“What are the symptoms to detect colon and rectal cancer?”

Question

Colon and Rectal Surgeon Questions Colon Cancer

“What are the symptoms to detect colon and rectal cancer?”

My father has been passing bloody stools and we have recently sent it to get tested. We're still waiting for the results, but we want to be aware of any symptoms that can come up. Is bloody stool a sign of colon and rectal cancer? What else should we look out for?

2 Answers

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**Rami Makhoul** Colon and Rectal Surgeon Rockville, MD · Accepted Answer

Rami Makhoul Colon and Rectal Surgeon Rockville, MD

Bloody stools may be a sign of colorectal cancer. But there are many other reasons for rectal bleeding. If your has never had a colonoscopy before, I would highly recommend getting one as soon as possible. I hope this is helpful.

**Dr. Atif Iqbal** Colon and Rectal Surgeon Gainesville, FL · Accepted Answer

Bloody stools can be a sign of colorectal cancer but it can also be because of many other reasons. Its best to see a colorectal surgeon or gastroenterologist and have a formal assessment. He may need a colonoscopy if it continues. That is how you definitively diagnose colorectal cancer. If he had a FIT test or one of the home based tests and they come back positive, he still needs a colonoscopy.

Best of luck !
Atif Iqbal, MD