How is the cause of rectal bleeding determined?
Each person is an individual, thus each patient’s case must be considered as such. Every person with rectal bleeding does not need a colonoscopy, just as not all bleeding is due to cancer. Rectal bleeding should be considered serious, however, until some evaluation is made. Most importantly, talk to your doctor about the nature of your rectal bleeding. Your medical history regarding the blood loss is extremely important in deciding if your problem is serious or a simple nuisance. Your age is key in this decision – general health recommendations include colonic examination for all persons over the age of 50. Thus if you are in this age group, colonoscopy will more likely be suggested to you as the proper way to determine the cause of your rectal bleeding.
