Hart Nat Hentoff David Horowitz Arianna Huffington Marianne Jennings Michael Kelly Mort Kondracke Ch. A hemorrhoid is a swollen vein in or around the lower rectum or anus. Initially, it appears as a soft, small purple lump that may cause some itching or discomfort. The hemorrhoid may enlarge, causing stinging and tenderness.
Some hemorrhoids burst and cause painless rectal bleeding.
Hemorrhoids are common and harmless, unless they cause severe pain or bleed, in which instances surgery is appropriate. A polyp, on the other hand, is a benign growth arising from the intestinal lining. It rarely causes symptoms and usually forms high in the rectum or in the colon, well above the location of hemorrhoids. The two conditions are seldom confused by an experienced physician. Unfortunately, some polyps are pre-malignant, meaning they will eventually become cancerous.