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Hello from Australia
Hello, I live in Australia and have just started treatment for anal cancer. Because of out small population there is little online in the way of forums for anal cancer, so I hope you don't mind if I join your discussion. :-) I had chemo last week- four days of 5FU and mitomycin injection via PICC line. I have had 5 out of…
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Question on protein sources during treatment
I start radiation and chemo in a little over a week. For the past few months, I completely changed my diet and worked out religiously doing both weights and cardio. I lost over 50 pounds. Part of my new diet was to cut out meat...an animal thing for me. I got most of my protein from protein powder mixed with skim milk.…
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Anal Wart Cauterization
Hi Everyone-- I saw my colorectal doc on September 2nd. for my 3-month follow-up with DRE and anoscopy. I have the ongoing radiation proctitis, which she says is causing my bleeding with hard BM's. What I wasn't expecting was the discovery of 3 very small anal warts. These are clustered together and are not at the original…
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2nd opinion different from 1st
I went to Duke for my second opinion today (1st came from UNC). The differnces: Duke is not ready to stage it. UNC said stage one. Duke wants to use IMRT radiation. UNC wants to do traditional or 3D. Duke did say the final decision would be based on the planning session. Duke is giving me a PETScan. UNC said nothing about…
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results of CT and several questions
First of all, I want you all to know that I'm so grateful for this site and for all the help you provide. I received my diagnosis on Aug. 3, and the support from you on this site has helped me to replace fear with determination and embarrassment with openness and candor. Thank you. I had my CT scan yesterday and met with…
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Vaginal Scaring
Hi everyone, now that I have completed my treatment and received a cancer free report a new side effect has presented which is vaginal scaring. I have been using the vaginal inserts but it burns so badly and I have light bleeding. I have an appointment with a GYN Oncologist to seek advice but wanted to reach out to the…
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I love NED!!!
Hi All, I haven't posted in a while, but wanted to let you all know, I had my exam under anesthesia on Aug 3rd and he took a couple biopsies. The doctor called me last Tuesday morning and said the biopsies he took on Aug 3rd showed no evidence of disease (NED)... So I am CANCER FREE!!!!!! Yippee.... hard to imagine with a…
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anal cancer-causes?
Just wondering...how many of you have anal cancer that do not fall into the typical "at risk" categories?
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Scar Tissue/Biopsy
Hey All, Today I went to my 12 week post treatment surgeon visit. At 6 weeks he saw scar tissue and said he would take another look in another 6 weeks (today) and possibly take a biopsy. Today he said he saw a spot in the middle of the scar tissue, and of course, took a biopsy. I understand the importance of the biopsy but…
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OUCHY!!!
Hi there, I am on week 4 of tx - 2nd round of chemo; 20 rad down, 10 to go. Good days and bad days. Today is bad!! Have taken 3 oatmeal baths, put on aloe for burn, benadryl cream for itch, taken half a oxy 5 every 3 or 4 hours - just took a whole 5 a while ago. Nurse said it will get worse before it gets better. Any…
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Odd
It seems very odd I checked more complaints on MSK's form at my Oncologists office this year than last. A year ago I had lived with pain so long, it felt normal. MSK taught me a a whole new perspective on life. An Update: Because of you contributors, I will be able to get to see a MSK Pelvic PT. I now have an MSK Gyn. What…
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Long term side effects of radiation??
Hello, I am 2years 5 months out of treatment for anal cancer stage 3 b. Recently I have been having strange side effects. I am having numbing in my toes, leg and shoulder I am also having terrible pain in my knee ( left side only). I saw the dr and they did an xray and said there was no obvious signs of bone mets. But of…
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How to cope with the shame/blame of anal cancer knowing it's often caused by HPV for Men and Women,
I am experiencing some self shame and blame associated with anal cancer and it's potential cause rooted in HPV infection. It's compounded by being a gay man with HIV (dealt with that). Have you all experienced the self shame/blame game of having this disease? How do you answer the why? How did you discover it? I know…
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Post treatment complications/possible residual cancer , In horrible pain and feeling hopeless
Hi. I'm new to the site. I was diagnosed with anal cancer stage 2 in Jan. 2012. Went through chemo and radiation. Survived that. I still had a residual lump that I was told not to worry about. Had a colonoscopy was all clear. I then started having pain at the lump site. Dr. told me that the residual lump had split open, he…
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Ready for my trip!
After a rough few weeks at the beginning during treatment I'm happy to report that my healing has gone very well and now just 4 weeks since fininshing treatment I am ready to take my trip to England!! My bowels are still not quite back to normal but no real big issues and have stopped all the stool softeners. I leave on…
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calcium supplement side effects
Hi-just wondering if anybody else out there has had this problem. I am 1 year post diagnosis and so far no recurrence :) ! I have recently added a calcium citrate + D supplement (no magnesium) at the urging of the gyn. Right after I started it, I had increased BM's and looseness; this had been really improving, so it is…
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anyone taken this mix of chemo?
Mitomycin,5-FU AND Cisplatin along with radiation?I should be stating this cocktail sometime next week and wondered if anyone has taken these together and what their reactions were.thanks in advance patsy
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Recurrence
Hi Everyone, I am new to this but it is nice to say I have anal cancer and not be embarrassed. I was diagnosed Sept 1, 2011 with stage III 4cm tumor with lymph nodes affected. Went thru the 6-8 weeks of chemoradiation with Mitomycin and 5FU and 28 radiation treatments, hospital stay and all. I finished in Nov and was…
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I am having new problems
I was dignosed with Stage 3a anal cancer on January 25, 2010 after having blood in mystool for about a year or more thinking it was something else. I went through 3 rounds of chemo with them being the 5fu pump for 5 days each time, fought with neausa and diarrhea and 31 days of radiation. I had radiatio burns so bad I was…
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reaction to Lubricant
Yesterday I broke out in whelps using the same Lubricant I have used all along with my dilator. Everywhere the Lubricant had touched it looked and felt like poison ivy. Luckily, at least this time, a dose of Benadryl relieved the symptoms. Has anyone else developed a sensitivity to Lubricant and what should I do about it?
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Just Started bleeding alot after one year
Radiation proctitis is what they say I have. I use to bleed just after BM's but now it is pretty much all the time. When it is really bad, I drip blood in the bowl and my pad looks like I am having a heavy period. I also pass large clots. My Dr has started me on Hyperbaric Oxygen Theraphy. 40 - 80 treatments with a 60 to…
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Ain't the Man I Used to Be... Any Suggestions?
I'll be 52 in October. I was diagnosed 9/5/05 with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal; after surgery, two week-long bouts of chemo, & 5 weeks of getting a laser beam shot up my behind every morning, (plus about a good 2 years' worth of radiation proctitis & all that associated fun), praise God, this Fall I'll be…
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Does this sound like Cancer?
Hello all, I am new to thsi board but had a question I was hoping somebody could answer or give me their opinion on. For the last few months when I go number 2 which isn't as often as it used to be, I feel something coming out and when I feel down there there is a pretty big lump there. When I sit back up it goes back…
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Hi Everybody! It's been awhile!
Hope everybody is doing very well. I had another DRE in May and it was all clear of cancer but i did have two hemmroids and a small ulcer probably caused by the radiation. I had a colonoscopy in April and it was clear. I go back for another DRE in October. I really hope all of you are doing well and to those of you who are…
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At what point in treatment did you start taking pain meds?
I know that it is different for everyone but I'm just curious at what point you felt you needed help with the pain and what was the indicator for you?
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Starting 3rd week of treatment for anal cancer
Hi! Just started 3rd week of treatment for anal cancer. I was wondering how long after the second round of Mitomycin and 5FU do the side effects last. The first round was OK. I mostly suffered with diarrhea and mouth pain and soreness. I read earlier that the second round causes much more N/D and weight loss. Can anyone…
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Surgery soon
My mom was diagnosed in March with rectal cancer. At the time we thought after chemo and radiation she would be able to have a minor surgery that didn't require her to wear a permanent colostomy bag. Well last Tuesday we were told she had to have her whole rectum removed and will have to wear a bag for the rest of her…
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Biopsy call
I got the call my friends my biopsies came back cancer free, yea, I have run the race made it through now I have to cross the finish line. I have healing to be done but I think now it will be easier knowing that I got a good report! I will still be praying for all of you and please do the same for me. God bless each and…
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Foods you can't eat
Just wondering how having anal cancer has affected your diet post-treatment? Many of the foods I once enjoyed no longer agree with me. Some examples...peanut butter (boo hoo), any seasoned ground beef (tacos, meat loaf), chocolate, sweets, and dairy. I can tolerate fresh fruits and veggies pretty well, but beans are a huge…
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The most bothersome side effect of treatment . . .
When approaching the end of treatment, I was concerned about some of the reported side effects that I might face as the result of chemo and especially radiation. Painful sex, burned bottom, painful sex, vaginal stenosis, weak bones, painful sex. I really wasn't concerned about going into immediate menopause. "That I can…