bummer

0626june
0626june Member Posts: 73
in Anal Cancer #1

I'm about 16 months post-treatment and had a pet scan on my last check up.  They found "abnormal cells" in the bone marrow of the sacrum (tail bone) They're not seeing metasisis from the anal cancer, but this may be what they call "secondary cancer" caused by the radiation. Anyone else had anything like this? 

Comments

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    #2
    0626 June

    I am sorry that you have concerns. I am in Wales and PET was never part of the diagnostic nor monitoring process, so unaware of any further information. I hope you have answers soon

    Liz

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    #3
    Dear Friend,

    How long ago have you had the radiation. It is so unlikely that radiation would cause this. 

    Do they know for sure that it's cancerous? 

    I hope it's something else, so many things lite up the PET scan. 

    I hop I'm right. 

  • cbokay
    cbokay Member Posts: 21 Member
    #4
    0626june

    I'm a recent anal cancer survivor, going on two years NED in Dec 2015.  I didn't know there was a such thing as secondary cancer caused by radiation.  I thought radiation was suppose to get rid of cancer, not bring a new onset elsewhere in the body.  Wow!  I'll need to do some research on that subject.  I wish I had some answers for you but this is all new to me. Keep us posted.  And I pray everthing works out in your favor.

    CB  

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #5
    cbokay said:

    0626june

    I'm a recent anal cancer survivor, going on two years NED in Dec 2015.  I didn't know there was a such thing as secondary cancer caused by radiation.  I thought radiation was suppose to get rid of cancer, not bring a new onset elsewhere in the body.  Wow!  I'll need to do some research on that subject.  I wish I had some answers for you but this is all new to me. Keep us posted.  And I pray everthing works out in your favor.

    CB  

    June

    I'm sorry to hear that your PET scan shows this.  Of course, a biopsy would be needed to confirm that this is actually cancer.  There are numerous things that can cause a light up on a PET scan that are not cancer, including inflammation.  People who have received pelvic radiation are at higher risk for radiation-induced cancers in the area of treatment, including leukemia and bone cancer.  Do your doctors plan to follow-up these concerns with a biopsy?  I hope it turns out to be a non-cancerous issue.  Please keep us posted.

    Sending good thoughts and prayers for you--

    Martha

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 493 Member
    #6
    cbokay said:

    0626june

    I'm a recent anal cancer survivor, going on two years NED in Dec 2015.  I didn't know there was a such thing as secondary cancer caused by radiation.  I thought radiation was suppose to get rid of cancer, not bring a new onset elsewhere in the body.  Wow!  I'll need to do some research on that subject.  I wish I had some answers for you but this is all new to me. Keep us posted.  And I pray everthing works out in your favor.

    CB  

    Secondary Cancer

    Every time a PET/CT scan is done it subjects the body to additional radiation.  There is a risk that a person can develop cancer from this additional radiation.  Doctors seem to be more cautious now.  When I first was diagnosed with anal cancer in 2008 scans were a norm.  Now the doctors seem to use them sparingly.

    Mike

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #7
    cbokay said:

    0626june

    I'm a recent anal cancer survivor, going on two years NED in Dec 2015.  I didn't know there was a such thing as secondary cancer caused by radiation.  I thought radiation was suppose to get rid of cancer, not bring a new onset elsewhere in the body.  Wow!  I'll need to do some research on that subject.  I wish I had some answers for you but this is all new to me. Keep us posted.  And I pray everthing works out in your favor.

    CB  

    radiation causes other cancers

    the radiation oncologists at MD Anderson told me in 2009 that the radiation to my pelvis  and anal area COULD maybe  cause a cancer in the future BUT this was the only protocol for tx they had at that time....they also told me that this tx was barbaric.....I also had multiple CT scans for 5 years......but they are not doing as many now..... soooooo we hope this does not happen .....sephie

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #8
    bummer

    I am so sorry that you've gotten this bad news.  I hope you will get answers soon on how the doctors want to proceed in treating this.

    I have a friend who was treated for anal cancer about 10 years ago and unfortunately another cancer did develop as a result of the radiation.  It also was in the area of her tail bone.  I can't remember its long name but it was a sarcoma.  She was treated with surgeries, cyberknife radiation and chemo.  Three years ago when I got this cancer she was finishing her last rounds of chemo.  Scans continue to show a tumor, much diminished from its original size but still there.  Her good news is always that the tumor shows no sign of growth.  She lives with this cancer and has a support group of others who also live with cancer.  And she really lives.  She's taken her daughter on trips to Europe and she's seen her graduate from college.  She delights in her grandchild.  She is physically active and she is engaged in a number of community groups.

    I hope this note isn't more of a bummer than what you've already heard from doctors. 

    Janet

  • 0626june
    0626june Member Posts: 73
    #9
    mp327 said:

    June

    I'm sorry to hear that your PET scan shows this.  Of course, a biopsy would be needed to confirm that this is actually cancer.  There are numerous things that can cause a light up on a PET scan that are not cancer, including inflammation.  People who have received pelvic radiation are at higher risk for radiation-induced cancers in the area of treatment, including leukemia and bone cancer.  Do your doctors plan to follow-up these concerns with a biopsy?  I hope it turns out to be a non-cancerous issue.  Please keep us posted.

    Sending good thoughts and prayers for you--

    Martha

    thanks Dear Martha

    they followed up with an MRI to rule out a fracture causing inflamation. They do want to do a biopsy of the bone marrow and I'm hesitant.  My plan is to have another scan in 3 months to see if there is growth and if there is, get a biopsy, if not, I can live with it. The dr says if I feel any discomfort I will get tested sooner. I like the idea of my body telling me whats going on, instead of a test. 

    I so appreciate your comments on here.

    Thank you-

    June

  • 0626june
    0626june Member Posts: 73
    #10
    jcruz said:

    bummer

    I am so sorry that you've gotten this bad news.  I hope you will get answers soon on how the doctors want to proceed in treating this.

    I have a friend who was treated for anal cancer about 10 years ago and unfortunately another cancer did develop as a result of the radiation.  It also was in the area of her tail bone.  I can't remember its long name but it was a sarcoma.  She was treated with surgeries, cyberknife radiation and chemo.  Three years ago when I got this cancer she was finishing her last rounds of chemo.  Scans continue to show a tumor, much diminished from its original size but still there.  Her good news is always that the tumor shows no sign of growth.  She lives with this cancer and has a support group of others who also live with cancer.  And she really lives.  She's taken her daughter on trips to Europe and she's seen her graduate from college.  She delights in her grandchild.  She is physically active and she is engaged in a number of community groups.

    I hope this note isn't more of a bummer than what you've already heard from doctors. 

    Janet

    nope

    it's not more of a bummer....actually it helps considerably.

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #11
    0626june said:

    thanks Dear Martha

    they followed up with an MRI to rule out a fracture causing inflamation. They do want to do a biopsy of the bone marrow and I'm hesitant.  My plan is to have another scan in 3 months to see if there is growth and if there is, get a biopsy, if not, I can live with it. The dr says if I feel any discomfort I will get tested sooner. I like the idea of my body telling me whats going on, instead of a test. 

    I so appreciate your comments on here.

    Thank you-

    June

    June

    I will certainly be hoping and praying that the next scan shows no growth, indicating something benign.  Please keep us posted.  Take care.

    Hugs--

    Martha

  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #12
    0626june said:

    nope

    it's not more of a bummer....actually it helps considerably.

     

    June

    i am really sorry you have to go through this. MD Anderson did caution me about secondary Cancer from radiation. However PET scans do show up false positives and that is what I am praying for in your case. Please keep up posted. 

    My thoughts and prayers are with you. 

    Liz

  • Cornfused
    Cornfused Member Posts: 10
    #13
    0626june said:

    thanks Dear Martha

    they followed up with an MRI to rule out a fracture causing inflamation. They do want to do a biopsy of the bone marrow and I'm hesitant.  My plan is to have another scan in 3 months to see if there is growth and if there is, get a biopsy, if not, I can live with it. The dr says if I feel any discomfort I will get tested sooner. I like the idea of my body telling me whats going on, instead of a test. 

    I so appreciate your comments on here.

    Thank you-

    June

    Yes wait a bit

    i like your idea to wait or get other opinions. I too have heard PET scans can give false reads. Have you talked to the people at Cancer Treatment Center of America? they have a great approach to everything. 

    I just started anal cancer treatment 10 days ago and my pain drove me there. 

    I would use some alternative healers to help you through these next few months to continue to detox the radiation and chemo and get your nutrition strong. 

    Thinking Good thoughts for you 

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