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Piles is a condition in which the inner, outer and lower part of the rectum swells up. Sometimes, this condition can prove to be dangerous, due to which not only severe pain is felt but problems like difficulty and bleeding can also occur during bowel movements. However, there is a myth often associated with piles, where it is believed that piles can cause cancer. In this article, we will tell you whether piles can really cause cancer or not.
(Read more: Home remedies for piles)
What happens during hemorrhoids
Usually, in piles, there is swelling of the veins inside and outside of the anus, which may feel like a lump around the rectum. Apart from this, there may be problems like itching, mucus or blood during bowel movements and unbearable pain. However, when there is bleeding during bowel movements due to hemorrhoids, some people think that they have cancer due to hemorrhoids as colorectal cancer and piles both have almost the same symptoms.
(Read more: Diet for blood in stool)
What do experts say
Experts and researchers believe that this assumption is completely wrong. While hemorrhoids may feel uncomfortable, they do not cause cancer. If you have piles along with other diseases like polyps in the gastrointestinal tract, then it can cause cancer. It would be completely wrong to say that piles is the only reason.
(Read more: Blood in stool)
Why there is confusion about piles and cancer
Experts say that it is generally seen that whenever there is bleeding from the rectum or anus, it is assumed to be a problem of piles without proper diagnosis. This usually leads to confusion between piles and cancer. Michael Felz, an assistant professor at Georgia Medical College, says that most doctors are not very aware of anal melanoma cancer and, as a result, they treat it as hemorrhoids because the initial symptoms of both hemorrhoids and anal melanoma cancer are similar. As such, the cancer is allowed to progress unchecked and the patient can die due to not getting treatment on time.
(Read more: Rectal bleeding)
Patients are also responsible
Dr Michael explains that most patients get late treatment for the problem of rectal bleeding due to embarrassment and other similar reasons. In such cases, a proper diagnosis cannot be made on time. By the time it is recognized that the patient has cancer and not piles, the cancer often spreads far and wide in the body. As a result, the patient has to bear the consequences.
(Read more: Ayurvedic medicine for piles)
These cancers are very rare
American Cancer Society senior medical advisor, Dr Lamar McGinnis says that both anal melanoma cancer and rectal skin cancer are very rare. They are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage as there are many other problems in the anal area and rectal canal that they can be confused with. In such a situation, instead of examining the patient regularly and thoroughly, only the symptoms or piles are treated, due to which cancer reaches the advanced stage.
In piles, there is swelling in the veins of the anus and rectum and the condition can be very painful. However, this problem is very common among the youth. Most people do not develop piles until the age of 30, but by the age of 50, about 50% of the people fall prey to this serious disease. Researchers claim that so far no evidence has been found that piles alone can cause cancer.
(Read more: Homeopathic treatment for piles)
