What is the difference between hemorrhoids and colon cancer

Bowel Cancer often starts from small, noncancerous polyps that form on the inner walls of the colon or large intestine. Some of these polyps may grow into malignant cancers over time if they are not treated.

If they do turn into cancer, these cancer cells can travel into the bloodstream or lymph nodes and other parts of the body typically the liver and the lungs. In the vast majority of cases, additional testing is required to make an accurate diagnosis, and discern between the two conditions. Most patients are tipped off to a potential problem by rectal bleeding or rectal itching, which can be very distressing. Suffering from misdiagnosis from a physician? Hemorrhoids happen when the veins around the anus, or those inside the lower rectum, become swollen.

While both internal and external hemorrhoids are painful, external hemorrhoids, when the veins surrounding the outside of the anus become inflamed, are much more common. For most people, hemorrhoids are a temporary problem.

Symptoms flare up and then subside, often in response to irritation or strain. Under pressure, the veins around the anus can stretch, which may cause them to swell or bulge.

In short, anything that increases pressure in the lower rectum can cause a case of hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids can also be caused by:.

Although the most common symptom of hemorrhoids is blood in the stool or blood on the toilet paper after wiping, there are other warning signs. Some other common symptoms of hemorrhoids are:.

Hemorrhoids can be completely painless, as with internal hemorrhoids, or they can be quite painful if they are located outside of the anus. Depending on your toilet habits, you can exacerbate irritation and cause more bleeding and itching.

Excessive rubbing or cleaning of the affected area can make it worse. Be proactive about your health. Colon cancer also known as colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor, arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Signs and symptoms of colon cancer are often not specific, which means they may be mistaken for a number of different conditions.

When colon cancer is detected in its early stages, there may be no symptoms present at all. In most cases, people who have these symptoms do not have cancer. To check for colon cancer, physicians use sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy to look for growths polyps in the colon.