rectal problem

  hi. i am 21, not smoking, have a regular diet but kind of low on fibres and water. recently, i noticed that i have bloody stool. there is no constipation, but at times, there seems to be a tiny lump beside/at my anus.  There is no pain, but after bowel movement, it seems that the last part of the colon is pushed out, an awkward feeling. However, just this last few days, there are slight abdominal pains at night, although it would disappear shortly.  What can the problem be? can it be some inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer? thank you for your reply.
Dear Pauline,
It would be unusual for you to have colon cancer at the age of 21. Nevertheless, there are some rare, inherited conditions that present at a young age such as familial adenomatous polyposis. This condition is associated with a large number of polyps in the colon and with the development of colon cancer. From your description, the most likely cause of your bleeding is a hemorrhoid. You may benefit from increasing the fiber in your diet, stool softeners and medications such as Annusol or Preparation H. An easy way to increase the fiber in your diet is to try a bran cereal like FIBER ONE cereal by General Mills. It may also be helpful to soak the area in lukewarm water for 20 minutes per night. This might shrink any swelling in the area. If you continue to have bleeding despite these measures you may require further evaluation and testing. A flexible sigmoidoscopy is a test where a tube with a light and video camera are introduced into the rectum and advanced up the left side of the colon. This test is helpful in looking for bleeding lesions just above the anal canal. I hope you find this information helpful.
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.
If you want to be seen at our institution please call 1-800-653-6568, our Referring Physicians' Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Muszkat, one of our experts in Gastroenterology.
HFHSM.D.-ym
*Keywords: rectal bleeding