Bowel cancer is so common (About 1 in 20 Australians will develop bowel cancer in their lifetime) and so are haemorrhoids. It is not safe to assume once symptoms is due to haemorrhoids alone. It is best that this is discussed with your general practitioner. And if there are any concerns, you should be referred to a surgeon or endoscopist.

There has certainly the cases where patients present with clear symptoms of bleeding from haemorrhoids but on colonoscopy, a bowel polyp or even bowel cancer has been found!