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Possible Anal Cancer

BellaClaire
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I'm feeling so scared right now. 

For the past week and a half, I've been experiencing a constant burning sensation around my bottom. At first I tried using some Uniroid ointment because I thought it was a thrombosed hemorrhoid again (I had one earlier in the year) so wanted to give that a try first. It didn't help at all and I then felt what I thought was a skin tag on the edge of the anus, I already have one quite larger skin tag which I've had for a long time, however this newest one felt a bit different to the other one. It's almost like there's a couple of layers to it and it's not a soft as the actual skin tag. I managed to look in a mirror and thought it looked like a wart, which shocked me because I was wondering where that would be from. It's quite sore now too and I think it has got bigger just in the last week. 

I contacted my GP (on Tuesday just gone, today it's Sunday) and explained everything, I was prescribed another ointment to try and help with the burning, whilst I waited for a face to face appointment. I was offered an appointment for yesterday (Saturday) with a GP at a different surgery, I took the appointment. I went in saying I thought it was a wart. He had a look and said he could see why I thought it was a wart, it has a slight wart look but he said it's too large for a wart and doesn't have the characteristics of one. He said he wanted to refer me to the colorectal department and it would be an urgent referral. He's concerned about what it looks like and where it's coming from, apparently the mucosal tissue just on the edge of the anal margin. He completely scared and shocked me with what he said, I really wasn't expecting that response. I don't know how I'm going to be able to enjoy Christmas given that I found this out on the 21st December and will obviously have longer than two weeks to wait because of the bank holidays coming up. I'm so scared that it's anal cancer. I take Methotrexate and Adalimumab (biologic) for Psoriatic Arthritis and know that this can put me more at risk too. 

Any words of support would be greatly appreciated.

Claire 

Parents
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    Hi Claire,

    My heart goes out to you, I understand how you feel and of course it’s the worst time of year to be going through this kind of anxiety when all around people are in the mood for celebration. 
    The chances are it’s not anal cancer and if it is the earlier it’s found the better, so your GP is fast tracking you.

    im almost 4 weeks post treatment for anal cancer and doing well. The treatment is highly effective and in most cases curable. Of course no one wants to go on this journey and I know how shocking it is to discover cancer- but you don’t know. So hold on to this and try to enjoy Christmas. Anal cancer is very rare so it’s much more likely to be something less worrying.

    If it is there is an anal cancer forum . You will get lots of support and brilliant tips for dealing with treatment etc.

    Hopefully you will hear good news soon so don’t let it ruin your Christmas..

    Big hugs

    Happyflower x

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    Hi Claire,

    My heart goes out to you, I understand how you feel and of course it’s the worst time of year to be going through this kind of anxiety when all around people are in the mood for celebration. 
    The chances are it’s not anal cancer and if it is the earlier it’s found the better, so your GP is fast tracking you.

    im almost 4 weeks post treatment for anal cancer and doing well. The treatment is highly effective and in most cases curable. Of course no one wants to go on this journey and I know how shocking it is to discover cancer- but you don’t know. So hold on to this and try to enjoy Christmas. Anal cancer is very rare so it’s much more likely to be something less worrying.

    If it is there is an anal cancer forum . You will get lots of support and brilliant tips for dealing with treatment etc.

    Hopefully you will hear good news soon so don’t let it ruin your Christmas..

    Big hugs

    Happyflower x

Children
  • Offline in reply to Happyflower

    Hi Happyflower,

    Thank you ever so much for your reply, I do appreciate. I'm sorry I'm only just responding. I work in retail and was in work yesterday and today, it's been chaos. 

    I just have a horrible feeling about this and that it is anal cancer, or another form of cancer, plus the reaction from the GP really scared me and on top of all of that, my maternal grandmother had bowel cancer in her later years. You're right, it's very difficult trying to be cheery in front of others when inside, all I feel is fear and being absolutely petrified whilst being in limbo. I just don't see what else it could be. The growth/mass is sore to the touch and I have a constant burning sensation. I had a text today to say that the colorectal department triage team will be looking at my referral on the 27th, so hopefully I will hear something from them fairly soon after. 

    I'm so glad to hear you're doing so well 4 weeks on. I hope you can enjoy Christmas  

    Thank you again, so much. 

    Claire xx

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