Please remember that these discussion boards are a public forum, which means open to the public (i.e. non-CSN members) and the content can be found via internet search engines. Members are strongly advised not to share personal identifiers such as real names, email address, telephone number, street address, etc. This information can be used to identify you and link you to the content you provide. Other areas of CSN are restricted to members only and cannot be found by search engines.

Anal Cancer

Archives for March 2010

First Week
Hi friends! Well I made it thru the first week! I was so happy to get my friend the chemo bag off!Thanks to all of you for helping me thru it. Weird thing , my toung is real funky any suggestions? I know I can't get rid of this metal taste but it feels so weird, like it's to big? Well tomorrow starts week 2...............…
after thoughts
Done with treatments for four weeks now OF STAGE 3. Just waiting for the visit to sloan keeterling on april 5th for the first rectal exam. Nervous and overwhelmed. I still wonder how I got this? It eats away at me. I am experieincing some headaches and body aches. DId any of you have this? COuld this be signs of something?…
Anyone had a biopsy with needle???
Looks like they are wanting to do a needle biopsy in the groin area since apparently there is something suspicious there. Being as I HATE needles it makes me a bit nervous, especially because I am sure the needle is huge. Has anyone had anything similar? And did you feel it? (Don't tell me how big the needle is I don't…
Chemo bag
Hi everyone, I just got the chemo bag that I will be wearing for this week. Problem is it's bulky and have not figured out how to wear it. As a "fannypack" is it better to have the tubing going under my shirt or over my shirt? I am working tomorrow and will be bending and moving around any suggestions?
First Use of Port after surgery to place it - YIKES
Thanks to everyone who responded to the Port vs PICC line posting. As I mentioned there the port was installed on Thursday, and it wasn't bad at all. However, I am nervous about the first use tomorrow, since it is still very tender. The steri strips are still in place and I'm thinking I need to get them off, otherwise the…
Welcome MajorD
I would like to welcome you to the board. Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your experience. I am being treated for a metastatic anal cancer at Moffitt. I hope that you find the level of care and expertise there to be as top-notch as I have. It is an impressive (albeit sometimes overwhelming) facility.…
Made it through 1st week
well, I made it through the first week of rad. & chemo!! Very interesrting process. Thanks to all of you for answering my questions and supporting me. Sure does tire one out doesnt it. only 3 more weeks of chemo and 5 of rad. Hope ya'll are doing ok. Any suggestion for this horaible sore throat and foul taste in the mouth?…
Cellulitis
Has anyone else had cellulitis? I understand this is not unusual for cancer survivors. My first experience with it was 5 months after treatment ended in March '08. I have had 2 other bouts since then. Is this coincidence or another unexpected kind of side effect?
beginning symptoms...
I truly appreciate you all telling your stories for others to learn by. I'm curious to know if any women who have been diagnosed here experienced a sensation to have a bm every time they went to urinate. (Not sure if question was graphic enough to warrant a "slightly graphic" tag, sorry) Also, I have hemorroids. With 6…
More questions
Hi Im a newbie and have some questions. I will be starting treatment soon 5FU and radiation.I thought chemo would be bad but it sounds like radaition could be really bad. I know everyone responds differently but some questions. When about does the burning and itching happen? does the vagina close up? any way to prevent…
anal burning
Thank you for the answers to my questions. I have a few more. I finished my 33 radiation treatments and 2 rounds of chemo. I have been done for almost 3 weesk. I am now experiencing major burning when I have a bowelmovent. Is this normal 3 weeks after? I have my first rectal at sloan ketterling, NY on April5. I imagine…
New to the Board......questions questions.....
Hi last month I was dx with anal cancer. Two days ago I had a port put in and a lymp node in my grion aera removed to be biopsied.The drs. say I will be wearing a fannie pack with the chemo drip in the begining and at the end of treatment.6 weeks of radaition.I have been all over the internet and found you.All of this has…
New - Stage 2 N0M0 - diagnosed March 10, 2010
Hi everyone. I’m so glad I found you (thank you, Joanne!). I am a 52-year-old female diagnosed on March 10th 2010 with Anal Cancer Stage 2 N0M0. Tumor is in the muscle but has not broken through the wall. I have a consultation appt on Mar 16 with a ColoRectal Surgeon. I am trying to obtain as much info as possible as soon…
New to the board - ? about port vs picc line
New notes - thanks to everyone. Sarah your information was especially helpful. I had the port place on Thursday, the surgeon was fantastic, he does alot of them, had it in in 15 minutes and uses plastic surgery techniques so the scar should not be bad. I had marked both my bra strap and neckline of my favorite sun dress,…
Coconut Macaroons
A thread on the colo-rectal board made me think to post this. They thread was regarding the dreaded diarrhea so many of us experience with the chemo-rad treatment. I remembered that one of my oncology nurses suggested that I get some coconut macaroons and eat two a day. There is supposedly something about the coconut oil…
Hair Loss
I was wondering: did anyone experience hair loss after the Mytomycin and 5-FU? I'm 3 weeks into treatment, and I just noticed that I'm losing a decent amount of hair. Hopefully, it's just thinning and it won't all fall out. I know it could be a side effect, but the doctors' made it sound like that wouldn't happen. Does…
Radiation completed
Well the week went by rather quickly. Five radiation treatments behind me for the liver met. Follow up blood work, scan and Dr. visits on 4/19 and 4/20. Anxious to get back to my juicing and supplements next week. Other than some fatigue and feeling like I have a mouthful of pennies (YUCK) it hasn't been too bad. Keeping…
questions
I am female and have recently finished my treatment of chemo and radiation for anal cancer. 15 days in fact. It was a long hall and I had a hospital visit for 7 days right after the second round of chemo. My tumor was 4.3 in size and 2 lymph nodes were involved. I am thinking positive but won't know anything until May. I…
A Question About the Chemo
My first week of treatment, I was given Mitomycin and a 96-hour infusion of 5-FU. The treatment started on Monday and by Wednesday, I was starting to feel really bad. By Friday night, after the 5-FU pump came off, I could barely get out of bed. I was so weak, I could barely get to the bathroom without feeling like I was…
Follow-up Appointments Post Treatment
What is the protocal for follow-up appointments after the completion of surgery, chemo and radiation? I was diagnosed in July 2009 and I finished everything in October 2009. I had a pet scan in August 2009 after surgery, but before chemo and radiation. I had another pet scan in December 2009. Everything looks good at this…
Itching!
Does anyone have a good remedy for itching? I'm in my third week of treatment and in addition to the soreness around my anal area and my vagina, the worst thing so far is the unbearable, incessant itching! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
NO SMOKING PLEASE
Hello, I want to know what to do to stop the place were I live from smoking, see HUD allow it but also told me that it is up to each management agency on to allow it or not. Smoking [2nd had] is bad & I read were it can get go from apartment to apartment & get a tenant sick, & some did. But after the tenants tell the…
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…
Ready - Set - GO
Saw the oncologist today for bloodwork and office visit. Bloodwork was perfect. Triology Sterotactic radiation for liver met to start Monday March 8. Five treatments, approx. 1 hour each day, including imaging and treatment. Finished Friday. Don't really know what to expect. Radoch says fatigue is the number one complaint.…
Newbie
Hey Everybody, I'm new to this board. Hope all are doing good and in great spirits! Glad I found a board about anal cancer and that I'm not alone.I was 48 when I was DXed with rectal cancer in Jan 09 & in Mar & April had 6 weeks chemo & radiation treatments before having surgery in June to remove the tumor.Something went…

Anal Cancer

Discussion List