Does Blood In Stool Mean Colon Cancer

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Does blood in stool mean colon cancer.

It s not as though a certain shade or red means it must be colon cancer. Blood in the stool is commonly a sign of hemorrhoids not colon cancer. But it is often due to other causes. The blood is usually bright red in color and watery in consistency.

Blood usually but not always can be detected through a fecal occult hidden blood test in which samples of stool are submitted to a lab for detection of blood. Cancer screening tests for colon cancer thus are important in individuals 50 and older. The fecal occult blood test fobt is a lab test used to check stool samples for hidden occult blood. Black maroon and red.

As the stool passes along the swollen tissue may obstruct the stool causing the hemorrhoid to rupture and bleed. Colon cancer may lead to more significant bleeding or blood intermixed amongst stools the actual appearance of the blood is the same meaning it s the same shade of red whether it s from a bleeding hemorrhoid or a cancerous tumor in the lower colon. Typically occult blood is passed in such small amounts that it can be detected only through the chemicals used in a fecal occult blood test. Blood in stools or faeces can be a sign of bowel cancer said cancer research uk.

On the other hand bleeding from colon cancer is typically described as darker in appearance. Colon cancer generally does not cause overt bleeding unless the tumor arises is the distal closer to the rectum part of the colon says andrew black md diplomate of the american board of internal medicine gastroenterology who practices with gi of norman in oklahoma.