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Anal Cancer

Archives for September 2011

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…
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…
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!…
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…
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…
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…
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
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…
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!!
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…
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 ...…
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
what treatment did you get
Hi everyone. I posted a while back when my mom was diagnosed with anal cancer and she was going through so much pain with her radiation.. We finally made it through that and then more bad news came our way. I was wondering if anyone can tell me what chemo they received for anal cancer. My mother was diagnosed in June with…
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......
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
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…
Transfer Factors
I posted a while back when my mom was going through chemo and radiation for anal cancer. She was having lots of pain issues. Thankfully that resolved. We thought things were ok and then she had a PET scan last month and "spots" were noticed on her liver. So her we are now with what the doctors are telling us is Stage IV…
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…
Clear anascopy
Just got the good news! Clear anascopy after 8 month post treatment. No pain, no blood, no soreness. Happy and appreciate life!
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…
Update on 2nd Opinion Appt.
Well my appt. today at IU Goshen Cancer Center (IN) went really good! My husband & I feel we made the right decision going there for my 2nd opinion. The doctors & staff were friendly & very caring. The facility bright & pleasant. And only about an hr from home! So I met with my surgical, radiation, & medical drs plus a…
what are the guide lines???
looked thru almost all posts. i am 26 months post. how often should i have a procto. now??? or whom should i see now??? thanks sephie
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.…
at the end of it all
I just read about Nan's mom, age 80, and I think that she made the right decision. To at least try treatment. I wish I hadn't. I'm just at the end of my 1 year pst txt and I have gotten only worse.I have lost mobility, my breathing is about to kill me, and they drain fluids off my abdomin every 2 weeks or so. My butt still…
Date Set for 2nd Opinion
Well last Fri. I felt alittle discouraged after talking with my radiation doctor. He confirmed what my colon doctor said...no more radiation & APR w/ostomy is my only hope for possibly getting rid of recurrent cancer. And for best quality of life. Less then an hour later IU Goshen Hospital called to set an appt. for my 2nd…
HPV
I am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience. I remember having a virus in my twenties with these symptoms. A yeast infection, horribly painful hemorrhoids and an extremely high fever and a urinary tract infection. The pain was so unbearable, I rushed to the doctor and he treated each symptom individuAlly.…
Anyone taking Colazal?
My colorectal surgeon prescribed Colazal (a bowel anti-inflammatory generally used in ulcerative colitis) to treat pain and anal inflammation after radiation therapy. She felt I had a bit of radiation proctitis. My symptoms at 6 months post treatment: I have occasional bleeding when constipated, mucus discharge a few times…
two days before treatment has finished with very little side effects
hi all I have two days left until I finish with chemotherapy and radio. I have a slight rash around my groin and it is sore to go for a number two. I feel great a little tired My blood counts were normal all through treatments. No mouth ulcers No cystitis No painkillers needed No Nausea Very Little hair loss Very little…
Concerns with recurrence
As some of you may have read previously, I am planning on getting a second opinion for my recurrence. My big concern at this time is I'm not sure what stage my cancer is or how far its spread. (so I know a 'time frame'). My colon dr won't let me know until he does the surgery. Is this normal? I see many of you describing…
Saw surgeon today..
The surgeon did his exam and this tumor is actually nearly the size of a tennis ball. He staged it at T2/3NONO. Not sure how to interpret the NONO at the end.....nearly 5 centimeters and growing. Start radiation tomorrow and it looks like chemotherapy Monday. ...........I don't know if I said it before but I have now been…

Anal Cancer

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