Because inflamed hemorrhoids often alter bowel activity, they can lead to abdominal bloating and gas. This is particularly possible with internal hemorrhoids, which can physically obstruct bowel movements. It can also cause pain, which makes it difficult to pass stool and release gas.
So how can you go about understanding the differences between the two conditions? Hemorrhoids often manifest in the form of hard, sore lumps whereas colon cancer symptoms may include diarrhea, constipation, or weight loss.
Can hemorrhoids cause stomach and back pain? No. Hemorrhoids can be worsened by stomach issues such as diarrhea or constipation, but they cannot cause stomach or back pain.
The main warning signs of anal cancer are rectal pain, itching and bleeding, as well as changes in bowel movements, such as unusually narrow stools. Hemorrhoids, which are painful clusters of inflamed veins in the rectum and anus, can produce many of the same symptoms as anal cancer.
Polyps can be associated with changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation. Hemorrhoids should not cause these changes. However, polyps don't always cause these changes either, so it's important not to assume that you have a hemorrhoid just because there are no changes in your bowel habits.
Pain. A large colon polyp can block part of your bowel, leading to crampy abdominal pain. Rectal bleeding. This can be a sign of colon polyps or cancer or other conditions, such as hemorrhoids or minor tears of the anus.
Symptoms of bowel polyps
But some larger polyps can cause: a small amount of slime (mucus) or blood in your poo (rectal bleeding) diarrhoea or constipation. pain in your tummy (abdominal pain)
It can feel like gas, burning or a nagging discomfort. Even if the pain doesn't double you over, if it persists for several weeks, you should talk to your doctor about it, Dr. Del Rosario says. Unexplained weight loss: As a tumor grows, it absorbs more of your proteins and other nutrients, leading to weight loss.
Hemorrhoids and colon or anal cancer can cause similar symptoms, such as rectal bleeding or lumps in the anus. A doctor can distinguish between them through tests, such as a physical exam, a colonoscopy, a stool test, and a biopsy.
Similar Symptoms, Different Diagnosis
Hemorrhoids tend to flare and then go away, but if the bleeding is constant and progressive or a combination of both pain and bleeding, it could be something more.
Often described as "varicose veins of the anus and rectum,” hemorrhoids are enlarged, bulging blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum. The rectum is the bottom section of your colon (large intestine).
In many cases, haemorrhoids don't cause symptoms, and some people don't even realise they have them. However, when symptoms do occur, they may include: bleeding after passing a stool (the blood is usually bright red) itchy bottom.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool. Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain.
Most people with bowel cancer can be diagnosed by flexible sigmoidoscopy. However, some cancers can only be diagnosed by a more extensive examination of the colon. The two tests used for this are colonoscopy and computerised tomography (CT) colonography.
The most common symptoms of colorectal cancer are blood in the stool, unintentional weight loss, and either ongoing constipation or diarrhea. Other colorectal cancer symptoms may include: Excessive fatigue. Shortness of breath or chest pain from iron-deficiency anemia.
Currently, three types of stool tests are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for colorectal cancer: guaiac FOBT (gFOBT); the fecal immunochemical (or immunohistochemical) test (FIT, also known as iFOBT); and multitargeted stool DNA testing (also known as FIT-DNA).
A colonoscopy can quickly discover any internal hemorrhoids and other problems including colon cancer. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins, and doctors can immediately distinguish between them, anal fissures, colon polyps, or colon cancer.
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following may indicate colon cancer: Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
Colon polyps and diverticulitis have similar symptoms that include: Abdominal pain. Bloating. Constipation.
Narrow or pellet-like stools: if you have advanced or severe diverticulitis, your large intestine may narrow, causing stool to become thin, narrow, or pellet-shaped.
If a doctor discovers polyps, they will often remove them via a colonoscopy or laparoscopy. The doctor will then send any removed polyps to a pathologist for a biopsy to see if cancer is present. If the biopsy reveals that cancer is present, then cancer specialists will outline a treatment plan for the person.