Can Hemorrhoids Cause Cancer?

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.