Can Hemorrhoids Cause Cancer?

Posted on October 02, 2024

Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that form in and around your rectum or anus due to pressure. While they are common and typically harmless, the symptoms sometimes overlap with those of colorectal cancer and anal cancer.

This post will help clarify the differences and answer the question, “Can hemorrhoids cause cancer?”

Medical practitioner in glasses showing test results to man and explaining diagnosis while sitting on couch in office of modern clinic

Can Hemorrhoids Be Cancerous?

No, hemorrhoids are not cancerous.

External ones cause symptoms such as lumps near the anus, pain, itching and swelling. Internal cases are typically less painful but may cause symptoms that mimic those of certain cancers, such as bleeding from the rectum or having bright red blood in the stool; mucus leaking from the anus; anal itching; and hemorrhoid protrusion from the rectum.

As a result, some people wonder if they can be cancerous, and the answer is no.

Still, it’s important to see your healthcare provider to find out.

Are Hemorrhoids a Sign of Cancer?

As mentioned above, hemorrhoids are not cancerous and they are not a sign of cancer. But symptoms can overlap with those of colon cancer and anal cancer.

Symptoms of colon cancer

Each year, approximately 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, a disease that can affect the colon or the rectum. While the disease is more common in people over the age of 45, it can develop in men and women of any age.

Common symptoms include:

Rectal bleeding, a symptom shared with internal hemorrhoids
Ongoing discomfort in the abdomen
New weight loss, without a clear cause
Changes in bowel movements
Fatigue
Weakness

Symptoms of anal cancer

Anal cancer is less common than colon or rectal cancer; it develops in your anal canal or anus and is almost always connected to a prior infection of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV.) Anal cancer symptoms include:

Bleeding from the anus
Abnormal anal discharge
Itching surrounding the anus
Having a mass or lump form at the anal opening
Feelings of pain or fullness in the anal region
Bowel movement changes
Loss bowel control
Anal or groin lymph node swelling

Can Hemorrhoids Turn Into Cancer?

Bleeding from the anus and discomfort are common symptoms of hemorrhoids, colon cancer and anal cancer. But these symptoms will look different with each condition.

With hemorrhoids, the blood is typically bright red and mostly presents during or after a bowel movement.
Bleeding associated with colorectal cancer can happen at any time, and the color of blood may me bright or dark red.
Anal cancer-linked bleeding may also occur at any time. The blood could be black or bright red, and could have a tar-like consistency.

Using this guide could help distinguish between a piles and cancer diagnosis. But can untreated hemorrhoids lead to cancer? Or can they cause cancer? While they do not turn into or directly cause cancer, this study reveals that having piles increases your risk for developing colorectal cancer in the future. As such, seeking timely hemorrhoids treatment can bring symptom relief in the short term, while reducing your long-term risk of developing cancer.

When to See a Doctor About Your Hemorrhoids?

While hemorrhoids are unlikely to be cancerous, leaving them untreated can lead to reduce your quality of life while increasing your risk for infection and future cancer development. Plus, since some people struggle to differentiate between symptoms of hemorrhoids or colon cancer, promptly seeking the advice of a healthcare provider is the best way to protect your long-term health.

Today, it is possible to treat them without surgery, thanks to minimally invasive Hemorrhoid Artery Embolization (HAE), available at the Texas Hemorrhoid Institute. Request a consultationRequest a consultationRequest a consultation today to see if you’re a candidate for HAE.