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Hi! New to site not new to anal cancer
I looked for a site like this back when I was diagnosed in 11/2005. I've kind of went it alone since our cancer is so rare there wasn't much info available at that time. When I was diagnosed I was pregnant and assumed the pain was hemorhoids. My baby didn't survive, but the weight of him growing inside me made my tumor…
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Halloween
This is kind of off topic a little but, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy Halloween. I figure we have had more fear and pain in our lives than most people will ever face. Last year at this time I was finishing tx. I was so sick I missed Halloween, no pumpkins. Tomorrow I go in for a CT to see if the lump in my groin…
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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 about Chemo "Port"
Hi my friends. I wanted to ask you about the chemo port that will be put in my neckbone I think my doctor said. He said it will be in me the whole time of treatment but that only the first week and last week it will have the chemo going through by needle. He said I will have 25 sessions of radiaton. Does that sound like…
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Hpv and judgement
Ahhh!!! Life can be exhausting sometimes. Today I came acoss a discussion on the colon/rectal board about a bacteria that may cause some cancers.(fulsibactrium). Laurettas posted something about cervical cancer and other hpv cancers especially the unmentionable ones. Wow, really it was a slap in the face. Here I felt safe,…
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Anal Cancer Foundation
I wanted share this link to a wonderful anal cancer foundation ... you may have seen this already but wanted to share just in case ... good work being done! Sending well wishes to each and everyone of you as we head into the holiday season ... thank you for all of the support you've provided to me. You are a great gift.…
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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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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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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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Got diagnosed with anal cancer caused by HPV
I had a wart that had fissured removed two weeks ago and my doctor said it was cancer. He thinks some cancer might be in the anal canal. He said its treatable with chemo and radiation. I have an appt on Tuesday with the radiation doctor, a catscan and an oncologist. I am 48 yrs old and very scared. Can anyone tell me if…
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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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Brachytherapy
Well we met with my drs Fri. for the 'game plan' on my recurrent cancer. Good news...tumor is smaller then last year by 3cm. (size is now 2-3cm)& about 3cm. inside 'anal canal'. Bad news...need surgery to remove then radiation. (& 10-12 days in the hospital! ugh) So here's the plan (& am wondering if anyone has been this…
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It's my 1 year Anniversary
Woke up this morning and realized today is my 1 year post treatment. I am fighting off a severe case of cellulitus. Going to hospital for outpatient iv tx. I had planned to ride my horse this weekend as summer is almost gone, very few warm days left. Dr. says no you can't. So I am going to spark up the grill and have a…
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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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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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My Journey Through Anal Cancer (It's been a tight squeeze but it's opening up now.) ;) lol
I'd like to start off by introducing myself. I'm Kim (Ann, or Anni is fine as well), I'm 45, three children and a hubby(can't forget him.) My oldest son is 21, then I have a 17 year old son and then my baby girl, she's 15. I was misdiagnosed in October of 2010, and then correctly diagnosed in January of 2011. (I have gone…
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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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Hemmoroids
Any one have any ideas or solutions? .
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Pet/Ct scans
The stage of my anal cancer was T2 without any lymph node involvement or mets. NCCN guidelines does not indicate a Pet or Ct scan for anal cancer in remission. I am not sure my insurance company will pay for a PET/CT scan in view of the NCCN guidelines, so I am not sure I should go ahead and have one. What has been your…
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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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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…