bleeding

Ahoy, shubunkin -

Hemorrhoidal blood is typically bright red. If you are bleeding internally, as is often the case for cancer, your stool is often very black and sticky. It is frequently described as "tarry".

Constipation and the attendant enlarged stool that passes can cause tears in your anus. It can also cause a hemorrhoidal vessel to rupture.

You mention your family history of CC and you say your mom died at age 47. There may be a bad gene in your family lines that makes you more disposed to colon cancer. I would strongly recommend that you find a way to get a colonoscopy. I would also recommend you try to get one every couple of years. CC is so treatable - if you just catch it in time and "nip it in the polyp". I'm not saying your bleeding has anything to do with colon cancer, but you may be at an elevated risk for developing it. And even if you have the gene, that doesn't automatically mean you will develop cancer. But you need to start checking.

I was diagnosed at 37 and had had my tumors for about 4 years according to the pathologist - which means I got CC at age 33.

Try to get yourself some insurance and get yourself checked! There are alternatives to insurance, too - I urge you to contact your local chapter of the American Cancer Society and see how they can help you.

You have taken a good first step in the right direction by posting here - tere are many people who understand your fears and who want to help. Don't hesitate to ask more questions - we may be amatures, but we've been there!

Be well,

- SpongeBob

Hello S., By your story and description it is almost certainly a small haemorrhoid. A tear would usually be quite painful. However, if your mother had CC at 47, this is a bit young and (as spongebob says,) is a bit suggestive of a possible genetic cause. Let me stress "possible," not "likely."To check that out, it is usual to get a colonoscopy done at ten years younger than the previous case in a relative (your mother) Although you are a bit younger than that, since you have some minor symptoms, I think now would be a good time to check. Hope you can organise some insurance cover. Best wishes,
V.C.

2bhealed said:

Hi Shubunkin,

What I want to address here is why were you constipated for three days and how often does this occur with you? This is a signal that something is wrong regardless if it is cancer or not.....especially since you have family history. A healthy colon should be evacuating three times a day for each meal eaten.
I hope, with knowing your family history, you get that colon moving and cleaning out. Come back to the chat room again. :-)

peace, emily

ps. talking poop around here is not gross....afterall this IS the colorectal section!

"ps. talking poop around here is not gross....afterall this IS the colorectal section!"


RIGHT ON, Emily!