anal cancer

shirleyj23

Hello: I just registed with Cancer Survivor's group today. To my surprise, I find no messages re: anal cancner?
Anybody else out there?
I was diagnosed with cloacogenic cancer March of 2000. Went through chemo and radiation in July and Aug.of 2000. Then spent 19 days in hospital with radiation burns.
Have been doing well since then, but still tire very easily. Of course that could be becauce I am 79 years old.
Would like to hear from anyone else regarding this type of cancer
Shirley

puzlor

Hi Shirley,
I just registered with this survivors group today and I was pleased to find that there was someone here brave enough to talk.
I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum in August, 2000. I was only 46 then and my dear mother had just passed away in February, 2000 from a long battle with colorectal cancer. She was just 70. I had the tumor, which by then was starting to protrude, removed in Sept.,2000. Pathology showed that it had invade the blood vessels in the rectal wall and that there was possible lymph node involvement. I went through 8-9 weeks of chemotherapy and daily radiation. The radiation burns were horrible. I was in terrible pain. I also ended up in the hospital for 5 days due to blood clots which had formed in my right arm.
In Jan. 2001 a biopsy showed that I was cancer free. I too continue to experience extreme fatigue but I have other serious health problems that I have been dealing with for the past 12 years.
I always try to keep a positive attitude and have very supportive family and friends. I don't know if I could have dealt with all this without them.
Anyway, it is nice to meet you. Maybe we can get others talking soon.
Lorri

awilliams

Shirley - I was diagnosed with anal cancer 11/00 and started treatment Jan 01 for most of three months. I didn't end up in the hospital, but the burns were amazing! I see my oncologist about every 3 months now and he says I'm fine (as far as the blood shows).

Tired is my biggest problem. Too tired to exercise and I gained 20 pounds from not exercising for a year - and I know that part of the reason I'm tired is because I don't exercise!

One of the things that confuses me is the possible connection with anal cancer (and cervical cancer) with HPV - human papilloma virus. Did your doctors talk to you about this?

I live in southern CA and my medical team said that anal cancer is becoming much more common in the last few years.

Audrey

MelC

awilliams said:

Shirley - I was diagnosed with anal cancer 11/00 and started treatment Jan 01 for most of three months. I didn't end up in the hospital, but the burns were amazing! I see my oncologist about every 3 months now and he says I'm fine (as far as the blood shows).

Tired is my biggest problem. Too tired to exercise and I gained 20 pounds from not exercising for a year - and I know that part of the reason I'm tired is because I don't exercise!

One of the things that confuses me is the possible connection with anal cancer (and cervical cancer) with HPV - human papilloma virus. Did your doctors talk to you about this?

I live in southern CA and my medical team said that anal cancer is becoming much more common in the last few years.

Audrey

Audrey,
I am glad to find this website but concerned because there has been little correspondence since summer. Maybe that is a good thing.

I am a 46 yrs old female and was diagnosed in Sept 02 with anal cancer. I have HPV and intend to check out the website related to that. I completed chemo and radiation. I wound up in the hospital with low blood counts during my most intense radiation burns but didn't realize that is not uncommon.

This has really hit me emotionally since I still have an 11 yr old child at home. Do you mind telling me how you handled the emotions? Some of what I am going through may be due to menopause (The chemo threw me into menopause early) and waiting for the test results are about all that I can handle emotionally? I think about my life and what I have done with it, my age and what direction I need to go from here. Did you attend support groups or visit with a therapist?

How are you now and what is life like for you?
I look forward to hearing from you.

Mel

mjs1

Hello! I just registered with this group today. I was diagnosed with anal cancer in May of 2000. I had chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. The radiation burns were horrible. I was very tired all the time too. Once the burns healed I felt pretty good. The dr had said that I would have to have surgery to remove the remainder of the tumor but there was nothing left to remove. I had horrible diarrhea for over two years. Just this past Oct. it suddenly went away. I could not eat anything without it going right through me. I am so thankful not to have that problem anymore. I had check-ups every three months for a while and then it went to 6 months in between. When a CT scan was done it showed a tumor on my liver. Last summer a PET scan was done. It showed I have a tumor on my lung also. At first the dr planned to do surgery but he decided not to because of the lung tumor. He started me on chemo pills. He had to reduce the dosage twice since I was having a lot of pain in my hands and feet and they were peeling. That pain is gone now and I am thankful to be able to use my hands again. I had radiofrequency ablation on the tumor on my liver in Nov. I am supposed to be getting a CT scan soon to see what the tumor is doing or if it has gone away. Recently my hip started hurting. I just found out on Monday that when the radiofrequency ablation was done a lesion showed up on my hip right where it now hurts. I don't know why I wasn't told about it before now. Anyway, now I am getting a bone scan on Friday. I was told I may have to have radiation again. I do not look forward to it. Somehow through all of this I have remained calm and have a peaceful feeling. I am a Christian and I know that God will see me through all of this. I also have a wonderful family who prays for me and lots of friends who also pray. I always have a positive attitute and that helps. I am thankful that the chemo does not make me sick. It didn't the first time either. I also did not lose my hair. I do as much as I can and when my energy runs out I just stop and rest. My name is Marilyn and I am very glad to meet you.

etelfisher

MelC said:

Audrey,
I am glad to find this website but concerned because there has been little correspondence since summer. Maybe that is a good thing.

I am a 46 yrs old female and was diagnosed in Sept 02 with anal cancer. I have HPV and intend to check out the website related to that. I completed chemo and radiation. I wound up in the hospital with low blood counts during my most intense radiation burns but didn't realize that is not uncommon.

This has really hit me emotionally since I still have an 11 yr old child at home. Do you mind telling me how you handled the emotions? Some of what I am going through may be due to menopause (The chemo threw me into menopause early) and waiting for the test results are about all that I can handle emotionally? I think about my life and what I have done with it, my age and what direction I need to go from here. Did you attend support groups or visit with a therapist?

How are you now and what is life like for you?
I look forward to hearing from you.

Mel

Hello Mel,
I am 38 with 3 kids and was diagnosed in Nov. 2003 with anal cancer. I finished chemo and rad. treatment in Feb. Yesterday I went for my 3 month checkup had an Endoscopy and they said it looks good and clear. They did 3 biopsies and now I have a week wait for that answer. I am living in Germany, don't speak the language well, and well, I have no one to talk to. My kids keep me going. However, for 1 month now I have lower back pain and my hips and joints in the radiation area are always sore. This radiation doctor says the radiation didn't cause this, right. I also have been thrown into premenapause with hot/cold flashes and sleepless nights. I've been seeing a doctor in Chinese medicine and taking awful tasting herb drinks. Anyhow, would like to talk to all those going throw the same.
etel

michelediane

awilliams said:

Shirley - I was diagnosed with anal cancer 11/00 and started treatment Jan 01 for most of three months. I didn't end up in the hospital, but the burns were amazing! I see my oncologist about every 3 months now and he says I'm fine (as far as the blood shows).

Tired is my biggest problem. Too tired to exercise and I gained 20 pounds from not exercising for a year - and I know that part of the reason I'm tired is because I don't exercise!

One of the things that confuses me is the possible connection with anal cancer (and cervical cancer) with HPV - human papilloma virus. Did your doctors talk to you about this?

I live in southern CA and my medical team said that anal cancer is becoming much more common in the last few years.

Audrey

Audrey, I too live in Southern Calif. and had anal cancer 12/02. I would like to exchange information with you. You can email me at dndwat3@aol.com

AuthorUnknown

puzlor said:

Hi Shirley,
I just registered with this survivors group today and I was pleased to find that there was someone here brave enough to talk.
I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum in August, 2000. I was only 46 then and my dear mother had just passed away in February, 2000 from a long battle with colorectal cancer. She was just 70. I had the tumor, which by then was starting to protrude, removed in Sept.,2000. Pathology showed that it had invade the blood vessels in the rectal wall and that there was possible lymph node involvement. I went through 8-9 weeks of chemotherapy and daily radiation. The radiation burns were horrible. I was in terrible pain. I also ended up in the hospital for 5 days due to blood clots which had formed in my right arm.
In Jan. 2001 a biopsy showed that I was cancer free. I too continue to experience extreme fatigue but I have other serious health problems that I have been dealing with for the past 12 years.
I always try to keep a positive attitude and have very supportive family and friends. I don't know if I could have dealt with all this without them.
Anyway, it is nice to meet you. Maybe we can get others talking soon.
Lorri

Hi, Have completed surgery for squamous cell cancer of anus. The surgeon says she believes they have got it all. I felt great after surgery but developed infection & landed back in hospital, dehydrated. I am still quite weak, but now will be having 6 weeks of low dose radiation. I wonder if vitamins help with this procedure? Were your blood clots caused from chemo or radiation? Thanks, it is nice to be able to communicate..

desertdreamer

Hi Shirleyj23, Sounds like you too had a rough time of it. I was diagnosed with anal cancer at 40 y/o. How are you doing now?

desertdreamer

etelfisher said:

Hello Mel,
I am 38 with 3 kids and was diagnosed in Nov. 2003 with anal cancer. I finished chemo and rad. treatment in Feb. Yesterday I went for my 3 month checkup had an Endoscopy and they said it looks good and clear. They did 3 biopsies and now I have a week wait for that answer. I am living in Germany, don't speak the language well, and well, I have no one to talk to. My kids keep me going. However, for 1 month now I have lower back pain and my hips and joints in the radiation area are always sore. This radiation doctor says the radiation didn't cause this, right. I also have been thrown into premenapause with hot/cold flashes and sleepless nights. I've been seeing a doctor in Chinese medicine and taking awful tasting herb drinks. Anyhow, would like to talk to all those going throw the same.
etel

Hi, I am a 42 y/o female who was diagnosed 9/03 with squamous cell anal cancer. I too was treated with radiation and 5fu and mitomycin chemo agents. I had hip and pelvic soreness for many months. To this day I feel extremely uncomfortable sitting on hard surfaces because it hurts the bones in my buttocks. I also was thrown into perimenopause and it was awful!!!! Terrible nights sweats, hot flashes, anxiety and constant crying!! My gynecologist prescribed hormone replacement and the awful simptoms went away. Since my diagnosis and treatment, which completely disolved the tumor, I have had mets to my liver twice. I had chemo then surgery to remove half my liver and now I have more tumors in the liver and will be starting more chemo. Make sure you get chest/abdomen/pelvic CT's every 3-6 months because this cancer CAN AND DOES metastasize. I hope you are doing well now. Good luck.

mickeyfla

desertdreamer said:

Hi, I am a 42 y/o female who was diagnosed 9/03 with squamous cell anal cancer. I too was treated with radiation and 5fu and mitomycin chemo agents. I had hip and pelvic soreness for many months. To this day I feel extremely uncomfortable sitting on hard surfaces because it hurts the bones in my buttocks. I also was thrown into perimenopause and it was awful!!!! Terrible nights sweats, hot flashes, anxiety and constant crying!! My gynecologist prescribed hormone replacement and the awful simptoms went away. Since my diagnosis and treatment, which completely disolved the tumor, I have had mets to my liver twice. I had chemo then surgery to remove half my liver and now I have more tumors in the liver and will be starting more chemo. Make sure you get chest/abdomen/pelvic CT's every 3-6 months because this cancer CAN AND DOES metastasize. I hope you are doing well now. Good luck.

Hi - I too am a 42 year old female who was diagnosed 10/04 with anal canal cancer and am going through everything you described, had my chemo and radiation and am going in for surgery in March to remove a mass that they are still feeling (hopefully it is only scar tissue) - but the early menopause (and all the related symptoms) and now i am experiencing hip pains as well. would love to chat with you if i could. desperately seeking someone to relate to.

michelediane

mickeyfla said:

Hi - I too am a 42 year old female who was diagnosed 10/04 with anal canal cancer and am going through everything you described, had my chemo and radiation and am going in for surgery in March to remove a mass that they are still feeling (hopefully it is only scar tissue) - but the early menopause (and all the related symptoms) and now i am experiencing hip pains as well. would love to chat with you if i could. desperately seeking someone to relate to.

hi I am a 46 year old female that was treated for anal cancer back in 12-02 I correspond with 2 other women our age that have this disease. If you want to e-mail me at dndwat3@aol.com we can exchange info. I find this web page very hard to contact people which is why I have put my e-mial. I went thru chemo, radiation, and surgery. Are you on the drug trial or standard treatment. Hope to hear from you Diane

downunder

etelfisher said:

Hello Mel,
I am 38 with 3 kids and was diagnosed in Nov. 2003 with anal cancer. I finished chemo and rad. treatment in Feb. Yesterday I went for my 3 month checkup had an Endoscopy and they said it looks good and clear. They did 3 biopsies and now I have a week wait for that answer. I am living in Germany, don't speak the language well, and well, I have no one to talk to. My kids keep me going. However, for 1 month now I have lower back pain and my hips and joints in the radiation area are always sore. This radiation doctor says the radiation didn't cause this, right. I also have been thrown into premenapause with hot/cold flashes and sleepless nights. I've been seeing a doctor in Chinese medicine and taking awful tasting herb drinks. Anyhow, would like to talk to all those going throw the same.
etel

I AM NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS SITE AND TRYING TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS WITH ANAL CANCER. ARE YOU STILL AROUND?

AuthorUnknown

downunder said:

I AM NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS SITE AND TRYING TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS WITH ANAL CANCER. ARE YOU STILL AROUND?

Hello,

You may want to consider contacting this individual through the CSN internal email system in case this individual is no longer checking the discussion boards. You can do this by clicking on the envelope icon next to their original message. I encourage you to post your own message also.

Take care and be well,

Dana
CSN Dana

AuthorUnknown

downunder said:

I AM NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS SITE AND TRYING TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS WITH ANAL CANCER. ARE YOU STILL AROUND?

Yes, there are several - I myself just finished 28 days of radiation