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Anal Cancer

Archives for September 2014

Talk: Late effects of pelvic cancers by Daphna Gelblum, MD of MSKCC
I went to a seminar called "Life After Cancer" as my first big solo trip. I drove 45 minutes to Newburgh, NY and was able to stay the whole day, then drive home again, jiggitty-jig. I was exhausted for days, but did it. This talk was given by Dr. Daphna Gelblum, radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer…
New here, need some advice please
Hello everyone! I really need some help and I'm hoping I'm not bringing up something that's already been addressed but I probably am. I was diagnosed with colorectal cancer on Dec 31, 2013. I had an ostemy done at the end of January and a port-a-cath inserted in February. The tumour was advanced enough that my surgeon…
Anal cancer T1/NO/MO
Firstly, hello to everyone I am new to this web page! Wow, it hurts to have to write that subject line. My mum was diagnosed with stage 1 anal cancer about 8/9 weeks ago and she is just over 2 weeks away from finishing her chemoradiotheraphy. Unfortunately, she suffers badly from anxiety and the thought of reading anything…
My Day in Urgent Care
I began to have pain breathing deeply last night before choir and thought it was indigestion. I got a little better and was able to sleep but woke up in a lot of pain early this morning. I had to call Dr. Lee, my Pulmonologist anyway for appointments for bloodwork soon and a CT scan in October. But they said to go to…
Radiation burns....agony
I finished my chemo and still have seven rounds of radiation. I am in so much agony please tell me what worked for you at this point. I take Norco three times a day And use aquaphor and aloe. Of course going clean and dry to radiation. I just want to roll up in a ball and sleep but it burns too bad. I won't even tell you…
First Post Treatment Scans Today
I have my first post treatment scan today, I'm sure I will only see the technichan but hoping my wonderful radiologist pops her head in while I'm there. I see the chemo oncologist on Monday so I am hoping she will have the results for me, if not I see my colo-rectal surgeon on Wed and am sure by then I should have some…
Question Please; what does "A typical Squamas Cell Undertermined Signifigance" mean?
Hello All. Had an anal pap smear - the test results came back. What does "A typical Squamas Cell Undertermined Signifigance" mean? I am a stagee III base of tongue SCC survivor. HPV / non-smokre or drinker. Last treatment was January 2012. I have had all clean scans NED ever sicne. About a month ago I had a mean rash that…
Gyn exam - Oh! My! GOLLY!!!
I had a pelvic exam today for the first time in years as the oncologist wants me checked for cervical HPV. The speculum felt like a sharp knife. The doctor told me to relax, then it wouldn't hurt. I assured her that I was "truly in pain. No doubt about it. Relaxation would not help that much pain!" I asked about stenosis…
CEA and FGD
I was diagnosed in March with high-grade 3b anal cancer. First PET scan showed FDG of 18, which I was told today was very high. Got the results of my second PET scan today and FDG is 4--"probably" still irritation from radiation therapy or could be more cells lurking around. Two lymph nodes on the original scan were gone…
CT Scan Tomorrow
Going tomorrow for another Chest CT Scan. This time with Contrast and the slices of the scan are 1 - 1 1/2mm and over lapping .75 - 1mm . I think they are usually slice around 5 mm. Pulmonologist requested this type of slicing. Interesting - - didn't know about the slicing. With the last two scans, showed 2 small spots on…
who had an APR and a colosomy bag.....how is it and any regrets
I am scheduled to have APR(Adominoperineal Resection) surgery with colostomy bag on Oct.6, 2014 @ University California of Irvine due to stage 3 anal cancer. Not sure I am making the right decision. I went through chemo( 5FU/mitimyicin) and 33 treatments of radiation in 2013. was considered "cured" in Dec 2013, however…
Advice/Wisdom
Once again, I come to my friends here for advice and support. I am having some difficulty. I feel like I have gone backwards in my recovery very suddenly. I am almost 10 months post treatment. And one year since diagnosis. I tend to be constipated and this has not changed. I take Miralax every night and I was taking a…
biopsy results
Hi everyone, I heard from Dr. Lee and Dr. Mendelssohn (the GI) doctor. The needle biopsy came back negative (Yeah!) which should mean that the consolidated cystic mass is not cancer. BUT, somewhere along the way in doing the Bronchoscopy the pathologists said were Squamous cells. He said he is going to press the…
Still in a hellish nightmare
Hello friends 8 months out of treatment and NED!! But still in an immense amount of pain. Since finishing treatment I have done hyperbaric oxygen treatment, I am getting ganglion impar nerve blocks (no relief) and the next plan is spinal cord stimulation. Has anyone had success with any of these options? Is healing even…
Bicycle riding
Of those of you who still have rectal-itis of some kind, have any of you been able to go back to bike riding? Maybe with a specialty seat? Or is my bike going to end life as an expensive spider condo? It would be a good way for me to build up stamina again. Than you for your time.
Are ulcers a side-effect of treatment?
About 2-1/2 weeks ago, after eating, I started having big pain under my navel area that lasts for hours. It's the classic site of duodenal ulcer pain. I started Mylanta 4 x day - it cut down the pain, but gave me lots of watery stools. (Apparently, it's the magnesium in the formula. Who knew?) Since I couldn't find a…
Territorial scoping
I had a discussion with you all a little while back: colo-rectal surgeon vs gastroenterologist. I wanted to stick with the board certified colo-rectal surgeon who had diagnosed me. So, I called for an appointment to have my follow-up scoping done as a colonoscopy since I've never had one before. The doctor's surgical nurse…
Thank you for being here ...from a newbie!
Hi all, This is my first post but I have been hanging out on this forum for a few weeks. I have gained so much valuable info from everyone on this forum. I just can't thank you enough! My story is much the same as most here regarding the delay in diagnosing my anal cancer. Looking under every rock except the one linked to…
Disappointed but not surprised
I asked my surgeon to try doing the DRE and anoscopy in his office instead of outpatient surgery. He agreed with the caveat that I had to tell him as soon as it was too painful to continue. So this week I went in, having taken valium as he suggested both to relax all of me and to relax the anal sphincter. He had barely…
Results are in
Oh my!!! My oncologist just phoned. My CT scan is clear! I wasn't expecting to hear the results as she is away on leave, but she doesn't go until tomorrow & my results were on her desk so she rang. 20 months post treatment.Yippee! (Can you tell I'm excited?) Next appointment 1st October for physical examination, Mri…
New to forums and in need of support and understanding
I had squamish cell carsanoma on my anus Two yrs ago. Iam 50 now. Iam had a few friends to talk with while they went thru breast cancer so that has been nice. But it is not anal cancer different recovery Iam learning. So I got on this sight two days ago and began reading and for the first time in two yrs I not only found…
Biopsy scheduled
I saw Dr. Robert Lee today and he was just as nice and confidence inspiring as I imagined he would be. He showed me what things look like on his screen. It is true that the small mass is right up against my heart. It is also right up against the Esophagus. This makes sense because when I take a deep breath these days,…
Post Treatment
I had my first PET scan and it came out No Evidence of Disease! I know this is just the beginning of my journey but, to those of you who have been on here awhile, thank you for your help, advice, encouragement and knowledge. You empowered me. (Yes, one can tell the radiology tech that they don't want to be catheterized…
Radiation scar tissue manipulating hip joint?
I had surgery, two rounds of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation therapy to my pelvis for anal cancer in the spring of 2005, by fall the scar tissue that formed where my legs meet my trunk was so bad it seriously reduced my leg movements and I believe the scar tissue manipulated my left hip so badly my left leg is now seriously…
Hair loss makes this experience real now
First, I want to thank everyone who has posted on this forum. I have been reading the posts since being diagnosed with stage 2 anal cancer in July. Your tips and suggestions, along with reading about your experiences, have been very helpful. I have been keeping a journal about my experience and just last night was saying…
Bleeding and distended stomach
I am 1 1/2 years post treatment. My last colonscopy was in April and all was good. I just so my onc and all is good. I recently posted about my potassium levels being low due to some meds and now they are normal. Onc told me I don't need another colonoscopy 2 years. So last weekend was Memorial Day weekend and I spent a…
To sandysp
Though I was often taken to task for my comments on this forum, and for opinions that too often fell outside those of the majority, you were always very kind to me and I've never forgotten it. I seldom check in anymore for a variety of reasons, but mostly for having moved on, but just read about your PET scan concerns. I…
First post=treatment scan coming up
we head to Seattle Tueday so I can have my first scan on Thursday. I FEEL that it's all gone, I BELIEVE that it's all gone and yet, I wonder about being too positive? If I'm wrong, I'll have farther to fall. CRAZY MAKING! Question: do all of the follow ups involve a PET scan for you? Seems like alot of radioactive material…

Anal Cancer

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