I Have Been Having Intermittent Rectal Bleeding When I’ve Gone

Posted on Fri, 16 Aug 2019

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : I have been having intermittent rectal bleeding when I’ve gone to the bathroom for 7 years or so. I had a colonoscopy done maybe 6 years ago and they found some internal hemorrhoids but no cancer or anything.

I’ve gone to my primary doctor about this a couple of times and he has said I seem to be chronically constipated. My stool is pretty typically very loose. The blood appears in toilet paper when I’m wiping, and burns pretty badly. If I apply pressure, it bleeds more.

If I continue to take fiber supplements (like Metamucil), the bleeding doesn’t occur and my still typically retains a normal shape.

I’m beginning to be concerned, though, that this is something more serious. Could this be cancer? Or dies the fact that it stops with sufficient fiber make that not likely?

Thanks, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Cancer unlikely

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.

Cancer is unlikely. Because the bleeding stops with good fiber intake and also the previous colonoscopy did not show anything significant including any premalignant lesions.

But you can get a repeat colonoscopy done to confirm that bleeding is due to only hemorrhoids and nothing else.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr.R.K.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee