Can my anal skin tag turn into cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I feel a skin tag, around 0.39 inches in size, in my anus. However, there is no bleeding. I had a complaint of hemorrhoids earlier.

Could this be a scar or cancer?
How does cancer feel when we palpate it?

Kindly advise.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

It may be a chronic fissure with a tag from the mucosa. Both hemorrhoids and chronic fissures are painless. Fissures have pain in the initial phases; however, there will not be pain in the chronic phase. Cancer is painless initially, and bleeding will be minimal in the initial phase. However, in cancer, bowel movements like constipation or spurious diarrhea will be altered. I suggest you consult a surgeon for physical examination, proctoscopy, or colonoscopy.

I hope this helps.

Thank you.