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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Written by Yan Chun
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What are the early symptoms of rectal cancer in women?

The early symptoms of female rectal cancer are primarily localized to the rectum. Most patients exhibit symptoms such as bloody stools, recurrent constipation, or alternating occurrences of diarrhea and constipation. Some patients may experience a change in stool characteristics, an increase in the frequency of daily bowel movements, and narrower stools. Additionally, some early-stage patients may exhibit symptoms similar to bacterial dysentery, such as the discharge of mucus and bloody pus in stools, and a feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement. Some female rectal cancer patients may mistake bloody stools for hemorrhoids and consequently avoid seeking medical attention. Early symptoms are not distinctive, and many patients may overlook them, leading to a delay in the early detection of rectal cancer.

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Is there a difference between colon cancer and rectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer includes rectal cancer and colon cancer. Its clinical manifestations may include rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, and changes in stool shape. It is named according to the specific location of the tumor. For example, if the malignant tumor occurs in the rectum, it is called rectal cancer. If it occurs in the transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, and ascending colon, these malignant tumors are called colon cancer. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are collectively referred to as colorectal cancer.

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Written by Cui Fang Bo
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Has rectal cancer progressed to the advanced stage with vomiting?

Patients with rectal cancer who experience vomiting do not necessarily indicate that their condition has reached an advanced stage; the situation needs to be differentiated and treated accordingly. If nausea and vomiting are due to the gastrointestinal side effects of antitumor treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, it is unrelated to the severity of rectal cancer. Appropriate antiemetic treatment can provide significant relief. If a rectal cancer patient experiences projectile vomiting due to brain metastases, which lead to an increase in intracranial pressure, it indicates that the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Some rectal cancer patients may also experience vomiting due to gastrointestinal obstruction caused by the tumor, accompanied by cessation of bowel movements and gas, which are also signs of advanced disease.

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Written by Gong Chun
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What are the symptoms and early signs of rectal cancer?

In the early stages of rectal cancer, there are no obvious symptoms. Only when the condition progresses to a certain extent do some clinical symptoms appear. The first is a change in bowel habits or the nature of the stool. The second possible symptom is abdominal pain. The third possible outcome is intestinal obstruction. The fourth symptom occurs when the tumor develops to a certain extent, and lumps can be felt in the abdomen. The fifth point includes possible symptoms of systemic poisoning such as anemia, weight loss, fever, and weakness. The sixth point is that in the advanced stages of rectal cancer, some metastatic lesions may appear, such as extensive pelvic metastasis and infiltration, leading to pain in the sacral area and sciatic neuralgia; if areas like the vaginal, rectal mucosa, or bladder mucosa are involved, there may be vaginal bleeding or blood in the urine, resulting in conditions like rectovaginal or rectovesical fistulas.

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Can a colonoscopy detect rectal cancer?

Colonoscopy can detect colon and rectal cancer. It is the most important and primary method for examining colonic mucosal lesions. The large intestine includes the cecum, colon, and rectum. Colonoscopy allows direct visual inspection of lesions, including the size and color of the lesions, and whether there are ulcers and erosion, the nature of any attachments, etc. It also allows for direct biopsy. Firstly, it can assess the texture of the lesion, such as whether it is soft, hard, or brittle. Moreover, the biopsied sample can be analyzed histologically to determine the benign or malignant nature, depth of infiltration, etc. Different pathological characteristics have different prognoses and treatment methods, suitable for early cancers treatable under endoscopy, or those that can be removed during the process of the colonoscopy.