What is Difference Between Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer

The rectum is at the end of the colon. Its primary function is to collect and hold defecate until it is time to release it. Hemorrhoids and rectal cancer are two conditions that affect the rectum in humans.

The key difference between hemorrhoids and rectal cancer is their cause. Hemorrhoids occur due to swollen, enlarged veins inside and outside of the anus and rectum, while rectal cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the rectum.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Hemorrhoids
3. What is Rectal Cancer
4. Similarities – Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer
5. Hemorrhoids vs Rectal Cancer in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hemorrhoids vs Rectal Cancer
7. FAQ – Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer

What are Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids are a condition due to swollen veins inside the rectum and anus. About 1 in 20 Americans have symptomatic hemorrhoids, and this condition is more common in people over the age of 50. Hemorrhoids are caused by straining that puts pressure on the anus and rectum. The common symptoms of hemorrhoids may include an itchy anus, hard lumps near the anus that feel sore or tender, pain in the anus, and rectal bleeding.

Figure 01: Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids can be diagnosed through digital rectal examination, anoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. Furthermore, hemorrhoids can be treated by applying over-the-counter lidocaine witch hazel to the affected area, taking NSAIDs for pain, rubber band ligation, electrocoagulation, infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and surgeries like hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoid stapling.

What is Rectal Cancer?

Rectal cancer is a condition typically due to the development of slow-growing cancerous cells on the inner lining of the rectum. The exact cause of rectal cancer is not known. But certain factors such as age (the average age diagnosis of rectal cancer is 63), certain diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, eating processed meats, gender (males affected more), inherited colorectal cancer syndrome, obesity, race (Black people affected more), and smoking increase the risk of having rectal cancer. Moreover, symptoms of rectal cancer may include rectal bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, a sudden change in bowel habits, stools appearing stringy or thin like a pencil, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.

Figure 02: Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery in Rectal Cancer

Rectal cancer can be diagnosed through digital rectal examination, colonoscopy, biopsy, blood test, CT scan, MRI, and pelvic ultrasound. Furthermore, rectal cancer can be treated with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS), lower anterior resection (LAR), abdominoperineal resection (APR), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Similarities Between Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer

Hemorrhoids and rectal cancer are two conditions that affect the rectum.
Both can cause similar symptoms, such as pain in the rectum, rectal bleeding, etc.
These conditions are more common in older adults.
Both can be diagnosed through digital examination and imaging tests.
They can be treated through respective surgeries.

Difference Between Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer

Definition

Hemorrhoids are due to swollen veins inside the rectum and anus.
Rectal cancer is due to the development of slow-growing cancerous cells on the inner lining of the rectum.

Causes

Hemorrhoids are caused by straining that puts pressure on the anus and rectum.
The exact cause of rectal cancer is not known, but certain factors increase the risk of having rectal cancer, such as age (the average age diagnosis for rectal cancer is 63), certain diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, eating processed meats, gender (males affected more), inherited colorectal cancer syndrome, obesity, race (Black people affected more) and smoking.

Symptoms

Symptoms of hemorrhoids include itchy anus, hard lumps near the anus that feel sore or tender, pain in the anus, and rectal bleeding.
Symptoms of rectal cancer include rectal bleeding, diarrhoea, constipation, a sudden change in how and when people defecate, stools that look stringy or thin as a pencil, tiredness, weakness, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.

Diagnosis

Hemorrhoids can be diagnosed by digital rectal examination, anoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy.
Rectal cancer can be diagnosed by digital rectal examination, colonoscopy, biopsy, blood test, CT scan, MRI, and pelvic ultrasound.

Treatment

Hemorrhoids can be treated by applying over-the-counter lidocaine witch hazel to the affected area, taking NSAIDs for pain, rubber band ligation, electrocoagulation, infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy, and surgeries like hemorrhoidectomy, and hemorrhoid stapling.
Rectal cancer can be treated with transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS), lower anterior resection (LAR), abdominoperineal resection (APR), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

The following table summarizes the difference between hemorrhoids and rectal cancer.

Summary – Hemorrhoids vs Rectal Cancer

Hemorrhoids and rectal cancer are two conditions that affect the rectum. Although hemorrhoids and rectal cancer do share some symptoms, such as rectal bleeding, itching, and potential lumps at the anal opening, they are different conditions. This is because hemorrhoids occur due to swollen, enlarged veins inside and outside of the anus and rectum, while rectal cancer occurs when cancerous cells develop in the rectum. This summarizes the difference between hemorrhoids and rectal cancer.

FAQ: Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer

1. What are the signs and symptoms of having hemorrhoids?

The common symptoms of hemorrhoids are an itchy anus, hard lumps near the anus that feel sore or tender, pain in the anus, and rectal bleeding.

2. Should people remove their hemorrhoids?

Generally, hemorrhoids do not cause problems. But if hemorrhoids bleed a lot, cause pain, or become swollen, hard, and painful, they can be treated by applying over-the-counter lidocaine witch hazel to the affected area, taking NSAIDs for pain, rubber band ligation, electrocoagulation, infrared coagulation, sclerotherapy. They can be also removed through surgeries like hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoid stapling.

3. What are the common signs and symptoms of rectal cancer?

A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or more frequent bowel movements, dark maroon or bright red blood-coloured stool, narrow stool, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, weakness, or fatigue.

4. What causes rectal cancer?

The exact cause of rectal cancer is not known, but certain risk factors such as age (the average age diagnosis of rectal cancer is 63), certain diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, eating processed meats, gender (males affected more), inherited colorectal cancer syndrome, obesity, race (Black people affected more) and smoking have been identified.

5. Can rectal cancer be cured?

Although rectal cancer is a life-threatening disease, it is a highly curable form of cancer if it is found early. It can be treated currently through transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS), lower anterior resection (LAR), abdominoperineal resection (APR), chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Reference:

1. “Colorectal Cancer.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization.
2. “Hemorrhoids.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Depiction of a person suffering from Piles (Hemorrhoids)” By Myupchar.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Diagram showing trans anal endoscopic microsurgery for early stage rectal cancer CRUK 377” By Cancer Research UK – Original email from CRUK (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia

CONTENTS

What are Hemorrhoids?

What is Rectal Cancer?

Similarities Between Hemorrhoids and Rectal Cancer