How to differentiate rectal cancer from hemorrhoids?

Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
Updated on May 20, 2025
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In clinical practice, rectal cancer can be differentiated from hemorrhoids in the following three aspects: First, the impact on the body is different between the two conditions. Rectal cancer has a significant impact on the body, with patients often experiencing symptoms such as general fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, have a minor impact on the body, with patients primarily experiencing local symptoms and rarely showing systemic symptoms. Second, there is a significant difference in the treatment methods. Treatment for rectal cancer includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In contrast, treatment for hemorrhoids mainly involves local medication, and severe cases may consider local surgical treatment. Thirdly, the prognosis of the two conditions is very different. Patients with advanced rectal cancer have a poorer prognosis, and many have a short survival time. Hemorrhoids, however, do not affect the life span of the body.

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