anal cancer convention

sephie

we all are from interesting areas of the country .... and hearing about all of the snow with you Northerners makes me wish i could meet all of you....we should all get together some where in the middle of the country, if possible,   .... i really know that it is not possible due to work, healing, appts, finances, etc.... but a great thought.... hugs to you all.... sephie

eihtak

Great thought...

I am also on the site for breast cancer and many people there do get together yearly. There are so many more members on that site so kind of break up the country into sections and meet at someones house or a hotel. It is difficult as you say with everyones schedules though. I had planned to go to Chicago last summer but couldn't make it due to a family issue.

So glad to have this site to help us along the way!

mp327

Getting together

Yes, that would be nice, but as you say, so many obstacles!  I have had the privilege of meeting in person 6 other anal cancer survivors who live just within miles of me--three through my doctors, two through websites such as this one, and one on a media site on which I had posted a comment about an article.  When I went to California last October, I also met another survivor I know from a support site who lives in San Francisco.  There is one more survivor near me who I have yet to meet, but we had the same rad onc who connected us with our mutual consent.  We stay in touch and are planning to meet someday.  Two gals in Canada that I met on a support site were even considering driving down to watch me run my marathon, but couldn't work it out.  I hope to go to Canada someday to meet them and another survivor who they know personally and I know online.  It's beginning to sound like I've been at this too long, isn't it!    However, I have to say that meeting someone in person who truly understands what you have gone through is priceless.  I've had other meetings with survivors of different types of cancer, and although they might not understand specifically what anal cancer treatment is like, they know the fear associated with getting a cancer diagnosis and all the emotional stuff.  I really encourage meetings.  It always reminds me that there is at least one benefit to come out of this experience--that of very special friendships. 

sephie

mp327 said:

Getting together

Yes, that would be nice, but as you say, so many obstacles!  I have had the privilege of meeting in person 6 other anal cancer survivors who live just within miles of me--three through my doctors, two through websites such as this one, and one on a media site on which I had posted a comment about an article.  When I went to California last October, I also met another survivor I know from a support site who lives in San Francisco.  There is one more survivor near me who I have yet to meet, but we had the same rad onc who connected us with our mutual consent.  We stay in touch and are planning to meet someday.  Two gals in Canada that I met on a support site were even considering driving down to watch me run my marathon, but couldn't work it out.  I hope to go to Canada someday to meet them and another survivor who they know personally and I know online.  It's beginning to sound like I've been at this too long, isn't it!    However, I have to say that meeting someone in person who truly understands what you have gone through is priceless.  I've had other meetings with survivors of different types of cancer, and although they might not understand specifically what anal cancer treatment is like, they know the fear associated with getting a cancer diagnosis and all the emotional stuff.  I really encourage meetings.  It always reminds me that there is at least one benefit to come out of this experience--that of very special friendships. 

stay on here

no, you have not been on this site too long... you are wayyyyyy tooooo valuable to consider slowing down ..... your info is wonderful.....i have met one other person whose family is in my home town... then i met another one at my appts.... i loved it because as we were talking she figured out that i was Sephie... i did not have a photo at that time...  i talk to someone else every now and then by email..... i also have sent about 8 others who live here to my first colorectal surgeon near here who correctly diagnosed me.... gladly they did not have anal cancer.... lots of hemmy problems and fissures...   some people do not like to talk about it but i am one who will talk about it too much trying to educate everyone.....and hoping they do not wait like i did.....anyway.... it is sooo nice to talk to all of you on here ......hope all you northerners are ok.....sephie

Lorikat

sephie said:

stay on here

no, you have not been on this site too long... you are wayyyyyy tooooo valuable to consider slowing down ..... your info is wonderful.....i have met one other person whose family is in my home town... then i met another one at my appts.... i loved it because as we were talking she figured out that i was Sephie... i did not have a photo at that time...  i talk to someone else every now and then by email..... i also have sent about 8 others who live here to my first colorectal surgeon near here who correctly diagnosed me.... gladly they did not have anal cancer.... lots of hemmy problems and fissures...   some people do not like to talk about it but i am one who will talk about it too much trying to educate everyone.....and hoping they do not wait like i did.....anyway.... it is sooo nice to talk to all of you on here ......hope all you northerners are ok.....sephie

THAT WOULD BE SOOOOO COOL!,

THAT WOULD BE SOOOOO COOL!,

Marynb

sephie said:

stay on here

no, you have not been on this site too long... you are wayyyyyy tooooo valuable to consider slowing down ..... your info is wonderful.....i have met one other person whose family is in my home town... then i met another one at my appts.... i loved it because as we were talking she figured out that i was Sephie... i did not have a photo at that time...  i talk to someone else every now and then by email..... i also have sent about 8 others who live here to my first colorectal surgeon near here who correctly diagnosed me.... gladly they did not have anal cancer.... lots of hemmy problems and fissures...   some people do not like to talk about it but i am one who will talk about it too much trying to educate everyone.....and hoping they do not wait like i did.....anyway.... it is sooo nice to talk to all of you on here ......hope all you northerners are ok.....sephie

Convention
Well, that would be great. I have another cancer and they are having a cruise......can you believe it? That cancer has no cure, so that would be too depressing for me, I think. I do feel that I can at least beat anal cancer, so I would love a "we kicked cancer in the butt" convention. That sounds more celebratory! It would be great to give everyone a great big hug in person! It is strange to have one cancer that is curable and one that is not. Feels like I win and lose all at the same time. Life is like that. You win some and lose some.

mp327

sephie said:

stay on here

no, you have not been on this site too long... you are wayyyyyy tooooo valuable to consider slowing down ..... your info is wonderful.....i have met one other person whose family is in my home town... then i met another one at my appts.... i loved it because as we were talking she figured out that i was Sephie... i did not have a photo at that time...  i talk to someone else every now and then by email..... i also have sent about 8 others who live here to my first colorectal surgeon near here who correctly diagnosed me.... gladly they did not have anal cancer.... lots of hemmy problems and fissures...   some people do not like to talk about it but i am one who will talk about it too much trying to educate everyone.....and hoping they do not wait like i did.....anyway.... it is sooo nice to talk to all of you on here ......hope all you northerners are ok.....sephie

Sephie--

You are very sweet.  I promise to not disappear completely!  I'm glad you have had some face-to-face meetings with other AC survivors.  I think there are many benefits to be reaped by both people when you can sit down and talk or cry or whatever together.  That said, this board is the next best thing!