Does Blood In Stool Mean Colon Cancer

As the stool passes along the swollen tissue may obstruct the stool causing the hemorrhoid to rupture and bleed.

Does blood in stool mean colon cancer.

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. By maggie fox a standard test for colon cancer that looks for blood in the stool may turn up more risks than doctors or patients bargained for researchers reported monday. The blood is usually bright red in color and watery in consistency. They found that patients.

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. Black maroon and red. Blood in the stool is commonly a sign of hemorrhoids not colon cancer. Blood in stools or faeces can be a sign of bowel cancer said cancer research uk.

The fecal occult blood test fobt is a lab test used to check stool samples for hidden occult blood. Symptoms of colon cancer may not be present or be minimal and overlooked until it becomes more severe. On the other hand bleeding from colon cancer is typically described as darker in appearance. It s not as though a certain shade or red means it must be colon cancer.

Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum though not all cancers or polyps bleed. Cancer screening tests for colon cancer thus are important in individuals 50 and older.