Anal Cancer

lizdeli said:

Your Mom
Hi. Glad you posted. I just finished treatment for anal cancer. 6 weeks of chemo and radiation. I have a spot in a rectal lymph node as well. Is your Mom getting radiation and chemo or just radiation? What size is the tumor? Has she had a CT and/or PET scan? I ask because all of that impacts the treatment.

First thing to know - anal cancer can be CURED! It responds very well to chemo and radiation. The radiation treatment is okay for the first few weeks. During the last two weeks it gets rough. There are external burns in the pelvic area and the rear. There could be itching as well from the burns. The doctors should be able to recommend creams and sitz bathes to help. There is also diaharria toward the last treatments. It can be bad. There are meds for that, encourage your Mom to take them, it helps a lot.

I also visit another site that has more anal cancer survivors posting. Here's the link:
http://www.rare-cancer.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=121

There are a lot of survivors on that site and the info is very helpful. Stay positive, this cancer can be conquered!
Where is your Mom being treated? This is a rare cancer and it's important to deal with oncologists who have dealt with it before.

God bless...think positive.
Liz

ccmustang said:

My Mom
Hi Liz,

My mom's tumor is T2. She has had both CT/PET. It has not spread to any other area.

I'm not sure what to say to her. I try to talk to her about it, but it seems to only make her more sad. We are in San Jose and are going to O'Connor Hospital. Should I not talk about it and just let her talk to me when she wants? I really want to help her, but don't know what to do.

Her Oncologist is May Chen. We have our first official meeting with her on Monday morning and start Radiation Therapy in the afternoon. The Dr. says it will be both Radiation and Chemo, but have not really been told anything about the chemo. They said it would be a rough 6 weeks, but are confident that it will be cured.

Thanks for your reply, it's greatly appreciated.

Cheryl

pinker said:

ANAL CANCER
I was diagnosed with anal cancer Sept. 24, and have not started treatment yet...i am so discusted...confused...mad etc etc. why does it take so long to get started...i now have a date for a pic insertion Oct.21..what will happen why are there not books...directions discriptions of treatment...is anyone there?

ACW189 said:

Anal Cancer
I too was frustrated. I was diagnosed in January 2009 and didn't start treatment until April. I was referred to an academic teaching institute from my primary care physician at a smaller medical center. Therefore there was alot of time spent transferring and reviewing different records. The surgeon at my treatment hospital wanted to do his own biopsy even though he saw the pathology report and scans from the referring hospital. So that took time. He did a biopsy and removed the tumor which was on an internal hemmorroid. It was confirmed T1 No lymph nodes and no metastisis. I had radiation for 5 1/2 weeks along with chemo (a combination of 5FU and Mitomycin) which was administered the first and fourth weeks through a pump (total 96 hours per infusion)attached to a central venous port (called: Powerport)implanted in my chest.
The treatment wasn't too rough. Some nausea. However, they warned me that I'd feel worse following treatment before I'd get better and sure enough I ended up in the hospital for four days a week after treatment was done. I was neutropenic (spelling?) which means my white blood counts bottomed out. And I had a uterine infection. I recovered and started my way back nicely. Back to work a week later. I now have physical therapy to help with lower extremity muscle fatigue and tightness, expecially my hamstrings and groin area. I've also experienced an anal abscess and they're watching to be sure there's no fistula (won't go into this now...it's a rare occurrence following surgery.

My advise is to go to respected sites such as American Cancer Society, Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson, American Society of Clinical Oncology or American College of Surgeons to get basic information. If you want to read research go to PubMed, NHI or NCCN.

lizdeli said:

Your Mom
Cheryl,
The initial shock of the diagonis is frightening. I was a mess for a week. All I did was cry and my doctor put me on Ativan to calm me down. Once I found out about the treatment plan and heard from so many of the doctors that this cancer can be CURED, I went into fight mode. I think it's important for your Mom to know that she has a great chance of beating this compared to other cancers. And, it has not spread, the tumor size is small and it's not in her lymph nodes! That is wonderful news. I am giving you my email address. If your Mom or you need to talk to someone who has been through this I would be happy to do so. Email and we can exchange contact numbers. ldeli@comcast.net

I did not have a bad reaction to chemo, but that varies from person to person. I had the 27 radiation treatments and had 5FLU chemo via a pump in a fanny pack that I had to wear M - F 24/7. Then one day a week I had an IV of Cisplatin, another chemo. I never got very sick from the chemo, actually never threw up at all. Got queasy at times. There are medications for that. Your Mom may not feel like eating or she may. I got to a point where I could eat a little at time. It's important for her to keep up her strength and her blood counts. She has to be careful of infection while on chemo. Wash hands a lot, use paper towels to dry them versus a regular towel. I didn't even eat finger food (like french fries) with my hands, I used a fork. Fortunately I got through the chemo with good blood counts.

Mouth sores....I was told it could happen. In the first week my mouth starting hurting and so did my lips. I rinsed my mouth 4 times a day with warm water and baking soda and I put Abreva on my lips. I also used Sensodyne tooth paste (the others have alcohol which can irritate the gums). I got through it with no mouth sores. But again, it all depends and the type of chemo has different affects. I didn't lose any hair. A little thinning but nothing major. Sometimes the chemo for anal cancer is Mitomycn (can't spell it). I had Cisplatin instead. The combo of Cisplatin and radiation is apparently easier versus the others.

I know it's a lot of info and overwhelming. But you both will get through this. For now, I would just try to build up your Mom's confidence that this is a CURABLE cancer and it can be beat!!! My doctor's told me that if I had to have a cancer this is a good one because they have such a great success rate with it.

Please don't hesitate to reach out. I will keep you and your Mom in my prayers.

Liz

Hi, I am about 1/2 way through my treatment for stage 2 squamous cell anal cancer. I thought I had hemmhroids but after examination and biopsy I was diagnosed. I am now getting Chemo and proton radiation. The chemo was given as one infusion in the beginning, then 6 pills a day , and infusion at the end. I go to radiation 5 days a week. The pills make me nauseated, but I take an anti nausea pill every 4 hours and it helps. My skin around the anal area is starting to get burnt, but I use lidocaine or aquafor and it helps somewhat. I am 74 and female. I have no idea how I got it. I don't have multiple anal sex partners. I am just a normal old lady, so it can happen to anyone. Tell your mom to hang on. She will get through it. My prayers are with her!