In the article we will figure out whether hemorrhoids can turn into cancer.
Hemorrhoids is a varicose transformation of the vessels of the rectum in the form of their extensions, called hemorrhoids. These formations can be internal and external, and at advanced stages of the pathological process, the nodes begin to fall out and bleed.
The disease proceeds, as a rule, in waves: chronic periods are replaced by acute ones, and vice versa. The period of remission can be almost painless, and the patient does not experience pathological symptoms and complications.
Stages of the disease
The main stages of the disease:
- formation of external and internal hemorrhoids;
- periodic knot loss and self-reduction;
- falling out and returning the nodes to their place is carried out with additional medical assistance and is accompanied by periodic bleeding.
Periods of exacerbation of hemorrhoids are characterized by a number of complications, fromwhich are considered the most frequent thrombosis of the hemorrhoid, swelling and inflammation of adjacent tissues and mucous membranes.
Many wonder if hemorrhoids can turn into cancer?
Characteristics of colorectal cancer
Malignant processes in the rectum are characterized by the development of oncological formation originating from the epithelial tissues of the rectal walls. Over time, metastases begin to form - screenings from the main focus of the pathological process, which have the ability to grow and affect other organs. The structure of metastases is similar to the main tumor.
How to tell colon cancer from hemorrhoids? More on that below.
Initially, metastases develop around the lymph nodes, and in the process of complication of the disease - in the lymph nodes themselves. In this case, the lesion affects most of the intestine. The next stage is the spread of oncological formations to neighboring organs, which significantly disrupts their functions. The lungs, pelvic bones, bladder, uterus have the highest probability of metastasis sedimentation. At the last stage of its development, oncological disease is incurable and leads to death.
So, can hemorrhoids turn into cancer? What are the signs of this?
Similarities of symptoms
In the early stages of the development of such diseases, the symptoms of the pathological process are quite similar. Their list includes:
- rectal bleeding or blood-stained stools;
- false calls todefecation;
- discomfort or pain in the anorectal region.
When such signals appear, you should immediately consult a doctor to diagnose the pathology in order to determine whether it is hemorrhoids or an oncological disease.
How often do hemorrhoids turn into cancer? Let's figure it out.
Differences in symptoms
Hemorrhoids and colorectal cancers have significant differences between them, and they are mainly in the symptoms.
Differences between cancer and hemorrhoids:
- The nature of blood discharge. With the development of hemorrhoids, the blood has a bright red (scarlet) color, it is released, as a rule, at the end of the act of defecation, which can be visually determined by feces - the blood is most often on the surface and often looks like a clearly defined strip. In malignant processes in the rectum, the blood has a predominantly dark color and is evenly mixed with feces. How often do hemorrhoids turn into cancer? We will answer this question.
- The nature of the discharge during defecation. In cancer, mucus or pus is sometimes released from the rectum before emptying the intestines, and in some cases particles of the malignant neoplasm itself when it is damaged. In addition, there may be a change in the shape of feces - the development of a tumor often leads to the formation of a ribbon feces. With hemorrhoids, these symptoms are not observed.
- The nature of constipation. Cancer is often accompanied by more long-term constipation than with hemorrhoids. The patient may notempty for more than two days.
- General condition of the patient. Sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, pallor of the skin, constant pain in the abdomen, fever, constant feeling of fatigue, shortness of breath and weakness - these symptoms can only be with oncology and are rarely observed with hemorrhoids.
- The nature of formations. Hemorrhoids, unlike a malignant tumor, fall out of the rectum.
In addition, in cases where polyps were previously detected in the patient (which should be recorded in the anamnesis), the likelihood of developing cancerous pathologies increases. Many people think that hemorrhoids can develop into cancer, how to detect this?
Diagnosis
To reliably determine the patient's disease, a fecal analysis is performed, in which there is blood discharge, a digital examination of the rectal area, MRI to determine the presence of metastases, colonoscopy, anoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and some other procedures that a specialist may prescribe. However, any diagnosis is always pretty quick and easy.
Can hemorrhoids turn into cancer?
The answer to this question is quite clear: hemorrhoids do not turn into cancer. But this does not exclude the concomitant development of both pathological processes, which, as a rule, occurs extremely rarely.
It is a misconception that hemorrhoids lead to cancer.
Similar early symptomsdiseases are only an indication for contacting a specialist. Neither oncology nor hemorrhoids pass without a trace, however, rectal cancer can lead to death if this pathology is not diagnosed in a timely manner and treatment is not started.
Features of therapy for both pathologies
Treatment of hemorrhoids and oncological tumors can be divided into three main methods:
- drug therapy;
- minimally invasive methods;
- surgical intervention.
Medicated treatment
These activities are characterized by taking prescribed medications: ointments, tablets and suppositories for a hemostatic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and venotonic effect.
This type of therapy in most cases is complex and is prescribed to the patient for a certain period of time: with chronic forms of hemorrhoids up to two months, with an exacerbation of the disease - from 7 to 14 days.
The most popular medications for hemorrhoids are phlebotonics, combined anesthetic and anti-inflammatory nonsteroidal drugs, which are also used in the treatment of oncology.
Minimally invasive methods
This treatment is a surgical intervention without the use of a scalpel and other cutting medical equipment. These techniques include:
- infrared coagulation;
- laser coagulation;
- cryotherapy;
- ligation of the hemorrhoidwith latex rings;
- sclerotherapy.
These medical measures are carried out with the help of a laser, infrared radiation, liquid nitrogen, sclerosing medicines and specialized latex rings. This allows you to remove hemorrhoidal formations with minimal damage to the rectal area and a short recovery period.
Surgical intervention for hemorrhoids
These methods of treating hemorrhoids and colon cancer are quite similar. Surgery for hemorrhoids involves two main operations:
- Hemorrhoidectomy - excision of all tissues that are affected by hemorrhoidal changes, as well as tissues around the anus. Certain types of surgery distinguish between the fixation of the mucous membrane to the underlying tissue, which is a very traumatic and painful operation with a long recovery period. But its implementation is justified at the last stages of the development of diseases, when pathological processes have become neglected.
- Operation Longo - cutting out a separate section of the tissue of the mucous membrane, in which the hemorrhoids are moved deep into the canal with a violation of their blood circulation processes. As a result, the nodes begin to die off on their own. The Longo method is a safer and faster operation with a minimal recovery period, but it is performed only for internal hemorrhoidal formations.
Treatment for cancer
Unlikehemorrhoids, oncological diseases of the rectum are treated using the following methods:
- surgical;
- through radiotherapy;
- using molecular targeted or targeted therapy;
- chemotherapy;
- other, less common methods.
Surgical manipulations are carried out at the first three stages of cancers of similar localization. There are several types of operations:
- Anterior resection, which is characterized by the removal of the affected area of the rectal canal with further suturing of the ends. It is not always possible for a specialist to remove it due to the size of the malignant neoplasm or anatomical inconvenience.
- Hartmann's operation, which is performed when oncology is complicated by a perifocal inflammatory process or intestinal obstruction in an acute form. After removal of the neoplasm, the lower end of the rectum is sutured, and the upper end is removed as a permanent or temporary anus (colostomy).
- Low anterior resection, which repeats the processes of anterior resection, except that special equipment is used when stitching the intestine, due to the remote location of the neoplasm (above 5 cm).
- Abdo-perineal extirpation, characterized by complete removal of the rectum along with the sphincter. After that, a permanent colostomy is formed, which is brought to the stomach or to the perineal area, where the anus was previously located.
Hemorrhoids and cancerrectum are also similar in many preventive techniques. They include maintaining a he althy lifestyle, giving up bad habits and normalizing the stool.
We looked at whether hemorrhoids can turn into cancer.
