Anal Cancer Questions

paloup

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum and I have a few question I'd to ask to you about anal cancer

I've been experiencing change in my bowels habits for quite some time now and I've had blood in my stool on several occasions. (a test performed by a doctor also revealed that I had blood in my stool sometimes even when I couldn't see it on the toilet paper)

I've also experience recently an increasing pain in my right lower quadrant of the abdomen. I have explained those issues to a doctor, and a colonoscopy as well as a CT scan were performed and both came back normal (Good news), so they attributed my symptoms to irritable bowel syndrom. I personally found that strange because it doesn't really explain the blood, but since the tests came back normal I stopped worrying about it. Until recently when I read that anal cancer is often missed during colonoscopy and that anoscopy is the appropriate test to make proper diagnosis.

Because the pain in right lower quadrant is still there most of the time I decided to self examine my anus with my fingers. And now, I'm starting to be really scared because I clearly felt a distinct lump in my anus region. 

I was able to take a photo where the lump is clearly visible. Now I'm thinking maybe this could be just an hemoroid or something like that and I try not to worry to much about it. That being said when I touch it, I feel my right lower quadrant pain is slightly increasing. 

Here is the picture where the lump is clearly identifiable. 

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=dzc9p3&s=5 (This is an explicit photo, don't click on that link if you don't want to see it)

Now my question would be this: do you think this could be anal cancer or is it just an hemorroid ? Should I go the hospital and show them that photo ? 

Thanks in advance for your answers and for taking on your time to read my post. I'm trying not think to much about it, but I have a hard time getting it out of my mind right now. 

Also I want to give my support to all of you who have been diagnosed with that terrible disease that is cancer, and I hope that you will manage to fight it. Never give up. 

PS: Please forgive the english mistakes I may have made, this is not my first language and I'm still learning it so it's not perfect yet.

 

qv62

paloup

you really need to see a colo-rectal surgeon who is versed in anal cancer, back in 2009 I had these symptoms and my gastro doctor sent me to the surgeon, turned out the tumor was the size of a golfball, they removed it and the pathology showed it was insitu so it was not invasive but you need to follow up, and have it properly adressed. keep us posted

Marynb

Biopsy
Usually, a colonoscopy would be more thorough than an anascope. I agree that you need to see a colorectal surgeon. I did not see the picture, sorry. The picture is not really dispositive. Only a biopsy can determine if it is malignant.

I must say that your symptoms could be a lot of other things. I had similar symotoms from another cancer.

Good luck and try not to worry. Anal cancer is pretty rare!

mp327

paloup

I would highly suggests getting in to see a colorectal surgeon who can make a definitive diagnosis.  CT scans can miss anal tumors and so can colonoscopies if the scope is pulled out too fast and the anal canal is not properly viewed.  I was initially diagnosed through anoscopy, which can be done in a doctor's office with no prep necessary.  If anything looks suspicious, then a biopsy would be the next step.  This could simply be a hemorrhoid that has thrombosed, which would cause bleeding.  However, I was given that diagnosis by my internist and it turned out that I actually had anal cancer.  Seek a proper diagnosis until you are satisfied that this lump has been correctly identified.  I wish you all the best.

paloup

thanks for your answers

Thanks a lot for your answers, I really appreciate that you took the time to read my post and comment on it. I will follow your advise and ask to see a collorectal surgeon. I'm afraid it may take quite a long time before I can see one though. Being in Canada, the health care system is not that great it can be very long to get to see that kind of specialist. I hope this is just an hemorroid but because we can never be sure until proper diasgnosis has been made, I think it's worth to verify it's not something more serious. 

sandysp

paloup said:

thanks for your answers

Thanks a lot for your answers, I really appreciate that you took the time to read my post and comment on it. I will follow your advise and ask to see a collorectal surgeon. I'm afraid it may take quite a long time before I can see one though. Being in Canada, the health care system is not that great it can be very long to get to see that kind of specialist. I hope this is just an hemorroid but because we can never be sure until proper diasgnosis has been made, I think it's worth to verify it's not something more serious. 

PATIENCE

Patience will pay off for you. Wait for the specialist and make sure you get an anal pap smear. I had what had been diagnosed as a hemmeroid for many years before getting diagnosed with stage 3 anal cancer. But the treatment is basically the same and the cancer has high cure rates.

Good luck!

Sandy

mp327

rahul99

I can not welcome you to this board.  I just checked out your website and found it disturbing that there is a page for "Franchising" that talks about all the money one can make off of people with cancer and other diseases.  Really, really disturbing! 

outonalim

im sorry - however

its unfortunate that you are having this stress.  having said that, i am compelled to express my opinion to you that i think it is highly inappropriate for you to post this question in this way and on this site.  people here are grappling with cancer, not hemmorroids, and they do not want to hear someone asking which is which.  its just not okay.

hopefully your problem is minor and you dont need support for cancer.  

why in the world you would impose upon this group your own concern for yourself when you dont even know what it is.  go to the doctor.  i mean really what other answer are you expecting to receive here except for that?  go to the doctor.

 

 

 

 

paloup

outonalim said:

im sorry - however

its unfortunate that you are having this stress.  having said that, i am compelled to express my opinion to you that i think it is highly inappropriate for you to post this question in this way and on this site.  people here are grappling with cancer, not hemmorroids, and they do not want to hear someone asking which is which.  its just not okay.

hopefully your problem is minor and you dont need support for cancer.  

why in the world you would impose upon this group your own concern for yourself when you dont even know what it is.  go to the doctor.  i mean really what other answer are you expecting to receive here except for that?  go to the doctor.

 

 

 

 

Sorry

Well, I'm sorry if I offended you, or anybody else for that matter. It really wasn't my intention. I don't mean to impose anything on anybody, I was just worried and wasn't sure what I should do. Seeing a specialist dotor can take a long time and not being sure of what we have is a stressful situation. Now, I agree, that it's certainly nothing compared to what all of you who have cancer have been going through, and I sincerly apologize if my question was inapropriate. 

z

outonalim said:

im sorry - however

its unfortunate that you are having this stress.  having said that, i am compelled to express my opinion to you that i think it is highly inappropriate for you to post this question in this way and on this site.  people here are grappling with cancer, not hemmorroids, and they do not want to hear someone asking which is which.  its just not okay.

hopefully your problem is minor and you dont need support for cancer.  

why in the world you would impose upon this group your own concern for yourself when you dont even know what it is.  go to the doctor.  i mean really what other answer are you expecting to receive here except for that?  go to the doctor.

 

 

 

 

outonalim

I was told by a gastrologist that it could be a hemroid, who reffered me to a surgeon who said he was  95% sure it was anal cancer.  Hemroids and anal cancer have many of the same symptoms.  Do you have cancer?  Its scary and any sincere question is fine with me. lori

 

mp327

paloup said:

Sorry

Well, I'm sorry if I offended you, or anybody else for that matter. It really wasn't my intention. I don't mean to impose anything on anybody, I was just worried and wasn't sure what I should do. Seeing a specialist dotor can take a long time and not being sure of what we have is a stressful situation. Now, I agree, that it's certainly nothing compared to what all of you who have cancer have been going through, and I sincerly apologize if my question was inapropriate. 

No apology needed

paloup, I don't think you owe anyone an apology on this site.  You have some troubling symptoms and are anxious to find out what may be causing them.  Coming here and asking questions was reasonable, in my opinion.

I might add, to the poster above who was offended by your questions, that many of us began this journey with anal cancer by getting an incorrect diagnosis of a bleeding hemorrhoid--some of us more than once, before a correct diagnosis was made.  Too many times, rectal bleeding is just presumed (even by "experienced" doctors) to be a bleeding hemorrhoid.  I was one of those people who was told by my internist that a hemi was causing my bleeding.  I could have blown it off as nothing to worry about after being told that, but damned if I didn't find out two weeks later that I, in fact, had anal cancer.  The reason so many people go undiagnosed for a long period of time is because there is not enough knowledge in the medical profession or the general public about anal cancer. 

Sorry if I sound as if my nose is out of joint, but I have been communicating with people for 5 years about this disease--mine and theirs.  If people like paloup asked more questions when they notice symptoms, more people would be diagnosed at stage 1 rather than stage 3 or 4.  I'm sorry if you had to go down this road, but if you did, then you should know the fear that comes with getting a cancer diagnosis or the thought that you might have the disease.

qv62

paloup said:

Sorry

Well, I'm sorry if I offended you, or anybody else for that matter. It really wasn't my intention. I don't mean to impose anything on anybody, I was just worried and wasn't sure what I should do. Seeing a specialist dotor can take a long time and not being sure of what we have is a stressful situation. Now, I agree, that it's certainly nothing compared to what all of you who have cancer have been going through, and I sincerly apologize if my question was inapropriate. 

not offended

please do not let the negativity of one poster keep you from asking questions or seeking support, this board has been a wealth of information and support for so many, and many of us thought we just had a hemmorroid to begin with, we all have had different experiences and do care, my treatment so far has just been surgical, (multiple surgeries ,one very radical which involved some reconstruction, skin grafting, plastic surgery, and a long painful recovery)my chemo and radiation is yet to come, the info and support on this board has been my inspiration, if you feel uncomfortable to post you can always private message the many wonderful members on the board as well, hang in there

Marynb

mp327 said:

No apology needed

paloup, I don't think you owe anyone an apology on this site.  You have some troubling symptoms and are anxious to find out what may be causing them.  Coming here and asking questions was reasonable, in my opinion.

I might add, to the poster above who was offended by your questions, that many of us began this journey with anal cancer by getting an incorrect diagnosis of a bleeding hemorrhoid--some of us more than once, before a correct diagnosis was made.  Too many times, rectal bleeding is just presumed (even by "experienced" doctors) to be a bleeding hemorrhoid.  I was one of those people who was told by my internist that a hemi was causing my bleeding.  I could have blown it off as nothing to worry about after being told that, but damned if I didn't find out two weeks later that I, in fact, had anal cancer.  The reason so many people go undiagnosed for a long period of time is because there is not enough knowledge in the medical profession or the general public about anal cancer. 

Sorry if I sound as if my nose is out of joint, but I have been communicating with people for 5 years about this disease--mine and theirs.  If people like paloup asked more questions when they notice symptoms, more people would be diagnosed at stage 1 rather than stage 3 or 4.  I'm sorry if you had to go down this road, but if you did, then you should know the fear that comes with getting a cancer diagnosis or the thought that you might have the disease.

No question is irrelevant to cancer diagnosis
I agree with Martha. If more people asked the right questions about supposed hemorrhoids, fewer people would die. I was misdiagnosed by doctors for years! Ask away! We should never discourage questions here!!!!

pializ

z said:

outonalim

I was told by a gastrologist that it could be a hemroid, who reffered me to a surgeon who said he was  95% sure it was anal cancer.  Hemroids and anal cancer have many of the same symptoms.  Do you have cancer?  Its scary and any sincere question is fine with me. lori

 

Offended? Definitely not

So many anal cancer patients are given an incorrect diagnosis of haemorroids.

I was 2 years prior to diagnosis, by which time it had spread to a lymph node. Delays cost lives!!!!! Paloupmake sure you are checked out by colorectal surgeon who is well versed in anal cancer.

Best wishes

Liz

 

 

Jwk7385

paloup

My understanding is that a colonoscopy is intended to examine the colon, which has a different of type of cells than the anus. So, a person can be clear of colon cancer but still have anal cancer.

During my colonoscopy, the doctor discovered a "nodule" on my anus. He took a sample, which concerned him, so he referred me to a different doctor for a high resolution anoscopy. My colon is fine--I don't need another colonoscopy for 10 years--but the anus may be a different story. My HRA appointment is still a few weeks away.

The point I'm trying to make is that there are specialists in the area of high resolution anoscopy and anal cancer, and a doctor that does a colonoscopy may not be fully up to date on those separate issues. Although I'm just a layperson, it seems to me that the logical next step for you is to try to see a specialist in anal cancer.

Best of luck to you.

mp327

Jwk7385 said:

paloup

My understanding is that a colonoscopy is intended to examine the colon, which has a different of type of cells than the anus. So, a person can be clear of colon cancer but still have anal cancer.

During my colonoscopy, the doctor discovered a "nodule" on my anus. He took a sample, which concerned him, so he referred me to a different doctor for a high resolution anoscopy. My colon is fine--I don't need another colonoscopy for 10 years--but the anus may be a different story. My HRA appointment is still a few weeks away.

The point I'm trying to make is that there are specialists in the area of high resolution anoscopy and anal cancer, and a doctor that does a colonoscopy may not be fully up to date on those separate issues. Although I'm just a layperson, it seems to me that the logical next step for you is to try to see a specialist in anal cancer.

Best of luck to you.

Jwk7385

Very well stated.  I totally agree.

paloup

Jwk7385 said:

paloup

My understanding is that a colonoscopy is intended to examine the colon, which has a different of type of cells than the anus. So, a person can be clear of colon cancer but still have anal cancer.

During my colonoscopy, the doctor discovered a "nodule" on my anus. He took a sample, which concerned him, so he referred me to a different doctor for a high resolution anoscopy. My colon is fine--I don't need another colonoscopy for 10 years--but the anus may be a different story. My HRA appointment is still a few weeks away.

The point I'm trying to make is that there are specialists in the area of high resolution anoscopy and anal cancer, and a doctor that does a colonoscopy may not be fully up to date on those separate issues. Although I'm just a layperson, it seems to me that the logical next step for you is to try to see a specialist in anal cancer.

Best of luck to you.

Jwk7385

Thanks for your answer. Indeed, after reading all your answers,  it seems clear to me now that the next step is see a collorectal surgeon. I really hope that you will get good news during your HRA appointment and  that the nodule they found during your colonoscopy turns out to be begnin.

Best Wishes

susan hopes

I came in not long ago...

I came into this chat not long ago myself...  Docs. did full colonscopy, cat scan, defecograph, and sitz marker study. Turns out I have a rectocele, and an intestinal prolapse. Likely caused by a slow digestive trac and a lifetime of constipation... We are trying to treat first through diet and putting of surgery, at least for now. Apparently its not as uncommon as I would have thought. I think following up with colorectal surgeon or a specialist in anal cancer is a good idea! Good Luck!  

ps-Everyone here is so kind!

mp327

susan hopes said:

I came in not long ago...

I came into this chat not long ago myself...  Docs. did full colonscopy, cat scan, defecograph, and sitz marker study. Turns out I have a rectocele, and an intestinal prolapse. Likely caused by a slow digestive trac and a lifetime of constipation... We are trying to treat first through diet and putting of surgery, at least for now. Apparently its not as uncommon as I would have thought. I think following up with colorectal surgeon or a specialist in anal cancer is a good idea! Good Luck!  

ps-Everyone here is so kind!

susan hopes

I'm so very glad to hear that it is not cancer!  I hope that you will be able to treat with diet alone and avoid surgery.  I'm sure you are very relieved and I am very happy for you!  Take care!

eihtak

susan hopes said:

I came in not long ago...

I came into this chat not long ago myself...  Docs. did full colonscopy, cat scan, defecograph, and sitz marker study. Turns out I have a rectocele, and an intestinal prolapse. Likely caused by a slow digestive trac and a lifetime of constipation... We are trying to treat first through diet and putting of surgery, at least for now. Apparently its not as uncommon as I would have thought. I think following up with colorectal surgeon or a specialist in anal cancer is a good idea! Good Luck!  

ps-Everyone here is so kind!

susan hopes....

I am so happy this is not cancer but also so sorry you have do deal with these issues. It is amazing what can be accomplished with some diet changes, and hope this is a workable solution for you. I seem to hear a lot lately about various pelvic organ prolapse, I wonder what would be making it more common these days ?????? Maybe just the overall common changes in our diets and not always for the better, hmmm? Anyhow, best of luck tackeling this, hope all goes well for you.