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Ready for my trip!
After a rough few weeks at the beginning during treatment I'm happy to report that my healing has gone very well and now just 4 weeks since fininshing treatment I am ready to take my trip to England!! My bowels are still not quite back to normal but no real big issues and have stopped all the stool softeners. I leave on…
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Long term side effects of radiation??
Hello, I am 2years 5 months out of treatment for anal cancer stage 3 b. Recently I have been having strange side effects. I am having numbing in my toes, leg and shoulder I am also having terrible pain in my knee ( left side only). I saw the dr and they did an xray and said there was no obvious signs of bone mets. But of…
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The Waiting
A "newbie" also. Approximately 2 yrs ago, after having my gallbladder removed, it became visibly obvious that I had a rectal prolapse. Since that time I have had many ups and downs with this condition and about 3 months ago decided to have it evaulated for treatment by a colorectal surgeon. Prior to my appointment, I had…
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Post treatment complications/possible residual cancer , In horrible pain and feeling hopeless
Hi. I'm new to the site. I was diagnosed with anal cancer stage 2 in Jan. 2012. Went through chemo and radiation. Survived that. I still had a residual lump that I was told not to worry about. Had a colonoscopy was all clear. I then started having pain at the lump site. Dr. told me that the residual lump had split open, he…
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I am having new problems
I was dignosed with Stage 3a anal cancer on January 25, 2010 after having blood in mystool for about a year or more thinking it was something else. I went through 3 rounds of chemo with them being the 5fu pump for 5 days each time, fought with neausa and diarrhea and 31 days of radiation. I had radiatio burns so bad I was…
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Just Started bleeding alot after one year
Radiation proctitis is what they say I have. I use to bleed just after BM's but now it is pretty much all the time. When it is really bad, I drip blood in the bowl and my pad looks like I am having a heavy period. I also pass large clots. My Dr has started me on Hyperbaric Oxygen Theraphy. 40 - 80 treatments with a 60 to…
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Starting 3rd week of treatment for anal cancer
Hi! Just started 3rd week of treatment for anal cancer. I was wondering how long after the second round of Mitomycin and 5FU do the side effects last. The first round was OK. I mostly suffered with diarrhea and mouth pain and soreness. I read earlier that the second round causes much more N/D and weight loss. Can anyone…
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Hi Everybody! It's been awhile!
Hope everybody is doing very well. I had another DRE in May and it was all clear of cancer but i did have two hemmroids and a small ulcer probably caused by the radiation. I had a colonoscopy in April and it was clear. I go back for another DRE in October. I really hope all of you are doing well and to those of you who are…
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Ain't the Man I Used to Be... Any Suggestions?
I'll be 52 in October. I was diagnosed 9/5/05 with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal; after surgery, two week-long bouts of chemo, & 5 weeks of getting a laser beam shot up my behind every morning, (plus about a good 2 years' worth of radiation proctitis & all that associated fun), praise God, this Fall I'll be…
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Does this sound like Cancer?
Hello all, I am new to thsi board but had a question I was hoping somebody could answer or give me their opinion on. For the last few months when I go number 2 which isn't as often as it used to be, I feel something coming out and when I feel down there there is a pretty big lump there. When I sit back up it goes back…
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Can I work full time, is it reasonable, just new diagnosis?
I am a gay man, and noticed not too many men comment on this board;I just had an transanal excision, my pathology came back "squamous cell ca". I admire all the women who have posted here and supported and educated each other, would you please assist me? I have a few questions about what to expect and how to manage over…
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Foods you can't eat
Just wondering how having anal cancer has affected your diet post-treatment? Many of the foods I once enjoyed no longer agree with me. Some examples...peanut butter (boo hoo), any seasoned ground beef (tacos, meat loaf), chocolate, sweets, and dairy. I can tolerate fresh fruits and veggies pretty well, but beans are a huge…
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The most bothersome side effect of treatment . . .
When approaching the end of treatment, I was concerned about some of the reported side effects that I might face as the result of chemo and especially radiation. Painful sex, burned bottom, painful sex, vaginal stenosis, weak bones, painful sex. I really wasn't concerned about going into immediate menopause. "That I can…
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Biopsy call
I got the call my friends my biopsies came back cancer free, yea, I have run the race made it through now I have to cross the finish line. I have healing to be done but I think now it will be easier knowing that I got a good report! I will still be praying for all of you and please do the same for me. God bless each and…
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Scan results...
Thank you to those who have wished me luck and prayers. I had both chest and pelvic scans a few weeks ago, then between holiday, family, and internet problems, have barely been on line for a while. Although the words NED were not there I am satisfied with "stable". They are watching a small cyst on my liver, and a nodule…
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Odd
It seems very odd I checked more complaints on MSK's form at my Oncologists office this year than last. A year ago I had lived with pain so long, it felt normal. MSK taught me a a whole new perspective on life. An Update: Because of you contributors, I will be able to get to see a MSK Pelvic PT. I now have an MSK Gyn. What…
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anyone taken this mix of chemo?
Mitomycin,5-FU AND Cisplatin along with radiation?I should be stating this cocktail sometime next week and wondered if anyone has taken these together and what their reactions were.thanks in advance patsy
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Hemorrhoid relief and after tx constipation
Do any of you have a suggestion for my daughter's painful constipation and hemorrhoids? She has the "urge" to move the bowels, but it feels like "it won't come out". There is some stenosis and some bulging hemorrhoids that are contributing to the pain. She's tired OTC stool softener. And under the doctor's recommendation,…
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Estrace cream
I just saw my oby/gn to get my vaginal dilators. She prescribed Estrace cream for me to use while using the dilators. Has anyone else used this?
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Clean colonoscopy!
I finished treatment on 11/11, have had two followup appointments with my oncologist and colorectal surgeon. Both recommended a colonoscopy. Well, today was the day and everything was good! Of course the prep wasn't pleasant, it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. I am very relieved and grateful. And, I won't have to…
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Just wanted to say hi......
I know its been quite awhile since I posted but I do read the discussions from time to time. I have found another site which is for 'ostimates' & the discussions really help. So to update its been 5 months since my ostomy surgery & while its been a roller coaster for the most part not too bad. Doc says takes 6-8 months to…
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And the liver biospy is in............
Well its confirmed the spot on liver is cancer:(But the weird thing is he said something about it being a gland type cancer and thats not the same kind I have in my rectum.He said because it borders my anus/rectum it can have characteristics of both types of cancer which dont make to much sense in my head but I called my…
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Recurrence
Hi Everyone, I am new to this but it is nice to say I have anal cancer and not be embarrassed. I was diagnosed Sept 1, 2011 with stage III 4cm tumor with lymph nodes affected. Went thru the 6-8 weeks of chemoradiation with Mitomycin and 5FU and 28 radiation treatments, hospital stay and all. I finished in Nov and was…
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New to this
Well let me start by saying hello and my name is Patsy and I am 3 weeks shy of 30.I found out I had a malignant tumor in my rectum In the beginning of June.So I did all the research I could find on colon-rectal cancer when I went to meet with my oncologist they called it a squamous cell cancer so they think it might be…
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Wanted to say hello and vent
Have been trying to figure out my life since all this has happened, I find it extremely hard to stay positive, I fight every morning to put a smile on my face and bounce out of bed to face the day. I am slowly getting my energy back, bathroom issue are still a problem, I still cry some days I just want my life back! I am…
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I Made It!
Well I made it through the treatment even got a certificate and a graduation bear from the radiation therapists! I had 26 treatments with an additional 3 focus treatments. I did really good throughout the treatment my skin is not too sore and I didn't feel any fatigue. I managed to keep the constipation issues under…