Hello, Thank you for your query. I understand your concerns. You are right in thinking that the lump could be an external haemorrhoid. Haemorrhoids are quite common in the general population. The lump could also be an anal tag – which is a remnant of an internal haemorrhoid. You mentioned you alternate between diarrhoea and constipation? Is this a recent symptom over the past few weeks-months? Or did you always have alternating diarrhoea and constipation. Long standing alternating diarrhoea and constipation is common in some people, especially young women; it could be due to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Late stage colon cancer does cause a few symptoms. If colon cancer is in the early stage, the patient would not normally notice any symptoms. Patient with advanced colon cancer will have altered bowel movements (either constipation or diarrhoea or both) of recent origin, feeling of incomplete emptying of bowel, loss of weight, loss of appetite, tiredness, blood in the stool – stool would be dark coloured, sweating etc. I understand from your query that you are feeling well in yourself apart from this lump, and alternating diarrhoea and constipation and some streaks of blood on your stool and your sheet. If this lump is an external haemorrhoid, it can still bleed when you strain on opening your bowels especially when you are constipated and when you your stool is hard. The lump can itch, as some small particles of stool get lodged in the crevices of your anus and the lump, and those stool particles can cause itching. I feel that from what you have written, the lump being late stage colon cancer is a bit unlikely (on the basis that you are feeling well in yourself). But definitely see your doctor within the next few days as only after examination can any doctor/health professional diagnose what sort of a lump it is. I wish that all will turn out to be fine for you. I hope this answer has been helpful to you. Regards Dr Sunita Sayammagaru