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Anal abscess and fistula -- what next?

ACW189
Posts: 24
Joined: Feb 2009
Oct 15, 2009 - 2:09 pm

For all those of you out there who've had colorectal or anal cancer, I completed my treatment for anal canal cancer in May 09 (surgery/rad/chemo-5FUwithMit). I've overcome fatigue (for the most part) and muscle weakness in my legs (PT helped). Now I've been treated twice for an anal abscess (the surgeon didn't get it all during the first "slice"). I have a wound that doesn't look too nice and after 2 weeks (from second lancing procedure)I am still draining.
He now suspects I might have a fistula and is waiting until the swelling subsides to investigate further. Help? Anyone have surgery for fistulas? I'm terribly afraid of long term affects on the sphincter. Is this the result of surgery or radiation or both? I've been doing a little research but would love to hear your thoughts and experiences (both good and bad...).

Connie Dove
Posts: 4
 Joined: Jan 2010
Jan 11, 2010 - 8:59 pm
ACW189 REPLY

I know someone that had an anal abscess supposedly lanced back in the 1980's best I can remember. In 2007 it turned out they had colorectal cancer and they have just passed away from their battle in Dec. 2009 after taking radiation and chemo-it had methasized to their liver and then to their bone marrow through the lymph nodes (which carry the cancer to distant sites). Supposedly right before their death an anal abcess (same one?) was opened to drain-not lanced, just drained. (If you Google Mayo Clinic about Anal Abscess it mainly instructs drainage). Anyway, the person I know also had tumors around the anal area. It was a battle for life right until the very end with the person I know. In the 1980's they only had the anal abscess lanced (there was no cancer, radiation or chemo prior to that time). As far as you being concerned about your sphincter, that could possibly only happen if you had surgery; but as I said "Google Mayo Clinic and search on their site for Anal Abscess to see what they say-I intrepreted it to say drainage is the best way to treat it." Perhaps they can test the area for cancer cells or test you blood for CEA count (cancer count) so you can know exactly what is going on.