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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Should I be worried about blood in my stool?

    Related Topics
    Bowel Cancer Cancer Digestive Health
    For the last 3 months my stools following with a large amount of thick fresh blood. I'm scared to go to the doctor, I keep making excuses.

    I was born in 1991 with a twisted bowel and was operated in 1993.

    Should I be worried about bowel cancer?
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    Bowel Cancer Australia

    Bowel Cancer Australia is the leading community-funded charity dedicated to prevention, early diagnosis, research, quality treatment and care for everyone affected by bowel cancer. We … View Profile

    Thank you very much for your question.

    Please refer to our earlier answer to a similar question on Healthshare at - http://www.healthshare.com.au/questions/48507-do-i-need-tests-done-if-i-have-blood-in-my-stools

    If you have blood in your stools it is important you see your GP for an assessment in order to rule out any possible causes for the bleeding. This may entail your GP referring you to a Gastroenterologist to assess whether a colonoscopy is required.

    Due to the detailed nature of your specific questions they are quite difficult to answer in an online forum.

    If you'd like to send your questions through to Bowel Cancer Australia's Nurse Adviser we'd be very happy to get in contact with you to provide an individualised response and further advice.

    You can send your questions to us using the web form available at http://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=305&Itemid=305.

    We look forward to receiving your questions and to offering you some tailored advice.

    Kind Regards,
    The team at Bowel Cancer Australia
    www.bowelcanceraustralia.org


    Please Note: The information provided by Bowel Cancer Australia’s Nurse and Nutritionist Advisory Services is intended for Australian residents as a reference guide only. It is not a substitute for independent professional advice and is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or disorder.

    If you believe your symptoms are consistent with those of bowel cancer or a digestive illness, please consult your doctor.

    Bowel Cancer Australia, its directors, officers or medical professionals shall not be liable to any person, company or any other body for any loss, direct or indirect or consequential on whatsoever account for any omission or negligent misstatement.

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    Dr Kenneth Wong

    Bariatric (Obesity) Surgeon, General Surgeon, Laparoscopic Surgeon

    Dr Ken Wong is a very experienced specialist surgeon focussing on keyhole surgery techniques for gallstones, bowel cancer, hernia and weight loss surgery. He graduated … View Profile

    Blood in the stools should be a cause for concern. Whilst blood can be a symptom of bowel cancer, there are other findings that could explain the blood. These could include haemorrhoids, polyps (pre-cancerous growths) and diverticular disease.

    From the bleeding alone, we cannot tell whether the cause is cancer or not. Therefore, all blood found in stools needs to be investigated.

    Generally, this will involve a camera examination of the bowel called a colonoscopy.

    This is a day case procedure done under sedation. Seeing a surgeon who specialises in gastrointestinal surgery will help to organise a colonoscopy and discuss the potential treatments of the various causes of  bleeding in the stools.

    For further information, please go to. http://www.centralcoastsurgery.com.au

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    A/Prof Payal Saxena

    Gastroenterologist

    Dr Payal Saxena is a Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist appointed at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Prince of Wales Private Hospital and The Chris O'Brien LifeHouse. In … View Profile

    Blood in the stool is most commonly due to minor haemorrhoids or a small anal tear which can occur after passing constipated stool. However, it can also be due to abnormal blood vessels in the bowel, inflammation or polyps. More sinister causes such as tumors should also be excluded. It is important to see a Gastroenterologist who can discuss the various causes and investigation with a colonoscopy may be necessary. Once sinister causes have been exluded after colonoscopy, your Gastroenterologist can discuss various ways to to help control the bleeding with dietary and other simple measures.

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