Distinct smell and other familiar symptoms

Hi @Zero and welcome to the group. I can’t say I’ve noticed a smell before treatment and I can’t remember anyone mentioning this issue before. Please try keep an open mind as to whether  it has returned (easier said than done I know). I’m 3 years post treatment and on many occasions have had terribly uncomfortable times where I feel like I’m back to square one with the soreness and pain of going to the toilet. I get a strange sensation right where the tumour was and a feeling of a deep cut, like I had with the tumour. Many times I’ve convinced myself it’s back and made myself thoroughly miserable thinking this but these sensations are common after treatment. They are due to the stenosis and the nerve endings being frazzled and damaged in the anal canal due to the radiation. Obviously you’ve done the right thing in deciding to call your Oncologist tomorrow, any changes always need checking out. Hopefully all will be well. Please let us know how you get on. Bev x

I am sorry you are having this worry after all your treatment. Please don't ever apologise for giving a graphic description of anything you are going through.  Just because no one can relate to what you are saying right at this moment doesn't mean that someone with your symptoms might join the forum in the future and totally relate to your experience.  I'm afraid I don't particularly remember any particular smell but that may well be because as I have got older my sense of smell has diminished quite markedly.  Also my tumour was submucosal and in the rectum so I had no symptoms at all apart from skinny poos.

Please come back when you have spoken to your oncologist; hopefully they will investigate and put your mind at rest.

Irene xx

I must admit I feel guilty for joining this online community but after putting in one of my more unusual symptoms I was taken to a forum post regarding anal cancer. This was concerning an odd smell from anus not normal to anything there before. I feel guilty because I have yet to be diagnosed with any cancer. I have had blood from my anus while pooing and in my poos. The pain while pooing and for hours after is excruciating and would describe as if a knife is up it. After attending my GP and examination I was diagnosed with a fissure. I was prescribed a topical ointment which after a time made the bleeding less. I did have other symptoms , apart from bleeding pain , and weird smell I was and I’m feel very tired and washed out. As the symptoms continued I was sent for a colonoscopy. It picked up ulcers in my colon from this area they took biopsies. But as they did not suspect cancer they were not sent for urgent results. They also recommended a CT scan , which I had it has seemed to pick up no abnormalities but when I had my first consultation I told the gastroenterologist that the symptoms had never really gotten any better . He seemed to be of the opinion that without any abdominal pain as a symptom it ruled out any problem with my colon however he sent me for another colonoscopy to see if anything had changed as it was almost 6months since the last, I had it days ago and the initial visual findings seem to show that the ulcers have gone from the area of my colon. This time they seemed to take biopsies from further down maybe in my anal canal ? Seemed nearer exit point. I’d never really thought of anal cancer however the fact I feel lumps around my anus both inside and out , the feeling of a lump being there and prominent especially when pooing , bleeding from time to time and the excruciating pain when passing stools and for hours afterwards has me thinking I could have anal cancer. Again I apologise to all who have actually been diagnosed with cancer and dealing with it and its treatments. I have close relatives who have been including my daughter so I know how frightening a prospect it is. I just feel that the consultant I’ve seen and GPs should be thinking more along the lines of this type of cancer even though I know it is one of the rarer types. I should be happy that this latest colonoscopy has not picked up more or indeed any ulcers or any abnormalities which were mentioned. However the fact is I’m still in real pain and have been for 10months now as well as continuing to have other symptoms including that of just not feeling right in myself.

Hello Gordo6d7a4e

Please never feel you have to apologise on here, many forum members have had symptoms ignored by professionals and have arrived here on the forum after the problems they were experiencing developed into something much more serious.  I am not brushing off your symptoms in the slightest but some of the lumps you are experiencing may, and I stress, MAY be piles.  But this is me, an armchair doctor with piles! 

But that said, the doctors treating you do seem to be doing all the checks.  If you don't feel better I would keep pushing; I really hope that there is nothing going on that they can't find.

Lots of encouraging hugs

Irene xx

Hello Gordo6d7a4e,

It sounds like you are really going through it with pain and symptoms and I can hear your frustration that a clear cause hasn’t been identified. 
While I certainly wouldn’t wish you to have this diagnosis and I definitely hope that you don’t have anal cancer, I would as Irene suggests keep pushing to find out what’s causing your pain. 

I know this can be very wearing when you don’t feel great. Many of us had a very long road to diagnosis and some tenacity was needed. At least once you know what’s wrong you can start to have any treatment needed, whatever it is. 

I really hope that you manage to get further tests and help with your symptoms. 
xx

Thanks for kind replies