The situation in which people are treated for anemia for years without ever checking the condition of their intestines is both common and dangerous.
As proctologist, oncologist, and surgeon Elena Smirnova writes on her Telegram channel, anemia—when properly localized—can be a typical symptom of colorectal cancer.
“Patients often come to me who have been ‘treating’ anemia for years,” the specialist confirms.
In such cases, the doctor immediately asks whether the patient has ever undergone a colonoscopy. In most instances, the answer is no.
The oncologist emphasizes that the intestines should be examined as soon as possible if a person (or a close relative) has low hemoglobin levels with no clear cause.
She also adds that, in some cases, the disease may present itself as an “unexplained” fever.
“This is another alarming symptom related to intestinal problems,” the doctor notes.
