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Suggest Treatment For IBS And Tiny Lump On Anus

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Posted on Tue, 13 Oct 2015
Question: Hi!
I'm a 28 year old man suffering from IBS. A few months ago I noticed a tiny lump by my anus while showering. Upon inspection, it looked like a ridge of skin stretching away from the opening. It was sore and bled a tiny bit if I wiped a lot (which I often do), but after a while it calmed down and almost disappeared. So I concluded this must have been an external hemorrhoid.

Now I recently discovered more lumps around the anus, in the same region as the first one. These are larger and are dark grayish in color. I can't feel them, I can only see them. Even when I pinch the area, it only feels as if I'm pinching regular skin. It's not painful at all. But the area is rugged and dark, so I fear for maligancy.

Will anal cancer present only as a hard lump, or can it be soft and painless as well? I can still feel and see the skin ridge from the initial lump, but it seems a bit lighter in color. I had a colonoscopy three years ago, shouldn't that have picked up on anything malignant?

I really hope it's just loose and dicolored skin from an unactive external pile, but I'm freaking out a bit. I really don't want to see my GP about this, but I don't want to die from cancer either.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
This is not a cancer.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

First of all some words about rectal cancer. This disease does not appear at your age at all. The age in which we can think about this cancer is over 50. Before this age, it is possible only if you have had any family history of this cancer.
Secondly, from your description you have hemorrhoids and nothing more. No doubt in that. Rectal cancer is never soft. It is always hard, rough infiltration of the rectum.
And finally, you have had colonoscopy done (it seems to be too early for this test at your age). If there were any cancer, this test would reveal it for sure. No doubt in that. Moreover, it is known that the colon cancer develops slowly and it takes 10 years. So it is impossible for the cancer to develop so fast.

So in conclusion, stop thinking about the cancer. It is impossible at this point.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (16 minutes later)
Thank you for your reply, it's a relief! I work as an RN at a cancer clinic myself, and see so many innocent symptoms that turn out to be something fatal, so I guess it's natural to become a bit paranoid. And I was especially scared when I discovered that there also exists anal cancer, as separate from colon cancer.

The colonoscopy was done while assessing why I went to the toilet 10-20 times per day. It showed nothing wrong, so the doctor said it was most likely some sort of miscommunication between the brain and the gut. Imodium has helped a lot, and I'm down to 1-5 per day, with a few painful exceptions.

Does it sound like these hemorrhoids are 'active'? I recently bought a cream that should help, but I guess there's no use applying it if they're not. As I said, it's not painful at all, though I often feel a vague pulsating sensation in the region, especially after a loose stool.

Thank you again for your assistance.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (43 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hemorrhoids are an effect or bowels problem.

Detailed Answer:
Hemorrhoids are just a kind of complication of improper intestines function. Usually when the stools get back to normal, hemorrhoids stop giving any problems.

For your frequent stools I would recommend you to try Rifaximine treatment for chronic bowels infection, eliminate milky products from your diet as well as spicy meals.

You may use a cream for hemorrhoids. It may help somehow. You may also try sitz baths with Oak Bark twice a day.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For IBS And Tiny Lump On Anus

Brief Answer: This is not a cancer. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. First of all some words about rectal cancer. This disease does not appear at your age at all. The age in which we can think about this cancer is over 50. Before this age, it is possible only if you have had any family history of this cancer. Secondly, from your description you have hemorrhoids and nothing more. No doubt in that. Rectal cancer is never soft. It is always hard, rough infiltration of the rectum. And finally, you have had colonoscopy done (it seems to be too early for this test at your age). If there were any cancer, this test would reveal it for sure. No doubt in that. Moreover, it is known that the colon cancer develops slowly and it takes 10 years. So it is impossible for the cancer to develop so fast. So in conclusion, stop thinking about the cancer. It is impossible at this point. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.