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80 Year Old Mom
Hi all - I stumbled across this blog while looking for information about my Mom's suggested treatment plan. She was diagnosed with Anal Cancer. It's a 7-8cm lesion with one questional lymphnode in the groin. She is 80 years old and in "relatively" good health. Although, recently, she had a pacemaker implanted and has high…
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Last day of treatments
At least I sincerely pray so! I will go home within the next few days. I am in soooooooo much pain when I try to have a BM. I have an upper endoscopy scheduled for this afternoon....friends, I don't think I can make it through another test! It means no food or water till after the test and I have my last rad early this pm…
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Next Thursday is my last treatment day..
And I am going crazy. I burn, and itch, and now need meds to relieve the pain when I urinate....I am Sooooo antsy and bored and miserable. I want to cry and smak people around....yes, even the nice ones......I am grumpy and incredibly,"............ MEAN..MEAN...MEAN... Then it will be wait until January to ck for results.…
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JDuke
Hello, I'm so glad to see you posting. I hope your doing well. I have recovered from my vats operation on 9-23-10, very well. My next scan is in Jan. of 2012, and will be a pet scan for both the anal and lung. I have had 2 ct scans after the vats and so far so good. I hope your lungs are healed up now. Lori
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Exercise
2010 I was diagnosed with stage IV anal cancer. after an extensive treatment plan of 7 weeks of radiation and chemo (bag attached to a port that was inserted in my chest) I am working very hard to beat this disease. Healthy eating and walking. I would like to join a gym and try some classes, swimming, exercises, etc. I…
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Exercise
2010 I was diagnosed with stage IV anal cancer. after an extensive treatment plan of 7 weeks of radiation and chemo (bag attached to a port that was inserted in my chest) I am working very hard to beat this disease. Healthy eating and walking. I would like to join a gym and try some classes, swimming, exercises, etc. I…
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Are we really so special?
What's it all about, anyway? Does it really matter that we had/have cancer? Are we more special than other people just because we had/have cancer? The most important thing we can do is to live our lives the best we can. Be nice to other people. Live a good life. With cancer or not - does it really matter? Some folks have…
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Vaginal sores
Good evening everyone. I visit this site often. I have been mostly lurking since 9/27/10 when I was first diagnosed. I had the standard nigro protocol treatment 11/1-12/8/10. I had severe burns and had a nurse come to dress the wounds everday until Jan. It was a long hard road and I have sympathy for each and everyone of…
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pain at excisional biopsy site-delayed healing ?
OK ... I need some support. I had an excision of the anal lesion/ulcer which turned out to be a tumor/SCC and finished chemo radiation 5 months ago. The issue is I'm still having pain in the area of that ulcer/lesion/tumor excision. It burns at times, itches and aches ... mostly when I sit. It is very specific to the area…
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New to group
I've been reading comments from the sidelines and finally decided to participate. This is a great support group. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 anal cancer in March. Had chemo and radiation and am 3 months post treatment. Radiation was miserable!!!! July P.E.T. scan showed that the cancer is gone and I hope it stays gone!…
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Hair loss
How many lost their hair? At what stage of chemo and/or radiation were you? Not worried about losing hair, it will just give me a chance to try a lot of short hairstyles."....just curious, starting 3rd week of chemo Monday......
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itching and stinging? Worried and need support ... help!
Hey folks ... do you or did you still get some itching and stinging in your anus even around the 7 - 8 month point post treatment? I worry because it is in the area of the original biopsy/ulcer. I believe this ulcer/biopsy area was still not healed when I had radiation and chemo and is having a hard time healing as it was…
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Tumor is gone!
I had my anal rectal exam yesterday and the radiologist said the tumor is gone. There is a little scar tissue and that's it. I still have to have the Pet Scan and Ultra Sound by the cola-rectal surgeon but this doctor seems confident the treatment did the job. It was a much better outcome than I could have imagined. I…
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Vitamins
Does any know if there are any vitamins, supplements that aid healing? Also, has anyone tried probiotics? My radiation oncologist had never heard of them??? Due to the radiation and antibiotics I was given during my May hospital stay have wrecked havoc on intestinal flora... I'm taking a multivitamin and krill oil now.
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HPV antiviral medications?
Since this is my second bout with an HPV related cancer, (advanced cervical in 1976), I'm kind of looking down the road here. Does anyone know what doctors, if any treat this HPV16? Aids patients get a lot of antiviral cocktails. Are any of them for HPV? By the way, I am doing pretty well. next appointment is for digital…
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Dilation
Has anyone ever had anal canal dilation? I had it done during the exam under anesthesia, but haven't noticed that much difference. Apparently there's scar tissue which is to be expected and guess I'll have to have it done again in a few months. Wish some of the scar tissue could be removed, but guess that might cause more…
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Terror
I will be sitting, just relaxing and then I will feel a tweak in my groin or just anywhere. It's like an alarm goes off and my mind just goes there, what is it, is it cancer is it lurking, did someone miss it. Am I going to die? It it everywhere? I am living my life, I'm happy, but that alarm goes off, my heart starts to…
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Likely Radiation Proctitis
Hello Friends ... I wanted to share my experience with you. I'm dealing with lots of mucus discharge (clear to rust colored with occasional specks of blood and can be pretty foul smelling) and some focal anal pain. My colo rectal surgeon, oncologist and GI MD all believe this to be radiation proctitis. The mucus started 6…
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CEA
I was just looking over my CT and doctor's reports from my August check up. For the first time in two years they tested my CEA. I know that CEA is no a indicator for Anal Cancer so I found it odd. Probably just pre-cautionary which is fine. It was 2.8. Anyone else have there CEA checked? Liz
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Farrah
I feel a soft spot in my heart for Farrah. I saw her running around malibu, just like anybody else, with her hair a mess wearing an overcoat and no makeup. Her and Ryan sat behind us at dinner one nite in malibu. Their relationship seemed really intense. I really feel for her son and all his troubles and believe she is…
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6 month Evaluation Good!
Dear Friends ... I had my 6-month PET CT, DRE and exams and labwork in August and all is normal at this point. I have a PET CT every 3 months with exams for at least the first year ... so the next will be in November. I very much appreciate this site and feel good that I can share my worries and good news with you all ...…
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How are the men out there doing?
We have such good participation from our female friends here ... are there any fellows out there on our site who need support? Just curious and want to encourage participation. How are you men doing with diagnosis and treatment of anal cancer?? We're here for you!!
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8-week Mindfulness Meditation - Resource for Stress and Anxiety reduction
Dear Friends ... I see lots of posting about stress, and have really struggle with worry and anxiety throughout my diagnosis, treatment and on-going follow-up...I needed help desperately. Through free counseling available at the cancer center I'm now associated with I got involved with meditation as a stress reliever. This…
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Difficult questions to ask)---
Deep breath...here goes....when having radiation therapy, half way through, in with the blood and mucus we are expelling, are their pieces of the tumor that is dying? After treatments it seems so, and fresh blood as well. If there is someone not embarrassed, pls help me. Thnxs, Lori
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Clear anascopy
Just got the good news! Clear anascopy after 8 month post treatment. No pain, no blood, no soreness. Happy and appreciate life!
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Anxiety
I am five weeks out of treatment and the anxiety is becoming overhelming. This site has been very helpful, but I haven't found many questions answered about the emotional healing. I understand my body is still in the throws of radiation. The Cancer Center in Rhode Island has been wonderful with support, but I'm still…
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Clean PET
Clean PET, 8 months post treatment! One more DRE scheduled for 2011. My husband spewed water through his nose when I told him that I should insert a gummy bear right before the exam. It's a little known fact that I have had 4 virtual strangers with a finger in or around my **** a total of 17 times this year. And I'm not…
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Boitin
Has anyone used the supplement Boitin to help with hair regrowth? My hair is growing in, but some is still falling out. I finished treatment in July. ~Carol
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Stomach flu like symptons
ever since treatment for anal cancer..... I have once every 2 to 3 months the same stomach flu like symptons.... aching back and stomach...nausea, vomiting and then diarrhea. I can never figure what triggers it, nor can the doctors...just wondering if anyone else has something going on like this even years after treatment.…
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New colonoscopy/biopsy scheduled
I must say first off I feel blessed with my new drs & cancer center. As some of you know, about a week ago I went to IU Goshen Cancer Center for a 2nd opinion on my 'recurrent' anal cancer. Well let me just say this....the drs are so caring 2 of them called me personally this week to see how I was doing & let me know they…