Rectal Bleeding during prenancy and history of colon polyps?
5 years ago (when I was 23) I had some disturbing rectal bleeding and cramps that prompted me to go to the doctor. They did a colonoscopy and found colon polyps which they removed (the non cancerous kind). The doctor reccomended I have a colonoscopy every 5 years to be on the safe side.
Now I’m pregnant 5 years later, and since about 2 months into my pregnancy I’ve had rectal bleeding on and off that is very similar to what I had when I found colon polyps. My nurse at the doctors office quickly brushed it off and said it’s only hemroids. I’m concerned b/c if it is polyps, couldnt the growth of the polyps or likelyness of cancer be heightened by prenancy? I’ve heard pregnancy can accelerate cancer, not sure if it’s true, should I be worried?
Pregnancy can accelerate certain cancers affected by hormones.
That being said, hemroids are VERY common during pregnancy.
However, with your history of polyps, and the length of time since your last colonoscopy, I think it warrants further investigation. Your doctor should be able to do an exam to see if there are external hemroids present, and may be able to do a sigmoidoscopy with minimal risk to you and your fetus to see if there are internal hemroids or polyps in the sigmoid colon. With no history of cancer, it’s probably too risky and not necessary to do a full colonoscopy at this point, and it can likely wait until the end of your pregnancy to investigate further if necessary.
*I* would contact the doctor again and press the issue a little bit, given your personal history.
August 14th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Pregnancy can accelerate certain cancers affected by hormones.
That being said, hemroids are VERY common during pregnancy.
However, with your history of polyps, and the length of time since your last colonoscopy, I think it warrants further investigation. Your doctor should be able to do an exam to see if there are external hemroids present, and may be able to do a sigmoidoscopy with minimal risk to you and your fetus to see if there are internal hemroids or polyps in the sigmoid colon. With no history of cancer, it’s probably too risky and not necessary to do a full colonoscopy at this point, and it can likely wait until the end of your pregnancy to investigate further if necessary.
*I* would contact the doctor again and press the issue a little bit, given your personal history.
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