Mine also started with an exam finally after enduring 15 years of pure torture, heat, fever, redness and terrible pain. The Dr. did not see anything in there, which is probably true, because that’s why 15 yrs passed before seeing a Doc. It would feel like something was swollen and painful for a few days, and then not. Very difficult to be in front of the Dr at the same time.
I was so young when it started, 20 probably. I didn’t consider ER as it would come and go. It would go away for long periods of time. I thought I had hemmoroids. So 15 years later, still off and on having symptoms over the years, I took a trip to Key West which is about a 5 hour flight. When I get to my hotel there was blood all over the toilet and my underwear. I was in extreme pain my whole 7 days there I just wanted to go back home after laying on my stomach. My Aunt gave me strong pain meds and it helped barely. So upon my return home I make a Dr’s appt, diagnosed with a pilonidal cyst and referred to surgery. I had the closed surgery, healed in about two weeks without any problems and then about 2 years later I was diagnosed with anal cancer. Of course I searched the web how? I am not quite forty.
My readings and questions brought about 3 reasons for this rare cancer so young. HPV, I was tested and was negative for all known strains. A certain sexual position, use your imagination. And also the outlook for the pilonidal if not taken care of in time can cause cancer from the neglected infection. I feel terrible sometimes that I let it go so, so long and didn’t pay attention to what my body was saying. I was too busy working all the time and playing with my friends. Now I have a monkey called cancer on my back that I feel I constantly have to watch for but isn’t as easy as finding a pilonidal cyst.
Good luck to all! Thank you for reading my story.