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Anal Cancer

aquaphor, etc
I don't yet need aquaphor, having had only two radiation txs but decided to apply it anyway. It's much thicker than I expected and doesn't seem water soluble. Knowing the importance of removing all topical ointments before radiation, how do you remove this stuff? Also, the radio onlcologist who I like less and less each…
1 week Post Treatment Care
Hello everyone, Question. I'm 7 days post treatment and have the normal genital burns and raw skin from clitorus south to anus. I still have (earlier post) sticking of the fleshy overlapping areas of skin. Aquaphor really helps but I'm having trouble getting it to stick to the raw areas. It appears it doesn't stick well to…
non cancer question... anyone have trouble with
non cancer question... anyone have trouble with using this website? I don't know if it's my internet connection or the website or something else, but I have trouble navigating and posting here due to the extremely slow speeds of this site. Is anyone else having the same problems?
Scan results...
So, on friday I got the results from my recent chest and pelvis CT scans. In Feb.2011 I was diagnosed with Stage3 Anal Cancer (chemo/rad/colostomy) and in Feb. 2012 Secretory Carcinoma of the breast (mastectomy). For the most part my scans remain stable with a few areas of improvement and a few minor freckles to keep an…
Radiation burns
My friend has found out her chemo and radiation schedule (radiation for 6 weeks starting end of March -IMR - and chemo on weeks 1, 4 & 8). What she is most concerned about is the combination of the radiation burns and the potential diarrhea from the chemo. Does anyone have any tips regarding some topical treatments for the…
Anyone have to stop their radiation treatments early? Have you remained cancer free?
I had Stage III Anal cancer and received the standard treatment of chemo and radiation in March and April of 2012. I unfortunately had to stop about six treatments short of the planned amount of radiation treatments due to complications. Although my PET scan came out clean in July 2012, the colo-rectal surgeon warned me…
Pelvic lymph nodes
Hi there, The primary tumour is at the top end of the anal canal, with lymph nodes involved in mesorectum and pelvic area (2 lymph nodes in total). Anyone here had similar presentation? About to start treatment on 18th. Was called in by oncologist to discuss the likliehood of long term effects of radiation on small bowel.…
will decide for myself but soliciting opinions
Will decide for myself but soliciting opinions regarding when to ask my sister to come from another state to help me. She'll come when I need for as long as I need, but from a practical point of view, she just can't stay for weeks and weeks on end. Week 1 of chemo (from what I can tell) isn't usually very challenging but…
when it rains...
When it rains, it pours. After several scheduling fiascos, they've ended up with what might be the biggest, which is my day Monday: first radiation Tx and straight from there to the port implantation and straight from THAT to the first chemo Tx, all in one day. Someone dropped the ball if you asked me. This doesn't seem…
Males...questions about effects of radiation on genitals.
I just started my 4th week of radiation. For the previous three weeks, the doc had cotton squares placed under my scrotum and had my penis taped down in a forward position..."up and forward" was used to describe the placement. After three weeks, the doc stopped the "up and forward" placement, and I don't quite understand…
Port question
Does anyone remember if they were injected with contrast media when the port catheter was placed?
Mediterranian Diet
So I went to an hour-long lecture about diet for cancer patients in treatment and after. Forty-five minutes of the hour-long lecture, more or less, were devoted to plant-based diets and the Mediterranian Diet and it's cancer-protective properties. The lecturer was passionate and animated. There was no new or useful…
Exercise post Treatment
I learned so much reading the comments in the diet post treatment discussion, I wanted to continue with the question of exercise post treatment. Do you exercise and would you share your daily routine? Did you exercise pre-diagnosis? Did you change anything after treatment? Do you have any short-term or long-term physical…
Treatment Is Scheduled
It's been a week since I've written on this board. I met both my chemo and radiation oncologist this week, plus had a final MRI to rule out a spot on my liver and got my tatoos. I have had a total of 4 scans plus an hour and a half in the MRI tube since this all started. What a feeling it has been to sit there in those…
Finished Treatment Today
Hello everyone, I'm so excited that I finished my radiation treatments today! I have all the normal genital inflamation (burns) and some raw skin areas but overall, I'm ok. I was so scared when treatment began but I want everyone to know, this is doable. I've taken two heavy pain pills along the way just to take the edge…
late effect radiation enteritis
Hi, Does anyone have any experience of radiation enteritis after treatment has been over a while? I understand it is commonplace during treatment. The position of the tumour & affected lymph nodes plus a lack of mesorectal fat has led my onc to call me in again to discuss the above. Anyone know of anything that can reduce…
Things are sticking together post treatment
Hello everyone, I have a question. Things in my genital area are sticking together. I noticed when I urinated that it wasn't falling immediately and felt something odd. I got a mirror and looked. The skin (which is raw) that lays on the sides of the urethra (not the outer set but the smaller ridged flesh that extends down…
soooo slooooow
why is this website so slow and hard to navigate?
juicing, other foods and mouth sore question
Has anyone used a juicer during treatments? Any suggestions regarding that? Any other food suggestions? Ensure is an issue for me due to cost and sugar content. Any concensus about when the mouth sores appear?
New, Scared, and Questions
Wow - So so grateful to have found this discussion board! The posts show incredible strength, wisdom and generosity of spirit. Before having had a biopsy Wed. under general anesthesia, I was told, should it be positive, this is a very treatable cancer and the treatment of choice is chemo and radiation. The surgeon thought…
Nerve pain
I posted this in the diet section:-) I tried to reduce the Lyrica dosage I am on, with the help of Rehabilitation Therapy at MSK under a doctors guidance. I got down to 100 miligrams from 150 and it was just like "old times" pre cancer treatments. The pain was unbearable. I got so depressed trying to get up and not being…
clothing, food and miscellaneous items
Any comments regarding comfortable clothing, food and "things that are useful to have around" during treatments? I know that these things are discussed in various other posts but was hoping for something all in one place. Thanks to all in advance.
Recurrent fissure developed 3 years after treatment
Hoping some long term survivors out there will have some insight on this. I completed treatment 3 years ago for stage 3 anal cancer. I was fortunate that the sexual side effects of treatment did not last very long and I've had a normal sex life for the past few years. However, a few months ago I developed a fissure at the…
a helpful link with a lot of info
A friend of mine sent me this link. http://www.analcancerhelp.info/ It has a lot of good info.
radiation set up
Anyone have their setup for radiation utilizing another CT scan?
Just Diagnosed
Wow, this has just been a whirlwind for me. I was sent in early (age 48) for a colonoscopy after a nasty bout of diverticulitis. I was so surprised to get a call back with a cancer diagnosis. Right now I feel like the hardest part is all about waiting. I got the call on November 17th after having the colonoscopy two weeks…
chronic inflammation, anyone diagnosed?
It just occured to me that my asthma, prediabetes, hypertension, fatigue and SCC might all be attributable to chronic inflammation. I'll have my internist run a c-reactive protein test asap, but has anyone tested postive for this? Has it affected your treatments for anal cancer or influended recovery and/or side effects?…
New Hip update
Hi everyone...I haven't been on for a while.As my old friends here know, i had a hip replacement may24th.My old hip was fractured and was collapsing due to radiation 4 1/2 years ago.We moved to Florida in july and i am now playing golf.I am also going to the gym 3xs a week to build up my core.The exercise has done wonders…
Treatment without radiation
Just found out that I have anal cancer. I am a prostate cancer survivor after having brachytherapy. I am also unable to have any more radiation in the anal region. Has anyone else had this problem?
Kicking Cancer in the Butt
There have been several request recently for lots of information about how to prepare for treatment, lists of things to have on hand prior to, and how to deal with side effects. I am posting a link below to a book that is available on Amazon.com that was written by a virtual friend of mine, Theresa Mayhew, which gives…

Anal Cancer

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