 [ Symptoms ] do external hemorrhoids have to be directly on the anus  if there is a swollen mass a little less than an inch away from the actual anus could that be considered an external hemorrhoid if not what else could it be  [ Disease ] a hemorrhoid is really a varicose vein in the circle of veins around your anal ring they can be inside the anus internal or outside external but not an inch away your mass is something else but it would not be prudent to blindly guess you will need to be examined it could be cyst or even an abscess if it is tender but there are other possibilities get it checked out