Question: Hello. About a week ago, I tried a vegan diet which resulted in a great deal of extra bowel movements and flatulence. This caused rather severe hemorrhoid symptoms(burning, itching, pain down there, especially after wiping), which are gradually getting better. However, I'm a little concerned because I noticed something growing at the edge of my anus. It's kind of cylindrical and part of it I can move around, but the other part is attached to me. I also experience painful bumps on one of my buttocks at the same time(also feeling better with time). I've read this could all be external hemorrhoids but, from what I've read, the growth could also be anal cancer. The oncall nurse for my hospital recommends going to the ER(because it's a holiday and the rest of the hospital is closed). But I have some questions and concerns about that: would they have the facilities to diagnose it right there? Are they usually able to take a tissue sample at the ER if needed? On that subject, what do you expect would be the usual diagnostic procedure in this case(eg. would they be able to tell by looking at it what it is? If not, what should I expect to occur? If they need to take a biopsy, how long does it take to get results usually?).
How likely is it that it's anal cancer instead of hemorrhoids, based on the information I've given you?
BTW, I took a Cologuard test 2 years and 10 months ago. Should that give me some kind of assurance it's probably not anal cancer?

Thank you so mucn,
XXXXXXX

Hello. About a week ago, I tried a vegan diet which resulted in a great deal of extra bowel movements and flatulence. This caused rather severe hemorrhoid symptoms(burning, itching, pain down there, especially after wiping), which are gradually getting better. However, I'm a little concerned because I noticed something growing at the edge of my anus. It's kind of cylindrical and part of it I can move around, but the other part is attached to me. I also experience painful bumps on one of my buttocks at the same time(also feeling better with time). I've read this could all be external hemorrhoids but, from what I've read, the growth could also be anal cancer. The oncall nurse for my hospital recommends going to the ER(because it's a holiday and the rest of the hospital is closed). But I have some questions and concerns about that: would they have the facilities to diagnose it right there? Are they usually able to take a tissue sample at the ER if needed? On that subject, what do you expect would be the usual diagnostic procedure in this case(eg. would they be able to tell by looking at it what it is? If not, what should I expect to occur? If they need to take a biopsy, how long does it take to get results usually?).
How likely is it that it's anal cancer instead of hemorrhoids, based on the information I've given you?
BTW, I took a Cologuard test 2 years and 10 months ago. Should that give me some kind of assurance it's probably not anal cancer?

Thank you so mucn,
XXXXXXX

Hello Doctor, and thanks for your answer. Sorry for the delay - I had difficulties accessing your site. I'm relieved to hear it's probably not something serious.
My doctor recommends a FIT test to help with the diagnostic process. But I do have a possible concern about it showing a false positive, because it detects bleeding in the colon, and since I probably have hemorrhoids(which cause bleeding), and I also tend to bleed very easily(eg. when flossing, shaving,etc).
Do you think the 2 health conditions I just mentioned would make it significantly more likely I will have a false positive on this test(the average false positive rate on this test is 25%, which to me sounds very high).

Thanks so much!

Hello Doctor, and thanks for your answer. Sorry for the delay - I had difficulties accessing your site. I'm relieved to hear it's probably not something serious.
My doctor recommends a FIT test to help with the diagnostic process. But I do have a possible concern about it showing a false positive, because it detects bleeding in the colon, and since I probably have hemorrhoids(which cause bleeding), and I also tend to bleed very easily(eg. when flossing, shaving,etc).
Do you think the 2 health conditions I just mentioned would make it significantly more likely I will have a false positive on this test(the average false positive rate on this test is 25%, which to me sounds very high).

Thanks so much!

Thank you again. That is helpful information.

Unfortunately, I consider a colonoscopy a last resort in my case because the last time I had a procedure involving the same kind of sedation, I had a severe allergic reaction that put me in intensive care. So I'm in need of other options.

Have you heard of the Cologuard test? Part of the test involves checking for blood in the stool, so I'm wondering if you felt this test could also result in a likely false positive for me?

If so, is it possible to get just a stool DNA test? Or are there any blood tests for colon cancer(eg. tumor markers) that are reliable as a screening tool?

Thanks once again for all your advice :)

Thank you again. That is helpful information.

Unfortunately, I consider a colonoscopy a last resort in my case because the last time I had a procedure involving the same kind of sedation, I had a severe allergic reaction that put me in intensive care. So I'm in need of other options.

Have you heard of the Cologuard test? Part of the test involves checking for blood in the stool, so I'm wondering if you felt this test could also result in a likely false positive for me?

If so, is it possible to get just a stool DNA test? Or are there any blood tests for colon cancer(eg. tumor markers) that are reliable as a screening tool?

Thanks once again for all your advice :)