10 Year Anniversary

CharlotteW

I am celebrating my 10th year anal cancer survivor anniversary!  It is a blessing everyday.  So far the only side effects left are vaginal stenosis, messing myself every once in while, and sore hips.  My dog and I go walking almost everyday for about a mile.  We also go hiking on the trails around Grand Junction Colo. I read about other people's problems and pain and I sympathize with all of you.  Anal cancer is not an easy cancer (not that any other cancer is either) but we have to deal with trying to have BMs through a burning anus. I also cried during those. As you read the other stories you know you are not alone and you need a sense of humor and support to get through the days.  I wish everyone all of those and most of all I wish everyone many years with family and friends.

Kmessier

10 year Anniversary

I want to congratulate you on your 10 year Anniversary and thank you for posting. I'm three weeks away from hopefully my last surgery and for the end of treatment ma. Reading about your recovery gives me hope and I sure appreciate it because I've had a rough time, I'm not saying that everyone else and you didn't have it roough too, I'm just speaking about myself. So again thank you for your post and the hope that it gives me that things will maybe work out. Many blessings on your continued recover.

 

~ Kim ~

CharlotteW

Kmessier said:

10 year Anniversary

I want to congratulate you on your 10 year Anniversary and thank you for posting. I'm three weeks away from hopefully my last surgery and for the end of treatment ma. Reading about your recovery gives me hope and I sure appreciate it because I've had a rough time, I'm not saying that everyone else and you didn't have it roough too, I'm just speaking about myself. So again thank you for your post and the hope that it gives me that things will maybe work out. Many blessings on your continued recover.

 

~ Kim ~

10 year anniversary

I'm sorry you are having a rough time.  I hope it gets better for you.  I know it sometimes feels like it will stay awful and you wish it would all go away.  It will get better, have faith.  

mp327

CharlotteW

Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary!  That is SO awesome!  I am not far behind you--will be 9 years post-treatment in September.  It is always good to hear from others who are this far out of treatment--it gives us all hope and encouragement.  Whatever you're doing to stay healthy, just keep doing it, and if you have any good tips for the rest of us, please share!  I wish you all the best as you continue to move further and further away from the day you finished treatment.  Good health and happiness to you always!

Martha

eihtak

CharlotteW....

Yay for you!!!! This is so wonderful to hear and gives strength to those just stepping onto this path. I wish you many many more years of anniversary celebrations. Thank you for your encouraging post.

katheryn

CharlotteW

mp327 said:

CharlotteW

Congratulations on your 10-year anniversary!  That is SO awesome!  I am not far behind you--will be 9 years post-treatment in September.  It is always good to hear from others who are this far out of treatment--it gives us all hope and encouragement.  Whatever you're doing to stay healthy, just keep doing it, and if you have any good tips for the rest of us, please share!  I wish you all the best as you continue to move further and further away from the day you finished treatment.  Good health and happiness to you always!

Martha

10 year anniversary

Congratulations to you also!!  Yes it is awesome.  I don't know if I have any tips or not.  I did try to eat healthy but that went to the wayside.  I just can't imagine life without some junk food. I do try to walk everyday because otherwise my legs, hips and back are really sore. I don't know if it's old age (68) or side effect from radiation.  I think we all keep Imodium close.  I have mine in a pill bottle marked :Poop Control. I love your saying "Thanks for being someone I can share poop stories with."  I thought I was through with those after my kids were potty trained.  I know we all have plenty of poop stories.  I guess the best advice is a sense of humor because everytime I poop my pants and feel like crying over it, I laugh and say "well at least it's just me and my dog."  But anyone who has a partner and wonderful support is certainly ahead.   Congrats to you again and wish you the best also.  

CharlotteW

eihtak said:

CharlotteW....

Yay for you!!!! This is so wonderful to hear and gives strength to those just stepping onto this path. I wish you many many more years of anniversary celebrations. Thank you for your encouraging post.

katheryn

10 year anniversary

Katheryn, I hope and pray your path will be a postive one.  Just keep looking forward and keep a sense of humor because you will need it.  Lean on your family and friends because you need them also.  Keep up your strength, it does get better!

eihtak

CharlotteW said:

10 year anniversary

Katheryn, I hope and pray your path will be a postive one.  Just keep looking forward and keep a sense of humor because you will need it.  Lean on your family and friends because you need them also.  Keep up your strength, it does get better!

CharlotteW...

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I actually was dx with stage 3b anal cancer about 6 1/2 years ago. While I did have some treatment complications at the time, I was able to find what I needed to move forward. One year later I was dx with breast cancer so jumped back in the ring, but made it out once again! Then, a couple years ago dx with anal cancer mets to my lung so after having a lower lobe removed and some more chemo fun, Im still moving ahead. My most recent scan stated no new areas of concern....I still do deal with some minor but manageable issues, but today feel just great! My life is full. I travel, went back to college and recently graduated with honors, and spend much time in appreciation of my friends and family!

One step in front of the other......

Be well,

katheryn

mp327

CharlotteW said:

10 year anniversary

Congratulations to you also!!  Yes it is awesome.  I don't know if I have any tips or not.  I did try to eat healthy but that went to the wayside.  I just can't imagine life without some junk food. I do try to walk everyday because otherwise my legs, hips and back are really sore. I don't know if it's old age (68) or side effect from radiation.  I think we all keep Imodium close.  I have mine in a pill bottle marked :Poop Control. I love your saying "Thanks for being someone I can share poop stories with."  I thought I was through with those after my kids were potty trained.  I know we all have plenty of poop stories.  I guess the best advice is a sense of humor because everytime I poop my pants and feel like crying over it, I laugh and say "well at least it's just me and my dog."  But anyone who has a partner and wonderful support is certainly ahead.   Congrats to you again and wish you the best also.  

CharlotteW

Thank you so much!  While my journey to this point has had its ups and downs, I am doing pretty well and am grateful for that.  My worst side effect post-treatment has been episodes of intestinal blockages, one putting me in the hospital back in 2013.  They are quite miserable and scary too.  However, with adjustments to my diet, I have managed to avoid them in recent years (knock on wood!).  I am a runner and I lift weights twice a week to stay in shape and actually ran a full marathon in 2012 at age 58.  While I no longer run marathons, I'm keeping up with running on the treadmill.  At 63, I don't know how long I can keep it up, but I have no plans to stop yet.  I do have aches and pains, some of it probably from the radiation and some of it from my active lifestyle.  Strangely enough, I suffer from left side back pain after I run the vacuum cleaner, of all things!  I do experience the occasional accident, but fortunately, it always seems to be when I'm running on the treadmill, which is why I own my own treadmill and do not go to the gym!    I have just accepted the fact that "stuff" happens.  As for my saying "Thanks for being someone I can share poop stories with," that is actually the front of a greeting card I found while shopping one day!  I couldn't believe it and had to buy it, scan it, and put it to use!  lol!  How perfect for this site, I thought!

I wish you all the best as you continue to move forward in life.  May there be many good times ahead for you! 

CharlotteW

eihtak said:

CharlotteW...

Thank you for the kind thoughts. I actually was dx with stage 3b anal cancer about 6 1/2 years ago. While I did have some treatment complications at the time, I was able to find what I needed to move forward. One year later I was dx with breast cancer so jumped back in the ring, but made it out once again! Then, a couple years ago dx with anal cancer mets to my lung so after having a lower lobe removed and some more chemo fun, Im still moving ahead. My most recent scan stated no new areas of concern....I still do deal with some minor but manageable issues, but today feel just great! My life is full. I travel, went back to college and recently graduated with honors, and spend much time in appreciation of my friends and family!

One step in front of the other......

Be well,

katheryn

10 year anniversary

WOW you are amazing!  You are an impressive role model for all of us.  I am so glad you are doinog well and have no new areas to worry about.  It is truly one step in front of the other.....   Be well also!  Charlotte

CharlotteW

mp327 said:

CharlotteW

Thank you so much!  While my journey to this point has had its ups and downs, I am doing pretty well and am grateful for that.  My worst side effect post-treatment has been episodes of intestinal blockages, one putting me in the hospital back in 2013.  They are quite miserable and scary too.  However, with adjustments to my diet, I have managed to avoid them in recent years (knock on wood!).  I am a runner and I lift weights twice a week to stay in shape and actually ran a full marathon in 2012 at age 58.  While I no longer run marathons, I'm keeping up with running on the treadmill.  At 63, I don't know how long I can keep it up, but I have no plans to stop yet.  I do have aches and pains, some of it probably from the radiation and some of it from my active lifestyle.  Strangely enough, I suffer from left side back pain after I run the vacuum cleaner, of all things!  I do experience the occasional accident, but fortunately, it always seems to be when I'm running on the treadmill, which is why I own my own treadmill and do not go to the gym!    I have just accepted the fact that "stuff" happens.  As for my saying "Thanks for being someone I can share poop stories with," that is actually the front of a greeting card I found while shopping one day!  I couldn't believe it and had to buy it, scan it, and put it to use!  lol!  How perfect for this site, I thought!

I wish you all the best as you continue to move forward in life.  May there be many good times ahead for you! 

10 year anniversary

It is so inspiring to hear other people's stories!  It sounds like we all have pretty active lifes, which is wonderful.  I also get a pain in my left side from vacuuming.  That is weird.  I try to use different arms while vacuuming.  But I always have to sit for a little while after each room.   The best to you also as we move on in life.

TraceyUSA

CONGRATS

and thank you so much for sharing!  10 years is awesome!  I am so glad to hear successes like yours.  

Continued Wellness to You!

-Tracey

mp327

CharlotteW said:

10 year anniversary

It is so inspiring to hear other people's stories!  It sounds like we all have pretty active lifes, which is wonderful.  I also get a pain in my left side from vacuuming.  That is weird.  I try to use different arms while vacuuming.  But I always have to sit for a little while after each room.   The best to you also as we move on in life.

CharlotteW

I always tell my husband after I vacuum and get that pain in my back that there's a cure for that--it's called a housekeeper! 

Salsify

Congratulations & thanks

Charlotte, thank you for sharing your hope & success. And that "vaginal stenosis, messing myself every once in while, and sore hips" are not unusual - my doctor doesn't seem to think I have any lingering effects from treatment, but those sound just like me. I stopped seeing the man I had been in a relationship with for 14 year because he couldn't reconcile himself to a future without sex, and I am not interested enough to go through what I would have to to be sexually active again. Heck I only just barely managed to get through a pap smear this year, and may need to be sedated for the next! At 63 I hadn't expected to be done with all that but can accept it. But I am still working full time and still want to have my herbs & flowers all around in summer, so I am heading outside to work on them. 

Thank you for your hope!

sally

Wisteria83

Flagged Response

I guess I'm not the only one who flagged and reported that horrible response.  It's no longer in my feed.  As soon as I reported it, it disappeared.  I shake my head at the cruelty of some people.  I don't understand what motivates them.

mp327

Wisteria83 said:

Flagged Response

I guess I'm not the only one who flagged and reported that horrible response.  It's no longer in my feed.  As soon as I reported it, it disappeared.  I shake my head at the cruelty of some people.  I don't understand what motivates them.

Wisteria

I flagged it too.  What a horrible thing to say to someone.  I'm glad that those who monitor this website removed it immediately.