How long do hemorrhoids typically last?

I've had them for about a month now. My doctor presribed me some anusol cream, and it disappears, but then again when I have a large bowel movement, it recurs and starts bleeding, feels irritated as well. Hoping it's not a problem worse than that, but can't believe it's been going on this long. Please no jokes, I don't feel good about this..thanks. I'm waiting for this to clear up so I can do more testing, fecal occult tests, to see if there's blood in my stool for colo-rectal cancer but waiting for what seems to be hemorrhoids to clear up so I won't get false readings.