple of days, visit your doctor and get them checked out instantly.

As with all kinds of cancer, early diagnosis provides you the best opportunity for treatment success.