A brutally frank TikTok from the UKs top social media doctor has demonstrated key differences between bleeding caused by haemorrhoids and deadly colon cancer.
In the clip, NHS surgeon Dr Karan Rajan reacts to a startling video previously posted by Colon Cancer Amigo, which has been viewed more than eight million times.
In it, the TikTok creator, who was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at 32, shows with a red marker pen what his toilet tissue looked like after wiping when he had haemorrhoids.
Also known as piles, millions are affected by these swollen blood vessels in the back passage that can bleed — but while uncomfortable, they are considered benign.
The marker pen creates a few bright red dots, mimicking blood on the white paper.
Then, using red food colouring, the father-of-three shows with dramatic effect what the toilet bowl looked liked ‘a few week prior to when I went to the ER [emergency room]’.
Dr Rajan, who has more than eight million social media followers, then poses the key question: ‘How do you tell the difference between bleeding from colon cancer versus haemorrhoids?’
He goes on to outline — with trademark candour — what people need to look out for, in order to differentiate between the two conditions.
In it, the TikTok creator, who was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at 32, demonstrates with a red marker pen what his toilet tissue looked like after wiping when he had haemorrhoids
![Then, using red food colouring, the father-of-three shows what the toilet bowl looked liked 'a few week prior to when I went to the ER [emergency room]'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/11/12/91930187-14067639-image-m-69_1731327072675.jpg)
Then, using red food colouring, the father-of-three shows what the toilet bowl looked liked ‘a few week prior to when I went to the ER [emergency room]’
Dr Rajan continues: ‘Blood from cancer may be mixed into the stool, giving the stool a darker or streaked appearance’
‘Blood from colon cancer is often dark red and maybe even black and tarry because it comes from higher up in the digestive tract, giving it more time to oxidise and darken,’ explains Dr Rajan.
‘Bleeding from haemorrhoids is typically right red because these come from swollen veins near the anus or rectum.’
He continues: ‘Blood from cancer may be mixed into the stool, giving the stool a darker or streaked appearance.
‘Whereas haemorrhoid blood usually appears on the toilet paper after wiping, on the surface of the stool, or even as drops in the toilet bowl, rather than being mixed into the stool.’
Dr Rajan then adds: ‘This of it as a pizza topping rather than being baked into the dough.’
While bleeding is one sign of colon cancer — also known as bowel or colorectal cancer — there are additional signs to watch out for, he explains.
‘You tend to get other symptoms in addition to the bleeding,’ says Dr Rajan, ‘like diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, etcetera.’
In previous posts, Colon Cancer Amigo, who finished cancer treatment in January last year, admitted he lost a large amount of weight prior to be being diagnosed — but at the time he simply thought his diet was working.
A brutally frank TikTok from the UKs top social media doctor has demonstrated key differences between bleeding caused by haemorrhoids and deadly colon cancer
While bleeding is one sign of colon cancer — also known as bowel or colorectal cancer — there are additional signs to watch out for, he explains
Meanwhile, says Dr Rajan, haemorrhoids ‘usually only cause local bum symptoms like itching, rectal pain and maybe even a lump’.
He adds that anyone noticing persistent rectal bleeding, regardless of the form it takes or the colour, should get it check out ‘to rule out the worst case scenario, because cancer doesn’t always follow textbook symptoms’.
Just days before posting the clip, which has had more than three million views, Dr Rajan shared a startling message he had received from a follower thanking him for his ‘lifesaving’ advice on colon cancer.
The message reads: ‘Hi, I just wanted to tell you that one of your videos has literally saved my life!
‘I’ve been diagnosed with bowel cancer even though the NHS screening test [offered to people aged 55 and up] came back clear… I went to my GP because one of your videos where you said never to ignore chances in your bowel habits.
‘From there a colonoscopy picked up a 60mm tumour, so if it wasn’t for you, I never would have bothered.
‘So thank you, thank you, thank you, you are literally my life saver.’
The posts come as experts continue to warn of a disturbing rise in colon cancers in under 50s, which has baffled doctors around the globe.
Just last week, actor James Van Der Beek revealed he has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of just 47
The graph above shows the rise of colon cancers in Americans under 50 over the last two decades
The disease has surged by 50 per cent this age-group over the past three decades.
There are more than 44,000 new colon cancer diagnoses in the UK each year, and almost 142,000 in the US.
Although the vast majority affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups has either declined or held stable while diagnoses in younger people have risen.
Just last week, actor James Van Der Beek revealed he has been diagnosed at the age of just 47.
Doctors have suggested obesity, antibiotic over-use, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water are potential triggers.
However a growing number of experts are pointing ultra-processed foods as a cause.
Also known as UPFs, these are ready-made foods — including bread, cereals and even salad dressing — made with artificial ingredients used to preserve, add flavour and enhance texture.
Some have even gone as far as to say they could be as dangerous as tobacco — and should come with a cigarette-style health warning.
The above chart shows the symptoms of colon cancer and their frequency in patients who develop colon cancer before the age 50 years compared to those who suffer it later
Speaking to MailOnline earlier this year oncologist and Queen’s University Belfast professor Dr Joe O’Sullivan said: ‘The spike in young cancer rates has to be due to something we’re consuming,’ he said.
‘And ultra-processed foods are the biggest lifestyle change in the last 40 years.’
A further concern is that younger people with colorectal cancer suffer slightly different symptoms from older patients, according to a recent study.
The researchers looked at 5,000 people in Taiwan of various ages with the disease, found six in 10 under-50s suffered rectal bleeding before being diagnosed with the disease, compared to fewer than half of over-50s.
And nearly 60 per cent of young people with the disease also experienced changes in their toilet habits in the lead up to or after a diagnosis, compared to 48 percent of older patients.
The study found patients under 50 are more likely to be diagnosed later when the cancer had spread, perhaps because they dismiss the health changes.
