Rectal Bleeding

[Hunter926]

I would appreciate your opinion and hopefully some peace of mind.  The following scenario has occurred twice over the last six to nine months.  It pertains to rectal bleeding, an issue of some concern given my age of 48.  Anyway, the scenario is:

I have noticed blood (diluted with sweat) two times after a two mile run. The blood has been present on my underwear and is pink and very dilute in color. I would guess that the total amount is relatively small, and it seems to be somewhat diffuse (not all in one spot).   Both times I have had a BM prior to running and both times I ate BBQ beef with HOT sauce the night before (coincidence?), hence a little anal irritation.  There is no visible blood in the stool or bowl ever, and this has only happened twice that I remember. There is also a little blood present if I wipe immediately after these two “runs”.  Afterwards, things seem to be OK.

Question is – I know this could be serious, but could it also just be anal irritation brought on by diet, sweating and irritation from the run, or could it be hemmorroidal?, and what is the most likely cause?    I will bring it to my family doctors attention on my next annual visit, which fortunately is in a couple of weeks.

BTW, I am a relatively healthy Caucasian male, 48 years old.

I appreciate your thoughts.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Certainly rectal bleeding is never normal.  It can be caused by relatively benign causes such as hemorrhoids or chafing - which is certainly possible in the scenario you presented.  Being almost 50, you may want to be consider being screened for cancer - other potential causes would be cancer, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease or diverticulosis.  

I would consider discussing some sort of endoscopy during your physician visit - either a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.  They would be the most comprehensive tests to evaluate the colon.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[surgeon]

It certainly sounds like an external problem associated with chafing, etc. Hemorrhoids could do it as well. It's not at all suggestive of the sort of bleeding one sees with more serious things such as cancer or colitis. Bleeding of any sort needs an answer, and it's good you'll be seeing your doctor. Chances are exceedingly high it'll turn out to be no big deal.

[A41734]

Im in need of some advice as soon as possible. I went to the bathroom yesterday and i noticed that my stool had some traces of what looked to be blood. Just Little spots on the stool here and there. And it went off into the water. But... I have been eating pickled eggs and beets for the past couple of days. Could that be the reason or is there someting else causeing this. Im only 16 and im in very good shape i dont do allot of lifting heavy things. I sit around and play PC games mostly. Plz respond as soon as possible.!

[mshll412]

had radiation and chemotheraphy for cervical cancer the last treatment was in august of 2003. i have noticed ever since the treatment my stools r soft with i think mucus and lomtimes when they r not that soft they have like strings of mucus i think and sometimes blood i am kind of worried about the blood i also have hemmorriods out side that i see can the radiation and chemo treatment caused this with my bowels i had pelvic radiation and it seems i cant hold my bowels when i have to go i have to go. sometimes my lower right side feels like a pulling or something