Blood in stool?

[Sbr123]

Hi everyone! I’m new. Would you say this is blood around the stool? Sorry for the graphicness but yeah...my mom says it’s the stool kinda disintegrating bc of the water in the toilet but idk (ignore the red dot btw, it’s another thing)

[Nicole_GCCA Partner]

Hi Sbr123 ,

Thank you for posting and I'm sorry for your symptoms. It is very difficult to tell what's going on from a photo, so we recommend going to a doctor.

Depending on your age, and any other symptoms that you might be experiencing, you may need a colonoscopy.

Have you had any other symptoms? And what is your age?

Thanks!

~Nicole @ GCCA

[Sbr123 in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

Hi! It’s my mom who has it. She’s 52 yrs old. She also has flatulence, but other than that nothing else

[Nicole_GCCA Partner in reply to Sbr123]

Hi Sbr123 ,

Thanks for replying. Has your mom ever been screened for colorectal cancer? If not, she is due to be screened. Depending on your insurance you may need a referral but see a gastroenterologist - but regardless of the stool, it is time for her to be screened if she hasn't yet.

Please provide an update when you can.

Thanks!

~Nicole @ GCCA

[Sbr123 in reply to Nicole_GCCA]

But do you think it is that? Now I’m worried. Honestly she did have a colonoscopy years ago and it was good. She doesn’t have history of that.

[Nicole_GCCA Partner in reply to Sbr123]

Hi Sbr123 ,

I don't mean to cause panic - sorry! There are so many reasons that people experience symptoms - and many of them are conditions that are chronic and treatable.

I'm curious, why did you mom have a colonoscopy years ago? Did she have GI issues?

Hereditary colorectal cancer accounts for a small percentage of all colorectal cancers (about 5-10%).

When she had her colonoscopy, they should have told her when she would be getting her next colonoscopy. (Typically for people who are screened without symptoms but due to becoming of screening age - and have zero findings in their colonoscopy, are due to be screened 10 years later).

Again, I apologize if causing any panic -- colorectal cancer is quite treatable and even preventable with regular screenings, which makes it such a unique cancer. Unfortunately, at later stages it can be very difficult to treat. That is why Colorectal Cancer advocates shout from the rooftop to "get screened!" and "if something feels off, see the doctor!"

Thanks again for posting,

Nicole @ GCCA