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for those who don't know how...
For those just diagnosed who don't know how they'll "get through" it, I offer these words. I'm not very warm and fuzzy, but more of a "lets get down to business" type. More pragmatic. I think in terms of problem solving. Nevertheless if one can get past the delivery, I can offer the following words, meant as encouragment.…
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Good news!!!
Called for my ct scan results today and all looks great!!!! yippee!! Let me say that you guys reassuring words caled my nerves greatly this week!!!! So I am now 4 years NED!!!
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The cancer has invaded my rectum
Radiation and chemo therapies begin in the morning. I look forward to shrinking and ridding my body of the cancer restricting my rectum. There is an uncomfortable feeling in my rectum that I am ready to get rid of. Although I am not anxious to introduce radiation and chemo drugs into my system, I am ready for relief. I…
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Epilator for hair removal
Her's a random question for you all... does anyone know if it's ok to epilate the hair from your upper thighs and bikini line after having had radiotherapy. I had radiotherapy in August and have no skin problems in the area. Just wondered if it might affect lymph nodes (I has a node removed during biopsy) Di
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Holiday
Hi all, I hope this finds you all feeling good and optimistic about the future. I gotta tell you, this is an amazing Christmas for me this year.. I'm just so happy and thankful to be experiencing it. It feels like," YAY! I get to have Christmas!!!" I intend to have many more in the years to come and I hope never to lose…
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4 years post
Although it's rare that I return to this board, I try to share recovery milestones with each passing year to offer hope. Diagnosed as a possible IIIB, I am now 4 years post with no concerns. I think about you all going through treatment during the holidays as I began mine Thanksgiving week 2010. My fantastic radiology…
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Ct scan
I had my annual ct scan yesterday. they scheduled at a diff facility than I normally go to and where its taken a total of 2 hours in the past, this took 4 . lost 1/2 day of work. They had me wait 1 1/2 hrs after drinking the contrast, says it has more time to get thru your system, whereas the other place does the scan…
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Possible recuurence
Does anyone know if a swelling around the pubic region could be a possible reccurrence of my anal cancer?
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Scanxiety
Time for my annual ct scan. Even tho colon doc said everything looks great THERE after doing a scope last week. I still get petrified with fear when it's time for the scan. Anyone else go thru this? I am 4 years NED Last month. I think about this stupid cancer every day without fail. I have a friend that had chemo and…
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Almost 3 years since treatment ended and still no scans?
Hi Everybody! I hope you are all doing great! I finished my treatments on 12/23/11 and have never had a PET Scan or CT Scan since. I have been checked every six months by my doctor who gave me an anal exam each time with a scope etc. Is it strange that I have never had any scans? I had a dream last night that they found a…
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Platelets down
During my final hospitalization, my platelets went down to 14,000 at the lowest point while my WBC was 0.2 in spite of daily Neupogen. I received 2 units of whole blood and 2 of platelets. Although my platelets never returned to the normal range (150,000-450,000), they did rise significantly into the 133,000 range, like in…
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Fatigue
im three plus years out of tx and the d### fatigue is back! I mean by two o'clock I am burnt toast! you guys know the kind of tired that starts in your eyes and head and works itself down? That kinda cuts my productive day down to six hours! Any suggestions?
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scared and confused at his point
I posted last week that my colorectal surgeon wants to do another biopsy and I wondered why. Wel, my chemo doc released me in March and told me to go to my go now for blood work. I went in sept. he is in the same medical group as my colorectal surgeon and I guess somehow my bloodwork results didn't get seen by the…
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How Is Body Positioned For Radiation & Where Are Tattoos placed?
My husband is having an ultrasound on friday Dec. 5th to see what stage his anal cancer is in. No lymph nodes nor other organs. Worried about how many layers the big "c" word has spread to....praying not stage 4. We are so scared & not knowing how things will go is scarier. I think possibly scarier for me because i read so…
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Constipation - how and why website.
Although this hasn't been my problem, I find this site to be quite good. It was created by the phamaceutical company that manufactures Ducolax, but it's not pushed upon the readers. I espcially like the animated slide-show, "How Digestion Works". Nicely done. This is a British site, therefore spelling is in the English…
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touchy subject
6 months post-treatment and I'm plagued by bouts of diahrrea. They come with no warning so, as you can imagine, totally affect my activities. Anyone else had something similar? Never thought I'd put so much thought into comparing panty-liners! I'm sure my diet contributes as I'm trying to re-boot my immune system with…
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Lots of Bleeding 2 years out
Hi ya'll, It's been a while. I've been doing pretty well and I consider myself lucky. I've had constant issues with diarhea but mostly in the morning, as most of us have and wasn't experiencing too many problems other than that up until my last visit. I had one issue back in October of heavy bleeding during a bowel…
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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,…
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CT scan
How soon after completing treatment did you have your first CT scan? I finished treatment Oct 27 and have a scan scheduled on the 25th. Does that sound right? Jackie
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Using Replens?
In reading through old threads, I see where a few forum members have been put on Replens for vaginal dryness. The med apparently aides in sloughing dry, atrophic cells while adhering to the newer epithelial cells for about three days and increasing moisture. (Please correct me if I misunderstood the process.) As an RN in…
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Post Treatment Milestone
I was deported yesterday. This was done by the general surgeon who did my second biopsy and who placed the port. He is a very nice man, BUT because of his bedside manner - quote I hear most about him, "he makes you feel like you're his only patient", his appointment times are a joke. When I had an appointment with him to…
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Post about after cancer/ostomies and people who don't think.
I posted this on the colon board because that's the board I'm usually on but aftewards I thought, this might be a board that relates a little better. I'm singing a serious case of the blues this week. Trying to get over my pity party and get myself to a happy place. . . . . For all those doing chemo today or on their…
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911 Victims' Compensation Fund
For any exposed to ground zero during, or immediately after the 911 attacks, the 911 Victims' Compensation Fund now includes anal scc in their covered conditions.
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Follow up testing
I am 4 years ned as of last month. My chemo doc cut me loose in May and told me no need to come back; to let my gp do my bloodwork. I quit going to the radiologist 2 years ago. I am still going to the colorectal surgeon (although I had no surg ery) every 6 monThs. I get a ct scan yearly but the chemo doc said I don't even…
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What to do next?
Hello. I wanted to see if I could get advice on how to proceed with treatment for my mom. She was diagnosed in June with Stage 2 Anal Cancer. She finished chemo and radiation in September. The radiation oncologist was hopeful but said if the tumor did not resolve then she would need surgery--which would mean a colostomy.…
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Any others with Stage IV anal cancer?
I am a 43 year old male, diagnosed in March 2014 with metastatic anal cancer w. spread to lymph node and liver. Following a second opinion, I started chemotherapy in April w. high doses of avastin, carboplatin and taxol.... every three weeks. In September, I was told by doctors there was no evidence of disease in anal…
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"the price of survival"
This document is from the Neuropathy Association's website. The doctor discusses ways to deal with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and notes how neuropathy is one of those "price[s] of survival" that we must pay in order to live through cancer treatment: http://www.neuropathy.org/site/DocServer/Dr._Jeong_Oh.pdf?docID=2381
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I am thanful for all of you. And remember, no matter what you are going through, you are much better off than than the turkey sweating grease in your 350 degree oven lol. Laz
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Positivity and its benefits?
Hi guys, Ages ago when we were chatting to the consultant, he mentioned that though it isn't yet scientifically proven, there is a benefit to being positive on cancer patients. Something to do with chemicals in the brain, he said that those who are positive do a lot better. Does anyone know about this? If so, can you…
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Post-treatment goals, fingers crossed.
After living through cancer treatment, I have achieved my first post-treatment goal: on Saturday, I got to see the new 12th Doctor land on BBC America in his TARDIS! Yes, in the past few years, I've become yet another Doctor Who fan. Better late than never... .^_^.