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what are the guide lines???

sephie
sephie CSN Member Posts: 650
in Anal Cancer #1
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
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Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 CSN Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Follow-ups
    Sephie--please check out the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network at www.nccn.org. If you've never been on that site before, you'll need to do a quick registration. After that, then you can view the latest guidelines for anal cancer, including follow-up protocol. I pulled my copy out and it says the following:

    Every 3-6 months for 5 years: Digital Rectal Exam
    Anoscopy
    Inguinal Node Palpation
    If T3-T4 or inguinal node positive, consider chest/abd/pelvic imaging annually for 3 years

    It does not mention proctoscopic exam or colonoscopy, only anoscopy, which is the scope that looks most closely at the anal canal.

    My colorectal doctor does my follow-ups every 3 months with DRE and anoscopy. My medical oncologist only sees me every 6 months now, following a scan.

    I hope this information helps.
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  • sephie
    sephie CSN Member Posts: 650
    #3
    mp327 said:

    Follow-ups
    Sephie--please check out the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network at www.nccn.org. If you've never been on that site before, you'll need to do a quick registration. After that, then you can view the latest guidelines for anal cancer, including follow-up protocol. I pulled my copy out and it says the following:

    Every 3-6 months for 5 years: Digital Rectal Exam
    Anoscopy
    Inguinal Node Palpation
    If T3-T4 or inguinal node positive, consider chest/abd/pelvic imaging annually for 3 years

    It does not mention proctoscopic exam or colonoscopy, only anoscopy, which is the scope that looks most closely at the anal canal.

    My colorectal doctor does my follow-ups every 3 months with DRE and anoscopy. My medical oncologist only sees me every 6 months now, following a scan.

    I hope this information helps.

    thanks so much
    ok , i did go on there. I had a great check up at MDA but it scared me because the colorectal surgeon at MDA said he would see me in 1 year but that the radiation team would do the DRE's every 6 months and send me to him if they find anything. i have another colorectal surgeon outside of MDA who diagnosed me correctly and i will go to him at least each 6 months for DRE and anoscope. i trust his judgement. i have a CT in 6 months at MDA. also, the colorectal surgeon at MDA is one of the docs that developed the guidelines so I should be satisfied. your info is so great thankyou again. sephie
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  • Lorikat
    Lorikat CSN Member Posts: 681 Member
    #4
    mp327 said:

    Follow-ups
    Sephie--please check out the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network at www.nccn.org. If you've never been on that site before, you'll need to do a quick registration. After that, then you can view the latest guidelines for anal cancer, including follow-up protocol. I pulled my copy out and it says the following:

    Every 3-6 months for 5 years: Digital Rectal Exam
    Anoscopy
    Inguinal Node Palpation
    If T3-T4 or inguinal node positive, consider chest/abd/pelvic imaging annually for 3 years

    It does not mention proctoscopic exam or colonoscopy, only anoscopy, which is the scope that looks most closely at the anal canal.

    My colorectal doctor does my follow-ups every 3 months with DRE and anoscopy. My medical oncologist only sees me every 6 months now, following a scan.

    I hope this information helps.

    what is DRE?

    what is DRE?
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  • mp327
    mp327 CSN Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #5
    Lorikat said:

    what is DRE?

    what is DRE?

    DRE
    Digital rectal exam (doctor uses his/her gloved hand/finger to do exam).
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  • Memphis Mary 49
    Memphis Mary 49 CSN Member Posts: 52
    #6
    mp327 said:

    Follow-ups
    Sephie--please check out the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network at www.nccn.org. If you've never been on that site before, you'll need to do a quick registration. After that, then you can view the latest guidelines for anal cancer, including follow-up protocol. I pulled my copy out and it says the following:

    Every 3-6 months for 5 years: Digital Rectal Exam
    Anoscopy
    Inguinal Node Palpation
    If T3-T4 or inguinal node positive, consider chest/abd/pelvic imaging annually for 3 years

    It does not mention proctoscopic exam or colonoscopy, only anoscopy, which is the scope that looks most closely at the anal canal.

    My colorectal doctor does my follow-ups every 3 months with DRE and anoscopy. My medical oncologist only sees me every 6 months now, following a scan.

    I hope this information helps.

    Thank you, mp327, for the
    Thank you, mp327, for the nccn.org information. I did not know it existed, and I am very appreciative to have something "solid" to print out and refer to. - M
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  • mp327
    mp327 CSN Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #7
    Memphis Mary 49 said:

    Thank you, mp327, for the
    Thank you, mp327, for the nccn.org information. I did not know it existed, and I am very appreciative to have something "solid" to print out and refer to. - M

    Hi Mary!
    You're very welcome! I didn't know for quite some time that those guidelines were available either. I hope you find that information helpful to you.
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