Non Healing Perianal Abscess

Hi, 

my hubby had a Perianal Abscess surgically drained in December. It is now the middle of August and it still hasn't healed. He had a colonoscopy today, they couldn't find a reason for his wound not healing so they will send for an MRI. It's worth noting he had testicular cancer in 2016 where he had an orchiectomy with no other treatment. Just a bit worried since his father had lymphoma and I don't understand why he isn't healing ?

  • Hi and thanks for posting

    Perianal abscesses can sometimes take a very long time to heal. There may be a few reasons for this , which is why an MRI may show if there is a fistula which is preventing healing. Sometimes, if an abscess was drained and not excised there may still also be some of the abscess still present, which means the source of infection is still there. 

    However, no one sometimes really knows without further tests so it's good that your husband has been referred for these.

    I'm not sure whether the past testicular cancer could be a reason for not healing , although it sounds unlikely. If there aren't any other symptoms , a cancer like lymphoma would also perhaps be less likely, though I can't say.

    I imagine he may have had some bloods done to also include a check for diabetes, as this too can sometimes prevent healing.

    I hope things start to clear up soon for your husband as I can imagine you must be all feeling pretty fed up with things going on for so long.

    All the best

    Wanda

  • Hi Wanda, 

    Thanks so much for your reply! He hasn't had a test for diabetes although they do want him to have bloods taken before the MRI and then his routine cancer checks are coming up where he also has to give bloods for tumour markers. He does look drained I have to say, it has been a long 8 months on him and we just want him to heal