Letter from my mum to you all

Adam26

Hey guys,

My mum has written a message to you which she has asked me to upload. She doesn't come on due to the anxiety of what she might see, I think she likes to try and forget it as much as possible and I send her the replies you all write. Anyway, she does appreciate everything and she's asked me to pass this on to you:

"Hello to everyone on the forum and thank you very much for helping me get through my diagnosis and treatment for anal cancer.  I haven't written on the forum yet as my son has been writing, and I know that you have helped him to get through the past 6 months too, for which I'm very grateful as I have been in no state of mind to be any use to him. Many of you on the forum have said what a great support to his mum he is, that is so true, he has been wonderful, I realise how lucky I am to have had him with me during this rotten time, he has been a rock to his mum.

I have just reached 11 weeks after treatment and am due to have my first mri on January 10th. I feel as though I am still in shock at the diagnosis, but with my oncologist saying I have excellent prognosis and hearing all the positives on the forum I am determined to stay positive and live my life. I still have side effects but they are getting better all the time, urgency and painful bowel movements being the main ones and I am still not up to full strength energy wise-does any body know how long these last?

To anybody recently diagnosed, remember this is one of the most treatable cancers to have, there are such good results for it as seen on this forum.

Thank you all again and Happy New Year

Carole"

Happy New Year everybody!! P.S the 3 month MRI scan is in 8 days, the onc doesn't expect much right now due to all the inflammation so we would have to wait another 3 months for NED.

mp327

Hi Carole & Adam

It is so good to hear from you, Carole!  I think I can speak for many of the members here in saying that we have all been very concerned for you and are relieved that you are coming along in your recovery.  Adam has certainly been a great advocate for you, as evidenced by his posts in this group, and you are very fortunate to have such a loving son.

Recovery from this treatment can take awhile and is sometimes two steps forward followed by one step backward.  That was my experience, at least.  It can be discouraging at times, but try to look at the whole picture and how far you've already come since your treatment ended.  You will continue to see improvements, so celebrate each and every one of them.  I really turned a big corner at the 2-year post-treatment mark, when I can truly say that I felt normal again.  I realize that may seem like a long ways off for you at this point, but you'll be amazed at how quickly that milestone will arrive.  

I am a 6+ year survivor of this disease, and while I still deal with some issues, overall, I am doing great and so thankful to have my life back.  I have learned to roll with the punches, so to speak, and so will you!  Just keep moving forward and remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.  You are going to do just fine in your recovery!  I wish you and Adam all the best!

Martha 

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

It's nice to meet you!

Merry New Year, Mummy Carole, and many more!

Martha is right, it's not a sprint. Don't compare how you feel from one day to the next as the interval is too short. Compare from month to month or even longer intervals. Then you will realize how far you've come. If you haven't yet done so, find a physical therapy program designed for cancer patients. That will help you feel stronger and the pelvic floor excercises can even help reduce your anal pain.

I had stage III-a or III-b (inguinal nodes were slightly suspicious on the PET scan, but weren't biopsied). On my 3-month check-up, even with anal inflammation, parakeratosis, and dysplasia, I had no sign of cancer. Due to dysplasia, I'll have to keep track of things into the future, as do we all. But hearing that the cancer is gone felt great! I wish the same for you.

Adam26

Thank you Martha and Ouch

Thank you Martha and Ouch ouch ouch, thank you for your replies,  I was so pleased to join the forum with Adam.

Today I have good news for you, yesterday I was told that the MRI I had last week showed no cancer so I am now officially NED. The onc said it's very unlikely to come back to due its original early stage, so I am now going to get on with my life again. However I shall keep looking at the forum and try to help others.

Thank you all for your help to me and Adam 
Carole

mp327

Adam26 said:

Thank you Martha and Ouch

Thank you Martha and Ouch ouch ouch, thank you for your replies,  I was so pleased to join the forum with Adam.

Today I have good news for you, yesterday I was told that the MRI I had last week showed no cancer so I am now officially NED. The onc said it's very unlikely to come back to due its original early stage, so I am now going to get on with my life again. However I shall keep looking at the forum and try to help others.

Thank you all for your help to me and Adam 
Carole

Carole

Congratulations on your great news--I am so happy for both you and Adam.  I know this journey has been difficult, but you are now able to move on.  We will always be glad to hear from you and it's great that you will come back to help others, which unfortunately, there will be.  Take care and may you enjoy good health always.  I wish Adam all the very best too--what a great son he is to you!  Both of you take good care.

Martha

jcruz

Adam26 said:

Thank you Martha and Ouch

Thank you Martha and Ouch ouch ouch, thank you for your replies,  I was so pleased to join the forum with Adam.

Today I have good news for you, yesterday I was told that the MRI I had last week showed no cancer so I am now officially NED. The onc said it's very unlikely to come back to due its original early stage, so I am now going to get on with my life again. However I shall keep looking at the forum and try to help others.

Thank you all for your help to me and Adam 
Carole

so happy for you

Carole,

I am really happy to know you've had such good news.  It is quite an ordeal that we go through and I'm glad you made it through to the other side. Continue to rest and heal and most definitely get on with your life again.  You are so fortunate to have such a caring son.

Janet

pializ

jcruz said:

so happy for you

Carole,

I am really happy to know you've had such good news.  It is quite an ordeal that we go through and I'm glad you made it through to the other side. Continue to rest and heal and most definitely get on with your life again.  You are so fortunate to have such a caring son.

Janet

Carole

brilliant news! Hope you are recovering well from treatment & have celebrated your good news.

liz

qv62

Adam26 said:

Thank you Martha and Ouch

Thank you Martha and Ouch ouch ouch, thank you for your replies,  I was so pleased to join the forum with Adam.

Today I have good news for you, yesterday I was told that the MRI I had last week showed no cancer so I am now officially NED. The onc said it's very unlikely to come back to due its original early stage, so I am now going to get on with my life again. However I shall keep looking at the forum and try to help others.

Thank you all for your help to me and Adam 
Carole

Adam26 & Carole

So happy to hear the good news, I am sure you are both relieved. Please tell your mom we wish her well. It is a long time for the fatigue to be lifted, I am 7 months post treatment and still have days I come home from work and have to close my eyes and nap before I can start dinner. I have more good days than bad but on the bad days know there are good ones to come.