Do you really understand the difference between hemorrhoids and rectal cancer?

Rectal cancer and hemorrhoids are two completely different diseases, but many people mistakenly treat rectal cancer as hemorrhoids, which delays the disease and ruins the treatment opportunity, which makes people regret it. According to statistics, nearly 90% of rectal cancer cases are misdiagnosed in the early stage, and most of them are misdiagnosed as hemorrhoids. It can be seen that whether for the general public or the first doctor, if there are symptoms such as blood in the stool, do not easily conclude that it is "hemorrhoids", otherwise it is very likely to miss the fatal rectal cancer.

What are hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins at the bottom of your rectum and anus. Sometimes the walls of these blood vessels stretch so thin that the veins swell and become inflamed, especially when you have a bowel movement.

Swollen hemorrhoids are also called piles.

hemorrhoid

Hemorrhoids are one of the most common causes of rectal bleeding. They are rarely dangerous and usually clear up within a few weeks. But you should see a doctor to make sure the condition isn't something more serious. He can also remove hemorrhoids that don't go away or are very painful.

Internal and external hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are far enough inside the rectum that you usually can't see or feel them. They generally don't hurt because you have few nerves there to feel pain. Bleeding may be their only sign.

External hemorrhoids are located under the skin around the anus, where there are more nerves that sense pain, so they are prone to injury and bleeding.

Hemorrhoids are a group of inflamed, swollen veins around the anus, and anyone can get them. Learn about the symptoms of hemorrhoids, as well as how they are diagnosed and treated in this WebMD slideshow.

Sometimes hemorrhoids can prolapse, or become larger and raised outside the anal sphincter. You may then see them as moist lumps that are thinner than the surrounding area. They are more likely to hurt, usually when you have a bowel movement.

Prolapsed hemorrhoids usually return to their original position on their own. Even if they don't, they can be gently pushed back into place.

External hemorrhoids can form blood clots, which can turn them purple or blue. This is called thrombosis. It can be painful, itchy, and bleed. When the clot dissolves, you may still have a little bit of skin left, which can cause an irritation.

What causes it?

Some people may be more likely to get hemorrhoids if other family members, such as their parents, have them.

Increased pressure in the lower rectum can affect blood flow and cause the veins there to swell. Extra weight can cause this when you're obese or pregnant. Or it can come from:

Straining during bowel movements

Feeling tense when you do something physically strenuous, such as lifting something heavy

People who stand or sit for long periods of time are also at greater risk.

When you have constipation or diarrhea, you may not get relief. Coughing, sneezing, and vomiting can make the condition worse.

Why do so many people fall into this "death pit"?

First, hemorrhoids and rectal cancer are both common clinical diseases, and the sites of onset of the two diseases are similar. The early symptoms of rectal cancer are atypical, and are similar to the clinical manifestations of hemorrhoids, such as blood in the stool, difficulty in defecation, and falling objects. Therefore, it is easy to be confused if you are not careful.

Second: the public lacks scientific health knowledge and is not aware of colorectal cancer. As the saying goes, "Nine out of ten people have hemorrhoids," which makes many people think that hemorrhoids are a common disease with a "mass base." Once blood in the stool occurs, most people think they have "hemorrhoids." Coupled with bad living habits and occupational factors, it is easier to justify the symptoms of blood in the stool. Without understanding the cause, they privately treat it as "hemorrhoids" or ignore it.

Third: Some medical staff have limited medical level or clinical experience, insufficient understanding of rectal cancer, lack of vigilance, narrow thinking, limited considerations, and ignore patients with diarrhea and bloody stools, excluding the possibility of rectal cancer. At the same time, they do not attach importance to clinical examinations, especially digital rectal examinations.

Fourth: Some patients go to see a doctor and say they have hemorrhoids right away. Combined with some symptoms, it is very easy for some careless doctors to prejudge it as "hemorrhoids" and treat it without further careful differential diagnosis.

Fifth: Not enough attention is paid to young patients. Although rectal cancer mostly occurs in people over 50 years old, cases in my country under 30 years old also account for 10-20%, and the trend continues to rise. Therefore, if young people have bloody stools, rectal cancer screening cannot be ignored.

Hemorrhoids vs. colorectal cancer, what is the difference?

Rectal cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the rectum. The 5-year survival rate after radical surgery for early-stage (stage I) cancer is over 90%, but for late-stage (stage III and IV) cancer, it is less than 30%.

Hemorrhoids are caused by congestion and stagnation of the veins in the lower rectum and anal canal, which causes the veins to expand and become varicose, forming a venous mass called hemorrhoids. Depending on the location, they are divided into internal and external hemorrhoids. Most asymptomatic hemorrhoids do not require any treatment and have no effect on a person's health. Surgery can be chosen for those with more severe symptoms.