Bleeding from the rectum
The older a person gets, the more he thinks about the diseases that could affect him and that he would have to fight. Since the human body is not perfect and has various reasons why it may bleed, rectal bleeding is one of them and it appears quite often in people's lives and of course raises questions as to what it could mean. Rectal bleeding is a common symptom of benign (benign), i.e. not dangerous, harmless diseases of the colon and rectum.
Blood in stool - statistics
The consultation rate per year in Western civilization for patients with symptomatic rectal bleeding is approximately 10 %.This means that approximately 10% of all adults objectively per year detect blood in various forms after defecation, whether on paper, in the toilet or in the stool. Much of this symptom falls under benign, benign diseases of the rectum such as hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissures, even skin changes in the perianal area. The above diseases are relatively easy to solve. However, there is one but..., and that is a rather serious disease of the colon and rectum. A scourge called colorectal cancer. In the "world rankings" we are at the top not only in prevalence but also in the number of deaths. I don't want to write only about hemorrhoidal disease this time - hemorrhoids, golden vein, anal fissure and how we can solve it. I want to draw everyone's attention to this serious disease, which often manifests itself by the aforementioned painless bleeding, similar to hemorrhoidal disease. In addition to objective visible bleeding, we also know about so-called occult bleeding, which is not observed objectively in any way.
Bleeding in the stool - test
The response of the MoHSR to the unflattering ranking was to develop a standard procedure for the performance of population-based colorectal cancer screening in January 2019.
The purpose of this standard procedure was to detect early stages of nonmalignant cancers in the population, early stages of malignant disease, prevention of advanced stages and thus to reduce mortality in the population.
Screening consists of a test for invisible, occult bleeding every two years or a primary colonoscopy every 10 years, with the interval adjusted according to the findings on the colon during the examination itself. In the event of a positive occult bleeding result, a screening colonoscopy follows. These are the responsibility of the health insurance companies. You will have already received an occult bleeding test if you are over 50 years of age. So don't hesitate to get tested.
The early stages of benign mucosal changes that the above screening methods are designed to detect are easy and often immediately solvable. When early stages of malignant tumour are caught, most patients can be cured without the need for removal and aggressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
It is very important not to underestimate the screening program and to avoid stressful situations in the whole family. Bleeding, including occult bleeding, does not necessarily mean a malignant tumour of the rectum, but is usually a benign disease such as haemorrhoids or anal fissure. If you notice that you are bleeding from the rectum, do not hesitate to visit a specialist clinic to prevent either advanced stages of haemorrhoidal disease or a malignant tumour of the rectum.
One examination can detect a problem in a simple way at an early stage, which could later end up in unnecessary surgery, cancer treatment and in non-malignant diagnoses postoperative pain with the need for long-term PN from neglect of the disease.
So what should I do?
If I am 50 years old and I am not objectively bleeding and I get a test for occult bleeding, I definitely need to get it done and if positive, have a screening colonoscopy.
If I test positive for occult hidden bleeding, does that automatically mean I have a malignant tumor?
Certainly not, the most common causes of positivity are benign diseases of the rectum and colon, inflammatory diseases or the cause may not be identified at all.
However, if I am objectively bleeding, it is definitely necessary to see a specialist to identify the source of the bleeding.
Is the test for occult bleeding dangerous?
No, there are not and there are no risks.
What if I'm under 50 and objectively bleeding?
The above also applies here. It should not be assumed that I cannot have a malignant tumour of the rectum when I am younger, it may lead to a late diagnosis and a more advanced stage of the disease, especially when other symptoms such as weight loss, changes in bowel movements, mucus or anaemia are added.
Should I have a colonoscopy if I am under 50 and have no problems?
This is not necessary; exceptions are people with risk factors, namely a positive family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives under the age of 60, a family history of adenomatous polyp in a first-degree relative under the age of 40, genetic syndromes predisposing to colorectal cancer (familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (HNPCC)), chronic inflammatory bowel disease of more than 8 years' duration. Here, colonoscopic examination is induced according to specific recommendations.
What about my mom, dad who are over 75 for example?
Here, the general health of the person is taken into account, taking into account other illnesses and the possibility of coping with subsequent treatment should a malignant tumour be diagnosed.
What about children? Can babies bleed from the rectum too, when does it need to be addressed ?
Children can also bleed from the rectum, the warning sign is regular bleeding with no other symptoms, I have repeatedly examined children and finally a polyp was present in the rectum, this should never be underestimated!!! If other symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, significant cramping, bloating, vomiting, temperature are added definitely see a pediatrician at the very least. Children also suffer from anal fissures and it is much more burdensome for them than adults.
Blood in the stool - solution
Choose a specialty that has years of experience with the above issue, you certainly don't want someone to treat your hemorrhoids or anal fissure and yet the cause of your problem is somewhere else. The specialist must always have a high level of suspicion if the bleeding is accompanied by symptoms not characteristic of a benign disease or if the bleeding persists despite treatment. Even operations on haemorrhoids or anal fissures can go wrong and often have serious consequences on a person's quality of life.
The older a person gets, the more he thinks about the diseases that could affect him and that he would have to fight. Since the human body is not perfect and has various reasons why it may bleed, rectal bleeding is one of them and it appears quite often in people's lives and of course raises questions as to what it could mean. Rectal bleeding is a common symptom of benign (benign), i.e. not dangerous, harmless diseases of the colon and rectum.
Blood in stool - statistics
The consultation rate per year in Western civilization for patients with symptomatic rectal bleeding is approximately 10 %.This means that approximately 10% of all adults objectively per year detect blood in various forms after defecation, whether on paper, in the toilet or in the stool. Much of this symptom falls under benign, benign diseases of the rectum such as hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissures, even skin changes in the perianal area. The above diseases are relatively easy to solve. However, there is one but..., and that is a rather serious disease of the colon and rectum. A scourge called colorectal cancer. In the "world rankings" we are at the top not only in prevalence but also in the number of deaths. I don't want to write only about hemorrhoidal disease this time - hemorrhoids, golden vein, anal fissure and how we can solve it. I want to draw everyone's attention to this serious disease, which often manifests itself by the aforementioned painless bleeding, similar to hemorrhoidal disease. In addition to objective visible bleeding, we also know about so-called occult bleeding, which is not observed objectively in any way.
Bleeding in the stool - test
The response of the MoHSR to the unflattering ranking was to develop a standard procedure for the performance of population-based colorectal cancer screening in January 2019.
The purpose of this standard procedure was to detect early stages of nonmalignant cancers in the population, early stages of malignant disease, prevention of advanced stages and thus to reduce mortality in the population.
Screening consists of a test for invisible, occult bleeding every two years or a primary colonoscopy every 10 years, with the interval adjusted according to the findings on the colon during the examination itself. In the event of a positive occult bleeding result, a screening colonoscopy follows. These are the responsibility of the health insurance companies. You will have already received an occult bleeding test if you are over 50 years of age. So don't hesitate to get tested.
The early stages of benign mucosal changes that the above screening methods are designed to detect are easy and often immediately solvable. When early stages of malignant tumour are caught, most patients can be cured without the need for removal and aggressive chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
It is very important not to underestimate the screening program and to avoid stressful situations in the whole family. Bleeding, including occult bleeding, does not necessarily mean a malignant tumour of the rectum, but is usually a benign disease such as haemorrhoids or anal fissure. If you notice that you are bleeding from the rectum, do not hesitate to visit a specialist clinic to prevent either advanced stages of haemorrhoidal disease or a malignant tumour of the rectum.
One examination can detect a problem in a simple way at an early stage, which could later end up in unnecessary surgery, cancer treatment and in non-malignant diagnoses postoperative pain with the need for long-term PN from neglect of the disease.
So what should I do?
If I am 50 years old and I am not objectively bleeding and I get a test for occult bleeding, I definitely need to get it done and if positive, have a screening colonoscopy.
If I test positive for occult hidden bleeding, does that automatically mean I have a malignant tumor?
Certainly not, the most common causes of positivity are benign diseases of the rectum and colon, inflammatory diseases or the cause may not be identified at all.
However, if I am objectively bleeding, it is definitely necessary to see a specialist to identify the source of the bleeding.
Is the test for occult bleeding dangerous?
No, there are not and there are no risks.
What if I'm under 50 and objectively bleeding?
The above also applies here. It should not be assumed that I cannot have a malignant tumour of the rectum when I am younger, it may lead to a late diagnosis and a more advanced stage of the disease, especially when other symptoms such as weight loss, changes in bowel movements, mucus or anaemia are added.
Should I have a colonoscopy if I am under 50 and have no problems?
This is not necessary; exceptions are people with risk factors, namely a positive family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives under the age of 60, a family history of adenomatous polyp in a first-degree relative under the age of 40, genetic syndromes predisposing to colorectal cancer (familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome (HNPCC)), chronic inflammatory bowel disease of more than 8 years' duration. Here, colonoscopic examination is induced according to specific recommendations.
What about my mom, dad who are over 75 for example?
Here, the general health of the person is taken into account, taking into account other illnesses and the possibility of coping with subsequent treatment should a malignant tumour be diagnosed.
What about children? Can babies bleed from the rectum too, when does it need to be addressed ?
Children can also bleed from the rectum, the warning sign is regular bleeding with no other symptoms, I have repeatedly examined children and finally a polyp was present in the rectum, this should never be underestimated!!! If other symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, significant cramping, bloating, vomiting, temperature are added definitely see a pediatrician at the very least. Children also suffer from anal fissures and it is much more burdensome for them than adults.
Blood in the stool - solution
Choose a specialty that has years of experience with the above issue, you certainly don't want someone to treat your hemorrhoids or anal fissure and yet the cause of your problem is somewhere else. The specialist must always have a high level of suspicion if the bleeding is accompanied by symptoms not characteristic of a benign disease or if the bleeding persists despite treatment. Even operations on haemorrhoids or anal fissures can go wrong and often have serious consequences on a person's quality of life.
