my mom was diagnosed anal cancer grade III A

I'm very sorry to hear of your mom's diagnosis and I can understand your worries.  Cancer can be very scary and it is hard to see a loved one go through this treatment.  However, I have been communicating with other anal cancers survivors for over 4 years now and many of them were diagnosed with stage IIIa cancer and are doing very well.  Anal cancer treatment is not fun, but it does have a very high rate of success and lasts for only a short time, as compared with other types of cancer treatment.  The fact that she has a temporary colostomy will most likely be in her favor, as she will not have to go through the excruciating pain of bowel movements during treatment.  While it may be an inconvenience right now, it is only temporary and can later be reversed.  With the standard protocol of treatment, her entire pelvic region will be radiated, which should attack cells in the vagina, rectum, and anal muscles.

I encourage you to learn as much as you can about this type of cancer and the treatment.  Knowledge is power.  In my opinion, the best website for complete information is that of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network www.NCCN.org.  There's lots of good and current information there.  You will need to do a brief registration, but then will have access to the treatment guidelines.  Also, the Anal Cancer Foundation has a website, so just Google and you will find it. Another good website for information on getting through treatmnet is www.analcancerhelp.info.

Please keep us posted on how your mom is doing and come here with any questions or concerns or when you need to vent.  We are here to help you and your mom get through this.  I wish her all the best.

Your mom’s diagnosis sounds very similar to mine. There was concern that the tumor was invading the vaginal wall and I had a suspicious area of cells on my labia. I had no lymph node involvement. I had the concurrent radiation/chemo treatment with 34 radiation sessions. I was diagnosed in mid-July 2012 and my treatment started the first week of September. I was anxious to start treatment immediately but the doctors ordered more scans and sent me to a gynecologic oncologist for an evaluation so I did have to wait longer than I wanted before my treatment started. I just learned this week after a PET scan and biopsy that my tumor is gone. There is no remaining cancer.

Your mother is so fortunate to have you with her. My fabulous daughter was a great help to me all the way through my treatment and beyond.

Hi, I was diagnosed almost 2yrs ago with Stage3b. I was treated with standard chemo/rad but had also started on a clinical trial. I also had a temporary colostomy prior to treatment, and after hearing the painful stories of so many am glad I had it during radiation burns. I did have some issues (not complications really), but had to stop the clinical trial. The radiation caused some internal swelling and my colon prolapsed (basically resting in colostomy bag). This was scary for me and somewhat rare according to my doctor. About 2wks after radiation was complete the colon went back to normal on its own. My PET scans have come back clear on the anal cancer for almost 2yrs now, but have been diagnosed with a rare slow growing breast cancer for which I have had a double mastectomy. Due to a combination of that diagnoses/treatment and excess scar tissue involving sphincter control I have not had my ostomy reversed. It has still not been completely ruled out, but chances are very slim.

As stated before, this treatment is rough, but doable with very good results.

I will keep both you and your mother in my thoughts and prayers for smooth treatment with a quick and long lasting recovery.

samyfly said:

so sorry

I'm so sorry for all this sufferings...when we entered the cancer world everything seemed to desappear..the joy, the hugs of my little child, 4 years old.Sometimes I try not to think about it, sometimes I break down in tears.

Do you think Eihtak that the breast cancer might be connected to the anal cancer? We were told that my mother won't be able to use her sphincter in the future because the cancer has infiltrated it and the radio will be heavy in that site.

She knows that her colostomy won't be easily reversed...

Right now this sounds wrong I'm sure, but for me this world of cancer has been as big a blessing as a nightmare. During my illness, my husband was also diagnosed with multiple myeloma (a blood cancer) and 1yr ago underwent a bone marrow transplant. I have 5 children now 20 to 26 yrs old. They had no experience with being caregivers and some had young children of their own. The word cancer was sooooo frightening to them, especially since it described both parents. But life doesn't disappear, in fact before long, the joys, the hugs, the love and support and LIFE came back to us tenfold. Cancer taught us patience and the power of prayer, it educated us about things we never knew, it changed our perspective on people and life, and taught us to be even more appreciative of what we have. The journey is different for everyone, and there were points when I would go for a drive just to cry, but then that patience and prayer paid off and day by day things got better, and today I am the best I've been in years. My family is stronger and I know which friends are made of steel. The tears are part of the process. My grandfather used to say to me "go on now cry long as you need, it will make your eyes sparkle".

As far as the breast cancer goes it was most likely not related. They guessed I may have had it for 10 yrs. It was called Secretory Carcinoma, a rare slow growing cancer more often found in children or even men. It is not easily detected on a mammogram. Mine was found at my 1yr PET scan for anal cancer follow-up, so had I never had the "treatable" anal cancer it may not have been found until too late. For that reason alone, I feel blessed.

There is a lot they can do with reversals, don't let that occupy your mind at this time. Everyone reacts different and some have less radiation damage than others.  Your mom will need to focus more day to day for a while, kind of like baby steps. As a caregiver and mother you will need to also take a moment each day to focus on you.  When helping take care of my husband, when I was somewhat recovered I took a walk, went for coffee with a friend, something where I didn't have to talk about cancer for just a little while.

Again, I will keep you both in my thoughts. 

samyfly said:

thank you so much....

Eihtak thank you so much...I think you all are fighters and even if at the beginning  we felt lost, I'll try to help my mom to become a strong fighter!

I forgot to say that she is HPV positive.

In Italy we say "grazie dal profondo del cuore"

 

Im 6 weeks post treatment of Stage II no lymph nodes invasion. I was told that I was borderline stage III when treatment started. I did ok..it was painful and some days I just fell to my knees praying for relief..BUT, I made it..each pain only lasts for a moment in time and there was peaceful times too. Trust in the Lord during this time and you and your mom will prevail.

Much love

GIGI

samyfly said:

treatment

thank you all for your support! 

my mother is taking 5 pills a day of Xeloda ( is used to treat: Metastatic colorectal cancer) plus 30 session radio and every 21 days she gets an infusion of cisplatin.Have you infos about those pills? I assume it's not the standard treatment in the U.S.
My mother started treatments on thursday last week and she hasn't any side effect till now,but of course it's just the beginning...

I was diagonosed with Stage 111a with suspicion that the vaginal wall had been "invaded".  The tumor was 2.5 cm.  I was treated with 5FU (which is the intravenous version of Xeloda as I understand it) and Cisplatin along with 7 weeks of radiation - max dosage.  I had the 5FU fanny pack and a PICC line - that was 5 days a week 24X7 for 6 or 7 weeks.  I received the Cisplatin once a week for 7 weeks. The radiation was daily, 33 minutes total - 5 days a week.  All that was 3 1/2 years ago.  Going for my check up in 10 days.

I know it is very scary, but there is hope and many of us survive this.  My best piece of advice would be to insure as best you can that you have the right doctors.  Ask questions and if in doubt seek a second opinion.  It's s difficult journey but thankfully the treatment is short term. Take one day at a time.  Being there for you Mom is so important. Be sure take care of yourself as well. The caregiver load can be heavy at times.  So glad you are reaching out. We will all be here to help you through it.

Wishing you and your Mom the best.

Liz