The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Anal Cancer

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Calendula oil, aloe vera and lavender oil
I'm starting my CRT tomorrow and have found that some people use calendula oil, aloe vera and lavender oil, applied one after the other, in order to counter the radiation burns. Is that something that anyone on the forum has experience with?
2nd time diagnosed with anal cancer in 1.5 years
When I was diagnosed with cancer I had zero signs. They found it by a CT scan for my knee replacement. I was sent to the cancer center. I was told it is completely treatable. So I had chemotherapy by IV (3times) and pills, and radiation. That burned me so much. During all this I got Covid. So that made is worse. They said…
Cervical cancer
I am curious if any woman were diagnosed with both anal and cervical. Did you have either one of them first and discovered you had the other cervical or anal, one right after the other?
Fissure after biopsy
Hi! New to this site, please bare w me... I got diagnosed 2022 w squamous cell approx 2" in the anal canal. Finished treatment 12/22. Had port taken out along w final 6 mon biopsy. 2 weeks later, in debilitating pain, had to go back out on disability. I go to all my docs. They went to go back in for botox. They do a…
Recent diagnosis
Hello everyone, I was diagnosed with Stage III anal squamous carcinoma cell cancer in November after suffering from an anal unhealing lesion/ulcer for some time. It was discovered through biopsy during an operation to curette the ulcer. The cancer is extremely small and does not even appear on MRI, with only a small blip…
My Anal Cancer Experience
Hello fellow anal cancer patients! When I was first diagnosed I visited this forum many times. Although I never posted anything, I gained much knowledge and felt a great deal of support. Now I want to relate my experience with the hope that someone else who is facing the same thing will benefit as I did. (As a point of…
just diagnosed
Hello: Just discovered this website and I wanted to join. I was just recently diagnosed with anal cancer and now am going to have more imaging and hopefully in about 2 weeks I will start with my treatments which will include chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Looking for others who have experience with this and have…
Anal bleeding
i am almost 2 years out from anal cancer. How does everyone keep the stool soft and keep from bleeding? All my scans are clear from cancer. Its so aggravating when I go to the bathroom.
Rectal Cancer, 80% chance live on Colostomy bag for life
I just got diagnosed with rectal cancer less than 2 weeks ago. I am a 59 Year old male. The cancer starts 3.2cm inside my rectum, is 3.2cm thick and 6.2cm long. That is just the live cancer itself. There is further damage the cancer has caused, and it has spread to my liver. According to my doctors it has been growing for…
Side effects of Mitomycin
On 1/8/24, I start treatment for Stage 2 Anal Cancer, & I will have 1 dose of Mitomycin along with 5FU for 96 hrs. At beginning of treatment & 96 hrs. At the end of treatment. Also, 30 rounds of Radiation. I have RA & concerned about the potential side effects of this drug. I appreciate everything that I’ve learned on this…
anal cancer
I just found out that I have cancer in my rectum. Last week, coloscopy; next week, CAT scan & surgeon meeting. I don't have family; my husband died in 2013; friends don't know much about cancer & neither do I. I'm afraid and anxious, trying not to get depressed. I'm looking for conversation to help me thru this process.
After Anal Cancer Treatment and Anal Sex
As a gay man that just finished chemo/radiation treatment for anal cancer. I am scared of having anal sex. Any other gay men that have gone through anal cancer treatment successfully but scared to have anal sex? I know it will be painful but will it be painful the whole time during sex? Will anal sex be pleasurable again?…
Radiation Burn Spray
Hi, this may be of use to anyone but was thinking of Pattie at this time. I know she mentioned starting treatment this week. The spray I used to ease the pain on my butt, groin area is called Dermoplast...it is usually given to women to spray on after childbirth and can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies, I…
anal cancer
Hi their I was wondering if anyone could help /advise recommend any tips and “tricks” , products anything please , I’m looking for some help for my dad who doesn’t know I’m currently reaching out however I believe a story shared could benefit him with the help and experience from other people rather than a doctor let me go…
My survival journey through anal cancer
I was diagnosed with stage 3b anal cancer in Sept 2022 and while I consider myself a survivor, my experience was difficult, I'm sorry to say. In Aug 22, I started noticing that I was passing blood in my bowels movements. I was 59 at the time and I've certainly had plenty of hemorrhoids where there was bright red blood, but…
External tumor
My tumor is now pretty much outside my butt hole. is this normal? should i be alarmed ? should i push it back in? Suggestions?
POST RADIATION PROBLEMS HIP AND PELVIC BONE DAMAGE
Is anyone dealing with this? I was diagnosed in April 2011 and had my treatments (chemo and radiation) through May and June. I was stage III so I had pretty intense radiation, including pinpoint to specific lymph nodes that were affected. I have extreme low back pain, spasms (he says probably related to muscles trying to…
Vaginal Dialators after Pelvic Radiation for anal cancer
I saw my radiation onc at the beginning of this week. He told me he was giving me a vaginal dialator because the radiation has caused scar tissue and I need to use it so nothing closes. I was surprised because he didn't mention this to me before I had treatments. So I use it 10 minutes a day and it is still painful. I do…
Dilator
Being a sexually active women I worry about the effects of radiation on my sexual organs. Heard that some women need a dilator to prevent perminent damage to the vaginal area. I'm just in the first week of radiation and chemo. Would like to have some input as to the necessity for this device in the near future. Never have…
Vaginal dilators - sources and information on use.
[I could have sworn that I already posted information about the Soul Source site, but I can't find it utilizing keyword searching. So, forgive any reduncy.] The radiation oncologist's office gave me two 6" long dilators from Syracuse Medical Devices, a small (~7/8" diameter) and medium (~1-1/8" diameter). They are solid,…
mucous discharge
I am 9 months post treatment for anal canal cancer. Can anyone tell me when and if the anal mucous discharge ends? I am sooo tired of having to wear a pad 24/7
Vaginally stenosis
No one has talked about vaginal stenosis which is scar tissue from the radiation. This made any kind of penetration painful. My radiologist gave me vaginal dilators in different sizes.
Blood in stools...kind of scared
I'm 5 months post treatment. I've had a colonoscopy and there was no more cancer. I've been on a vegan diet for 5 months. Things were going well until this morning. I had a "normal" stool and it kind of hurt, but there was bright red blood in it. I'm not in pain but it really scared me. I see my general onc next week.…
Just started treatment
Recently diagnosed with anal cancer stage 3 A, and just finished 1st week of chemo and first 4 radiation therapy treatments, and am already experiencing extreme pain from RT. I keep reading it usually takes a few weeks to become painful, and am terrified because it is already so intense, and bound to get worse. I usually…
Treatment
So I start my treatment for anal cancer Stage T2 N1a. I am just wondering what to expect with chemo/radiation therapy? I have chemo/radiation for two cycles, for five days straight. I will be using the pump. (Had my port place in late February.) Anyone have any thoughts regarding the anal pain, will it ever go away?
Anal cancer
Hi I’m close to starting my treatment and I’m scared to death! Please tell me what to expect🥹
Journey and what next
Hi there, I'm 41 years old and in October 2024 I'm diagnosed stage 4 anal cancer and liver and anterior lower abdomen wall metastesis. At first, I almost got chemoradiation but after found out that it has spread so the treatment has changed. I got 6 chemo (Paclitaxel/ Carboplatin) and testing PET scan soon (now 4 weeks…
vigina problems
after 7 months since my last cancer treatment. still having problems with sex. Hurts very much. I feel bad for my husband. I don't want to give that part of my life up. Anyone else have these problems?
I am pretty terrified
Since mid sept. I have been passing blood very intermittently, sharp pain as if I am passing glass/sand paper and persistent itching around the anus almost every bowel movement. I have no pain outside of BM I am 37 years old, non immune supressed, no hiv etc otherwise in healthy shape in a long term relationship. I had a…
Scar tissue 6 years NED
Yes, It hurts and is scary. My colon Doctor put me on Metamuscil in the morning and Miralax in the evening. It has helped me stay soft enough to pass normal size stool then goes to shoestring size. However, the scar tissue in on my sphincter and that's where to stool passes through. It gets inflamed and hurts now and then.…

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The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Anal Cancer

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