Gastro-Intestinal bleeding on anticoagulants is a sign of cancer

[MarkS]

There's a paper just out on GI bleeding on anti-coagulants:

medscape.com/viewarticle/92...

Apparently there is a 10-24 times risk of colorectal cancer if you bleed from the lower GI tract whist on anticoagulants.

It is actually a good news story as it's not the anticoagulant causing the cancer. The anticoagulant causes notable bleeding earlier than would otherwise be the case. Consequently the cancer can be treated earlier.

The key message is that if you have GI bleeding, don't just pass it off as the anticogulant, you must have an endoscopy to see if there's something there.

[Hidden]

Many thanks for passing that on Mark.

John

[CDreamer]

I read that article, thought it was a good warning to medical staff.

OH was investigate recently for such bleeding & they didn’t hang around - endoscopy arranged within 7 days. All good pleased to say.

[sotolol in reply to CDreamer]

Great news.

[sotolol]

Thank you Mark. Good to know reassuring.

[BobD Volunteer]

Thanks for that . As always Mark your posts are helpful and positive.

[Steve101]

Good advice. I have colitis, which when I have a flare up causes rectal bleeding. I have been on Edoxaban for a month now, was concerned it may cause a flare up of colitis. So far it has not - fingers crossed.

[Jancam1]

So true. Had a major intestinal bleed while on eliquis. Had emergency colonoscopy . Results, malignancy of polyp, and removal of large colon due to many polyps.

[Raoudha]

Thanks

[Hidden]

You mean a colonoscopy. Endoscopy scopes the stomach and upper part of the small intestine.

[MarkS in reply to Hidden]

An endoscopy is any procedure where the doctor can view the inside of the body. That includes the colon, stomach, heart, etc. A colonoscopy is a type of endoscopy. In the article it mentioned endoscopy. Nevertheless, it is the colon that needs investigation, so colonoscopy is more specific.