o A doctor always should investigate
blood in your stool.
o Hemorrhoids frequently cause rectal bleeding,
but because hemorrhoids are so common,
they may exist with cancer.
Therefore,even when you have hemorrhoids,you should have a
doctor examine your entire
intestinal tract when you have blood in your
bowel movements.
With some individuals,
X-ray studies may be enough to clarify a diagnosis.
Colonoscopy is usually
recommended.
Sometimes when the source
of bleeding is entirely clear (for example, recurrent ulcers),
these studies may not be needed.