Diagnosing the Cause of Blood in the Toilet

If you notice blood in the toilet after you pass a bowel movement, or detect blood in your stool, you could have internal hemorrhoids, a condition also referred to as piles. However, rectal bleeding is also a symptom of certain cancers, as this 36-year-old father learned when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer after assuming that the blood in his stool meant he had hemorrhoids. Clearly, diagnosing what's causing your rectal bleeding is critical for your health. In this post, we help you tell the difference between bleeding associated with hemorrhoids vs cancer.

Determing Cause of Blood in Toilet By Color

The color of the blood you notice after passing a bowel movement could help you figure out why you're bleeding in the first place. When blood in the toilet is simply one of your hemorrhoid symptoms, it will appear to be bright red, much like the color of fresh pizza sauce. But if your rectal bleeding is a sign or cancer, the blood could be much darker.

Now, bleeding isn't the only common symptom between piles and cancer. Both conditions can change your bowel habits and cause anal protrusions. And, while monitoring the color of your blood can provide your healthcare provider with useful information, you will still need to seek medical attention to receive an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate course of treatment.

Medical Procedure to Relieve Hemorrhoids

If hemorrhoids are what's causing you to notice blood in the toilet, you may find temporary relief with topical products. But once you've developed symptoms such as bleeding, you may need a medical procedure to enjoy lasting symptom relief. So, if you've been diagnosed with internal hemorrhoids, we invite you to visit us at the Georgia Hemorrhoid Institute. You can request a consultation here. Then, where see you in our Atlanta office, we can explore your candidacy for HAE (hemorrhoid artery embolization) a minimally-invasive treatment option for grades 1-3 internal hemorrhoids.