Cancer Survivors Network

I am also on the site for breast cancer and many people there do get together yearly. There are so many more members on that site so kind of break up the country into sections and meet at someones house or a hotel. It is difficult as you say with everyones schedules though. I had planned to go to Chicago last summer but couldn't make it due to a family issue.

So glad to have this site to help us along the way!

Yes, that would be nice, but as you say, so many obstacles!  I have had the privilege of meeting in person 6 other anal cancer survivors who live just within miles of me--three through my doctors, two through websites such as this one, and one on a media site on which I had posted a comment about an article.  When I went to California last October, I also met another survivor I know from a support site who lives in San Francisco.  There is one more survivor near me who I have yet to meet, but we had the same rad onc who connected us with our mutual consent.  We stay in touch and are planning to meet someday.  Two gals in Canada that I met on a support site were even considering driving down to watch me run my marathon, but couldn't work it out.  I hope to go to Canada someday to meet them and another survivor who they know personally and I know online.  It's beginning to sound like I've been at this too long, isn't it!    However, I have to say that meeting someone in person who truly understands what you have gone through is priceless.  I've had other meetings with survivors of different types of cancer, and although they might not understand specifically what anal cancer treatment is like, they know the fear associated with getting a cancer diagnosis and all the emotional stuff.  I really encourage meetings.  It always reminds me that there is at least one benefit to come out of this experience--that of very special friendships.