[Onscreen text: Ohio State Health & Discovery Health Talks
How do we know if it’s hemorrhoids or anal cancer?]

[Music playing]

[Onscreen text: Syed Husain, MD
Colon and Rectal Surgery
OSUCCC - James]

Dr. Husain: The difference between hemorrhoids and anal cancer in terms of symptoms would be, number one, the persistence of the symptoms. So, hemorrhoidal disease usually presents with symptoms that last for a few days, sometimes up to a week, and then it will diminish.

[Onscreen text: Hemorrhoid symptoms can resolve on their own after a few days]

Dr. Husain: On the other hand, anal cancer symptoms, although they same symptoms produced by hemorrhoids, they will persist. They will not improve spontaneously.

[Onscreen text: Anal cancer symptoms won’t improve spontaneously]

Dr. Husain: What we usually tell our patients that if you’re having any of the symptoms like rectal pain, bleeding or feeling a lump in that area and those symptoms persist beyond two weeks, or if they’re experiencing recurrence of these symptoms over and over again, then they should go out and see their physician.

[Onscreen text: Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore
Rectal pain
Rectal bleeding
Lump in anal area]

[Onscreen text: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
For more information visit:
health.osu.edu]

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