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Tired but home.....
Hello friends...I am out of the hospital, still nutrepennic, but home. I have blood work to be done on Wednesday and if my white cells are up I can start seeing friends and things. Wow, this cancer thing brings something new nearly every day. Reading comments on this blog help me to understand that this is a newish cancer…
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Update - Colostomy
I went for my OB-GYN consult today. Very thorough and painful exam. The tumor has extended and created a recto-vaginal fistula. My doctor says that radiation therapy will only make it worse, and I may start leaking fecal matter from my vagina. So I'm scheduled for a temporary colostomy. He'll resect the colon after…
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Curious about cisplatin
I am done with my treatments. But when I was getting chemo, cisplatin and 5fu I was so sick I ended up in the er 3 times. The vomiting was so bad I was retching. Couldn't brush my teeth, take a pill, swallow a drop of water. Did this happen to anyone else?
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Fatigue explaination
Okaaay...here's the reason for my fatigue Fever started going up Thursday....was admitted to hospital...(at home, yikes)...needed two units of blood and am on day five of introveinious antibiotics. From a UTI no less. Doc said I was a walking bundle of infection. Still feel sick...should have stayed in Houston...I guess…
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Follow up - biopsy "no malignancy"
Well ... I had an endoscopy with biopsy a couple weeks ago because I was having on going bleeding and pain... not heavy bleeding like before diagnosis, but on stool. I'm 8 months out from treatment ... scope was normal and photos looked good! Also, ... biopsy "normal". So happy. Will have my 9 month follow up with PET CT,…
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Cancer Free but having a few problems
Hi Everyone, Well it has been a long hard road but I had my follow-up and my biopsy came back cancer free. I will be having a CT the first of December. Here is my question. I am still having trouble sitting. All of my burns have healed on the outside but I am having pain on the inside. The only way I know how to describe…
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hepatitis c
Hey Strangers...Been a long time since I logged on. Kids and grandkids moving up from Fla... lots going on. I've been having to have fluids drained from my belly for months now...usually every 9 days days or so. Last week my GI doc told me that I tested positive for hep c. I don't do drugs, not much of a drinker, and they…
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Colonscopy
I am wondering how many other people had pre cancerous polyps found at the time of anal cancer diagnosis. I had two large ademonous (spelling?) polyps removed during the colonscopy, some hyper plastic polyps were also found at that time. My doctors never even discussed this with me, as if everyone has polyps and it's no…
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Question . . .
Just curious. How quickly does squamous cell carcinoma of the anus grow? I can't seem to find specific information about this, just general terms like "slow growing cancer." How slow is slow-growing? Anyone?
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Colostomy done, planning treatment
Just got home from the hospital a couple hours ago. The ostomy nurses at Roswell were fantastic. They gave me lots of time to practice working with the bag, cleaning and emptying. The bag is very inconspicuous. This isn't going to be the inconvenience I thought it would. I had a follow up with the oncologist and the…
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Fatigue, capital F
How long after treatment before anyone felt like getting dressed, or any thing else? I know I arm only 4 days out of treatment, but curious. I overheard it being said that I look sooo sick. That I must have lost 45 pounds and my face was very pale.and i move like an old lady and they were scared for me! I lost 20 pounds…
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PET/CT scans
I was concerned about my insurance company refusing to cover my upcoming post treatment PET/CT scan. I called the cancer center where I have my treatment. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the cancer center had already gotten pre-authorization from my insurance company. I feel a lot better now.
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One year ago Friday . . .
It dawned on me Friday afternoon that one year ago was the anniversary date of my fateful colonoscopy. The date that a local GI doctor said as he performed the procedure, "Oh, my God, that thing is huge!" At that moment, my life changed forever. After a squirrelly couple of weeks being seen by local doctors, a botched 2nd…
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Next P.E.T. scan
I found out today that my next P.E.T. scan is scheduled for November 21. This will be the second one after completion of treatment. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be fine. My theme song has been Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds". The chorus is "everything will be okay". Then maybe my Christmas present will be…
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Has anyone used vaginal estrogen during radiation?
I talked to my radiation oncologist about using vaginal estrogen during radiation to try to minimize the vaginal side effects from radiation. She thought it would be a good idea but a letter today from my medical oncologist instructs me to stop hormone replacement therapy during chemo to minimize the risk of blood clots. I…
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Pathology report
this is dottie again. i retrieved my pathology report from my hem'tectomy back in December of 2007 and it reads: "there is a focal area of the squamous epithelium showing high-grade squamous dysplasia (moderate to severe squamous dysplasia). This appears to be an incidental finding, in an area of epithelium that does not…
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How did ya'll make it?
I realize it is the time to begin to heal now that treatments are over but I can't seem to feel better emotionally. We start for home tomorrow and it is 14 hrs. We plan to take as many days as it takes to not be terribly miserable. Trying to plan (ha!!) for potty breaks, not gonna use those rest stops if I can help it. I…
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Hospital
No way I am going on a journey and take short cuts! Oh no, not me".. I am now in the hospital, immune system crashed, o2stats were scary low because I did not have enough red blood cells to move the oxygen in my body. I was so weak I needed help to get to the potty and my fever spiked to 102 degrees. Now, two units of…
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New here, too
I was Dx'd with AC in Feb 2007. Hello to all.
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Hemmoroids
Any one have any ideas or solutions? .
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Best anal cancer blog EVER!!! Very funny stuff.
http://buttitscancer.blogspot.com/ And I thought MY blog was good . . . Everyone must check this out. Very, very funny. (okay, for whatever reason this site is blocking part of the blog address. Put these three words together: butt its cancer . . . .then .blogspot.com.)
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Neurologist appointment
Oh gosh, what an experience. Unfortunately my appointment with the Neurologist was a bust. What a jerk. When I told him I was recovering from Anal Cancer he said: "ANAL CANCER!" I suddenly felt very small and unfortunately ashamed! It was not the worst of it. He grilled me about my daughter's death too. Making matters…
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Inspirational quote
I recently read a quote by Maya Angelou that kind of goes along with our cancer journey. "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on and it will be better tomorrow". Ann
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Home sweet home
We made the trip home in two days...a much better two days than I had envisioned! No bathroom accidents, the female urinal is now one of my best friends. Never have to get a sore neither region near a nasty potty again! (I am lucky my Bm' s are on a schedule of sorts, handled by me!) senekot at night to encourage bm in am…
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Port removal
How long after treatment was completed did everyone get their port removed?
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Heading west!
I will just conceder myself an ole Texas cowpoke with a sore tail. I pray for perseverance, patience and and good results as I leave MDAnderson. And Houston. Will be back end of January for results of procedures. Until then, I am going to heal, hug my kids n grand kids, pet my puppies and celebrate the holidays. Ok. That's…
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To many BMS
Its been allmost 9 post treatment .If i'm on the go to much like shopping going here and there.And skip a few meals i have more BMS.Last week i was helping my mom get ready a trip to florida she go's to here sisters about 3 times a year.I was on the go way to much .Mom's had 2 Dr's appt back to back .And some shopping to…
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Pet/ct scans
Do most anal cancer survivors who are in post treatment stage have Pet/ct scans? If so, how soon after you finished treatment did you have a scan? I completed treatment in April 2011 for a stage 2 anal cancer. I had the standard protocol treatment of radiation and chemo.
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Martha where are you
I have missed you! I know it is not like to you be away from the forum for more than a day or two. Hope you are off kickin' up you heels and enjoying life! If you get a chance, drop us a line! Blessings, Joanne
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A different subject for a change....financial guidence
I have a question regarding the financial burdens of having cancer....& all those doctor & hospital bills. We have health insurance which helps but have any of you found any assistance in paying the balance left over? I'm getting tired of being hounded by these 'uncaring' businesses who only care about the money & not the…