Re: Periodic Bright Red Blood

Posted By Theresa on August 31, 1998 at 19:15:56:

In Reply to: Re: Periodic Bright Red Blood  posted by HFHSM.D.-rf on August 31, 1998 at 13:59:18:






I am 37 years old, and over the years have noticed trace amounts of blood
on the toilet paper after a bowel movement.  I have a history of constipation
but NEVER strain to push a bowel movement.  
Twice in the past year I have had bowel movements accompanied with a large
amount of bright red blood.  This blood does not come after a movement, but with it.
I don't have anal pain, and once the bowel movement is finished, the blood is gone.
I tested positive on a fecal occult blood test and am waiting for an appointment
with a gastro doc.
My question:  Is there a place I can go to find numbers of women under the age of 40
with colon cancer?  My father told me since my positive occult test that he has always
had polyps, my grand mother had cervical cancer, my grand father prostrate cancer.
Everybody is telling me not to worry, that it is likely a hemmoroid, but I am not convinced!
Please give me some advice!
__
Dear Theresa,
According to the National Institutes of Health Epidemiology numbers, the incidence of colorectal cancer increases with age.  For women between the ages of 30 and 40 there are between 3 and 10 cases per 100, 000 population.  If there is afamily history of colon cancer or polys, then the risk of developing polyps/cancer is increased (approx doubled).  The bleeding that you describe in this and the subsequent postings could be due to polyps or hemarrhoids.  The history of diarrhea, pains etc also made me think of conditions such as Crohn's Disease.  
The significance of guiaiac positive stool is uncertain.  If you had the guaiac positive stool not associated with macroscopic bleeding ( i.e. you did not have visible blood during the week prior to the stool guaiac)thenI would be more concerned about conditions such as polyps.  If, however, the stol guaiac was done within several days of macroscopic bleeding, then it has no value as a test to suggest polyps.
Based on your history I think that you require a colonscopy to exclude polyps and to identify the cause of your bleeding.
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: colorectal cancer, bleeding
0.3

Thank you very much!!  I really appreciate what you all are doing here, it is a
great service, while it does not substitute for a IRL doc visit, it is a great
way to attempt to calm your fears while you await your next visit.