Rectal bleeding, also called hematochezia, might be mild or severe. While it may simply be due to an injury, it might also signal a more serious medical condition. In any case, if you are bleeding from your rectum and you have unexplained weight loss, you need to see your doctor.
Features
The rectum is the last section of the large intestine that ends at the anus. Because of its location and function, the rectum may be the site where bleeding from either internal or external sources is discovered. Most often, rectal bleeding comes from hemorrhoids, especially if the bleeding is minor. Hemorrhoids may be painful and are frequently accompanied by itchiness. Rectal fissures are another common cause of rectal bleeding. The blood from these is usually bright red.
Bloody stool, on the other hand, is usually a sign of something more complex than hemorrhoids or a rectal fissure. In this instance, the stool may be very dark red or even black. Sometimes you can't see blood in your stool, but a common test will show that it is there.
Effects
One possible reason for weight loss with rectal bleeding is chronic diarrhea, such as is found in inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Chronic diarrhea, however, may also point to the presence of a tumor.
Unexplained weight loss that accompanies rectal bleeding may indicate that you have a tumor or polyp in your colon. Polyps are tissue lumps in the colon. While harmless at first, polyps can become cancerous.
Considerations
The combination of bloody stools or rectal bleeding and unexplained weight loss may imply a cancerous lesion in . However, your doctor will also look for other symptoms, including a change in bowel habits, abdominal pain or pressure and the sensation that you can't quite empty your bowels. While younger people may get colorectal cancer, this is much more often found in people over the age of 50.
Identification
If you are wondering if you have blood in your stool, you can have it tested. The test for this is called a hemocult, and most doctors recommend this test be done regularly after you turn 40 years old.
Another common screening test for those over 50 is the colonoscopy. Just like it sounds, a scope is used to examine the inside walls of your colon. This test will be at the top of the list if you have blood in your stool, as it is the definitive way to discover if you have polyps or colorectal cancer.
Warning
While hemorrhoids are the most common source of rectal bleeding, that doesn't mean you should ignore this symptom. Hemorrhoids are easily treatable, but if the source of the bleeding is internal---and especially if it's accompanied by ---you really need to talk to your doctor about having the appropriate test to determine exactly what's going on. The longer you wait, the more difficult it could be to find an effective treatment.
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