Hi everyone, reaching out to you all who may be able to put my worried mind at ease.
I have been suffering with numerous symptoms in my bottom since last year. At first with the bleeding being one of the symptoms i thought its piles however the symptoms started to get worse and every day was like i had to live with this discomfort.
Due to Covid it wasn't so easy to get into my doctors but in Jan this year i had an appointment with my GP who examined me. She said she would be referring me for a colonoscopy. I asked her if it was a cyst or piles and she said no. In this time she prescribed me hydrocortisone.
My referral came through less than 2 weeks after my appointment. You had to book this online choosing a hospital which suited myself. I wasn't bothered about distance.. Being a mummy to a 4 year old and worried so much i would travel. Anyway there was no available appointments in any of the hospitals listed! So i had to manually input my details online for them to contact me on the next available slot.
In this time nothing was clearing up with the hydrocortisone so i rang the doctors and another doctor spoke to me and said "let me help you!" with that i went to the pharmacy and he prescribed me hydrocortisone with 5%but i could only use for 5 days.. Again this wasn't helpful as the problem was internal.
I rang the number on the referral letter and a gentleman said due to covid there was a backlog and they would be in touch with the next available appointment.
Few weeks past.. Again not a day were it felt ok. All the same symptoms but some cramps in my stomach.
I rang the doctor for a telephone consultation with my GP who i saw first. This was booked in ( 2 weeks later!)
I spoke with her today and she couldn't apologise enough that i still hadn't been seen and ask me about my symptoms again. She has put an urgent referral through so now its another waiting game.
My symptoms at this point are bleeding, itching, sore, mucus. I wasn't struggling to go to the toilet but some of my stools were getting blocked behind (this lump) snd now cramps
Sorry for such a long rant
Just needed to say how i felt and if anyone has/had those symptoms
Hi ,
Firstly let me welcome you to the Macmillan online community although I’m sorry you’ve had the need to find us.
The pattern of referral you’re describing unfortunately is all too common along with misdiagnosis of anal cancer for haemorrhoids etc., but even during a global pandemic this treatment is highly unacceptable! & although you really shouldn’t have to do this please, please keep prodding the Dr’s/hospital as you need assessing as soon as possible. Don’t let anyone fob you off & please tell them you’re concerned about the possibility of anal cancer.
The symptoms you’re describing can definitely be related to anal cancer, many of our members here have reported symptoms such as lumps, bleeding on having a bowel movement, polyps & itching or any combination of these & although I’m sure these symptoms can be due to other conditions also this has gone on for quite a while for you without improvement so you really do need a thorough check with possibly a colorectal surgeon.
Please don’t apologise about posting here, we all understand, I really hope you get seen by someone very soon.
Nicola
Hi Nikki,
Thank you so much for your warm welcoming and response.
Yes i am definitely pushing it now as i am thinking the worse ehich can't be helping the symptoms.
I started taking antihistamines today as I've read they help the itching.
Hopefully i will be referred soon 
Keep you posted
Best wishes
