Helping to get the word out....Anal Cancer

eihtak
eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
in Anal Cancer #1
So last night I was invited to a charity event for people going through or recovering from Breast Cancer sponsored by K-Tech Charities. It is an annual golfing fundraiser that primarily focuses on raising money for Breast Cancer (like so many), and unfortunately that is my current condition! Anyhow, when I stood up to tell "my story" I made sure to give equal or better time to talking about Anal Cancer and the importance of testing and getting certain symptoms checked. I had several people talk to me later with more questions about that than the Breast Cancer issues. I hope I helped even a little in getting some info out there that is so sadly under discussed in public. Hope all are doing well with treatment, recovery, and continuing to move forward! As always, all in my prayers.

Comments

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #2
    yea
    thank you for including this disease also. if one person gets help faster than normal or questions the dx of hemmys , it will be a wonderful advancement. if we could get more used to saying anal , that will help also. thx sephie
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #3
    Good for You!
    This is awesome and kudos to you for standing up and bringing attention to the "unmentionable" cancer!
  • rds711
    rds711 Member Posts: 113
    #4
    Thank you!
    That was a tremendous thing to do! And I agree if we get comfortable speaking up and telling our stories maybe someone's life will be saved and more attention and funding will happen. I find I dont own the uncomfortableness that goes with saying "I have anal cancer". I didnt choose it, I didnt want it but I sure as hell did my best to fight it like everyone here. I am NOT ashamed and wont be shamed by anyone, and how dare anyone try to inflict it on me or any of us! I am so glad that you opened some doors and people came up to ask you questions about it. I believe we have a responsibility to share our experiences to help others. 3 cheers to you eihtak!!! I am very proud of you :)

    Keeping you and all in my prayers,

    Randy
  • Cheyenne
    Cheyenne Member Posts: 77
    #5
    Thank you!
    Thank you so much for doing your part to get the word out. I have been trying to stress to friends and family how important it is to get routine screenings (colonoscopies) in order to catch things like this early. It amazes me that a prevailing attitude seems to be, "I don't want to go get one because I'm afraid they might find something." or "I don't want to have to go through what you just went through". It blows my mind. I try to point out that pretending something like this doesn't exist does not make it go away! And the earlier it's detected, the easier the recovery from treatment. I only hope that I get an opportunity to reach more people like you have done. You will never know the lives you may have saved. Even if it's just one person, that's one more than there would have been without you.
  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #6
    Cheyenne said:

    Thank you!
    Thank you so much for doing your part to get the word out. I have been trying to stress to friends and family how important it is to get routine screenings (colonoscopies) in order to catch things like this early. It amazes me that a prevailing attitude seems to be, "I don't want to go get one because I'm afraid they might find something." or "I don't want to have to go through what you just went through". It blows my mind. I try to point out that pretending something like this doesn't exist does not make it go away! And the earlier it's detected, the easier the recovery from treatment. I only hope that I get an opportunity to reach more people like you have done. You will never know the lives you may have saved. Even if it's just one person, that's one more than there would have been without you.

    ?????
    Its strange, I kind of left the event feeling like maybe I got Breast Cancer as a way to educate people about Anal Cancer. There are so many forums that involve BC and I hope to have this opportunity again!
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #7
    eihtak said:

    ?????
    Its strange, I kind of left the event feeling like maybe I got Breast Cancer as a way to educate people about Anal Cancer. There are so many forums that involve BC and I hope to have this opportunity again!

    positive from the negative
    great attitude. you help others by going thru something not so grand. you are wonderful. sephie
  • Dog Girl
    Dog Girl Member Posts: 100
    #8
    Raising awareness
    Great way to raise awareness and thank you for doing so. I too never had an issue with telling what kind of cancer I had, but I am kind of an open book/wide open type of personality anyway; with close friends I would even refer to it as a** cancer... If I got a strange look I would just tell people that you can get cancer in any part of your body, and I didn't choose where I got it, but since I used that part of my body on a regular basis (pun intended :) ), I wanted it to be in good working order. I also stress to my friends with teenage kids (boys and girls) that they consider the Guardisil vaccine to hopefully prevent anal/cervical/throat cancer which can have a link to HPV 16 & 18. I always threatened to have a (brown) ballcap embroidered with something like a u*u on it in order to give me an entre' in order to discuss anal cancer, but I didn't go down that route. I will tell people about it when given an opportunity, because I think we are going to just see more and more dx with time.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #9
    Dog Girl said:

    Raising awareness
    Great way to raise awareness and thank you for doing so. I too never had an issue with telling what kind of cancer I had, but I am kind of an open book/wide open type of personality anyway; with close friends I would even refer to it as a** cancer... If I got a strange look I would just tell people that you can get cancer in any part of your body, and I didn't choose where I got it, but since I used that part of my body on a regular basis (pun intended :) ), I wanted it to be in good working order. I also stress to my friends with teenage kids (boys and girls) that they consider the Guardisil vaccine to hopefully prevent anal/cervical/throat cancer which can have a link to HPV 16 & 18. I always threatened to have a (brown) ballcap embroidered with something like a u*u on it in order to give me an entre' in order to discuss anal cancer, but I didn't go down that route. I will tell people about it when given an opportunity, because I think we are going to just see more and more dx with time.

    Dog Girl
    I agree with your last statement, stating that there will be more dx'd with this disease in the future, just as there is now with other HPV cancers, such as tonsil. It's scary, but HPV cancers could someday reach numbers we can't even imagine.
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #10
    mp327 said:

    Dog Girl
    I agree with your last statement, stating that there will be more dx'd with this disease in the future, just as there is now with other HPV cancers, such as tonsil. It's scary, but HPV cancers could someday reach numbers we can't even imagine.

    You are right. The time is NOW to foster open discussions.
    A close friend of mine was diagnosed last week with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. Another HPV related cancer.

    I think 'celebrity' doctors with a mass appeal, such as Dr. Oz, need to focus more on all HPV cancers and not JUST cervical cancers. A letter writing campaign is in order?

    Angela

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