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There¡¯s only one way to find out the real source of blood in stool

Even though many problems can cause blood in your stool, there¡¯s only one way to check it out properly: a rectal exam and a?colonoscopy. 

¡°The investigative part is pretty straightforward,¡± says Richards. ¡°We take a look at what¡¯s going on inside and out.¡±

During a colonoscopy, a doctor will inspect your entire large intestine (colon) and rectum while you are sedated. It requires preparation, which includes?drinking a laxative solution?to empty your colon.

¡°Colonoscopies are not the most fun thing to do, but most people can tolerate one pretty easily,¡± says Richards. ¡°The procedure is not very long, and the recovery is short. And, they can help us find cancer early when it¡¯s easiest to treat ¡ª or even find and remove polyps before they turn into cancer.¡±  

If you¡¯re 45 or older, it¡¯s?recommended that you have a colonoscopy every 10 years,?even if you don¡¯t have any colorectal cancer symptoms. But with?more and more young people developing colorectal cancer, you should do it just to find out what¡¯s going on if you¡¯re younger than 45 and having symptoms. 

¡°I know that¡¯s not what people want to hear,¡± Richards adds. ¡°But I don¡¯t like unanswered questions. So, my priority is to make sure I don¡¯t miss anything.¡±

Pay attention to what the blood looks like

Blood can show up in your stool in a variety of ways, and what that blood looks like can give you clues as to where it¡¯s coming from.

An adult¡¯s digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach and intestines, can be up to 30 feet long. Blood in your stool can come from any part along that length. So, you can help your doctor identify the problem by providing a good description of the appearance and amount of blood you¡¯ve been seeing. 

¡°Bright red blood might be from something low in the colon or rectum, like diverticulosis or hemorrhoids,¡± says Richards. ¡°Darker blood may be from something higher up. If the blood is black or tar-like, that could signal an issue with the small intestine or stomach.¡± 

If you only see blood on your toilet paper but not in your stool, the source of it is more likely to be hemorrhoids or anal fissures. But don¡¯t try to diagnose yourself, because blood from polyps or colorectal cancer can also show up in various ways. If a polyp or tumor is low in your rectum, you could see bright red blood similar to what comes from hemorrhoids.?

Slowly bleeding tumors at the beginning of the colon, on the other hand, may cause dark red or black stools. Tumors can also lose microscopic amounts of blood that make your stool just a little bit darker or don¡¯t change the color of it at all.  

The bottom line: see a doctor if you have blood in your stool, regardless of what you suspect the blood source might be.

Intermittent blood should still be checked out

Blood in your stool may come and go, but that does not mean it should be ignored.

¡°It can feel very personal to talk about blood in your stool, so it¡¯s tempting to wait and see if it goes away on its own,¡± says Richards. ¡°But cancers can bleed for a while and then stop, so don¡¯t put off talking to your doctor just because blood stops.¡±

Note any other symptoms you have

You might have other symptoms linked to blood in your stool. So, make a list of any other body changes you¡¯ve noticed and discuss them all with your doctor. 

Here are some additional?signs to watch for if you notice blood in your stool: 

• Anemia and/or feeling light-headed
• Chest pain or shortness of breath 
• Pain in your abdomen, pelvis or rectum 
• Fever 
• Nausea and vomiting, especially vomiting blood
• Pain or difficulty with swallowing
• Jaundice
• Significant, unexplained weight loss

Listen to your body

Many health problems exist even before symptoms start, notes Richards. That means when you do have symptoms, they should be taken very seriously. 

¡°We know there are people out there who have colorectal cancer right now and yet don¡¯t have any symptoms at all,¡± says Richards. ¡°So, if you see blood in your stool, your body is telling you something. Don¡¯t ignore it.¡± 

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