Post-Surgery Concerns for Rectal Cancer: Blood in Stool - Surgery

Postoperative issues following rectal cancer surgery?

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Dear Director Ke,
My father was diagnosed with stage I rectal cancer and underwent surgery in early September.
During the diagnostic process for the rectal cancer, he had a colonoscopy, during which two additional polyps were found in the colon besides the lesion.
These polyps were addressed during the colonoscopy.
After the procedure, my father experienced an increase in bowel movements and some bleeding.
The physician indicated that this was a normal occurrence; however, after passing blood in his stool 5-6 times, he experienced brief dizziness.
He received a hemostatic injection, but there seemed to be no improvement, so he underwent further examination.
The physician stated that there was only slight oozing of blood and no significant bleeding points, thus deciding to proceed with surgery the next day to also observe the condition of the polyps.

The following day, after the surgery, the physician reported that everything went smoothly and there was no further bleeding from the polyp site.
After approximately 10 days of hospitalization for observation, the physician deemed him fit for discharge.
The first week at home went well, but after a week, my father experienced blood in his stool again.
When wiping with toilet paper, there were noticeable blood stains, sometimes dark and sometimes bright red.
Concerned, my father returned to the hospital to consult the physician, who reassured him and prescribed hemostatic medication.
However, after a week of taking the medication, there was no improvement.
Upon returning to the hospital, the physician again reassured him, suggesting that his body should heal on its own without further medication.

Due to the persistent blood in his stool, which sometimes occurred 5-6 times a day, we consulted a traditional Chinese medicine physician at the same hospital, hoping to use herbal medicine for adjustment.
After treatment, the frequency of bowel movements decreased to 2-3 times a day.
In early October, there were two days without a bowel movement, but afterward, everything seemed to return to normal without any blood in the stool.
However, after a week, we noticed occasional blood in the stool again, sometimes more severe and sometimes mild, with colors varying between dark red and bright red.
Initially, we thought it might be related to diet, but we couldn't identify any specific patterns.
During a follow-up appointment in late October, the physician did not conduct any examinations regarding this phenomenon and suggested it was caused by hemorrhoids.
Before the surgery, the physician had mentioned that my father had hemorrhoids, but they were not severe.
This has been the situation over the past two months, and I would like to ask Director Ke:
1.
What could be the cause of the persistent blood in the stool? Is this "normal" after surgery?
2.
If this condition continues without improvement, are there any further examinations that should be conducted?
3.
My father mentioned that during the colonoscopy when the polyps were removed, he heard the physicians inform the attending physician that a hemostatic clip had fallen off and could not be found.
The attending physician later stated that there was no need to search for it and that it could be passed out with the stool.
Could this situation be related to the ongoing blood in the stool? Is it acceptable for the hemostatic clip to remain in the body?
I apologize for the lengthy message.
The ups and downs over the past two months have left my parents physically and mentally exhausted, and as their child, I am deeply concerned.
I kindly ask for your guidance and response.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Little Boat

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Xiao Chuan, 30~39 year old female. Ask Date: 2013/10/28