Starting out to destroy this anal cancer!!
Hi everyone! I am a newly diagnosised anal cancer patient. My family doctor diagnosised me with hemorrhoids due to a small amount of rectal bleeding. She prescribed hemorrhoid cream. I used the cream even though I saw nor felt any evidence of hemorrhoids, the bleeding continued and I told my husband I wanted to go to a new doctor to check this bleeding out. We saw a walk in clinic doctor who diagnosised me with a fissure and refered me to a surgeon. He told me not to worry as this type of bleeding usually does not indicated cancer, occult blood would.(he was wrong!) I cancelled my appointment with the surgeon twice due to work conflicts! When I did go to see the surgeon he did a rectal exam (the first doctor to perform this test!!) he told me he felt a tumor. I asked him a benign tumor and he said no I think it's cancer. He booked for a colonoscopy which confirmed the diagnosis of anal cancer. Also my MRI showed some spots on liver, I had another MRI and results were inconclusive. I have started on chemo and radiation treatments two days ago.I love this blog as I find all the information very helpful and everyone very supportive!!
Comments
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Welcome....
So sorry that you have had to join us, but also glad you were persistant about getting a diagnoses. As you may have read, although this treatment is often described as brutal and barbaric, something (maybe each other), keeps us going to the end. It is short in comparrison to many other treatments, and recovery comes soon after radiation ends. You will learn things about yourself and others in your life, an education only acheived through experience. Please continue to post often, we are here for venting, advice, or just to occupy your mind. No question is off limits.
I will have you in my thoughts and prayers for problem free treatment/recovery!
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Sister
Hi. I am sorry about your diagnosis. Many of us, including myself, were misdiagnosed for quite awhile. Take heart. This cancer is very treatable and has high potential for cure. Unlike, Eihtak, i did not find the treatment all that difficult. Yes, there was some pain and burning for a short time, but so doable. Compared to the treatments for most cancers, it is very short term and the healing is quick.
It will be important for you to take good care of yourself during this treatment. We have all been where you are at right now, so as treatment progresses, there will be many here who can give you good tips for self care.
Hang in there. You are in my prayers.0 -
Just to clarify.....Marynb said:Sister
Hi. I am sorry about your diagnosis. Many of us, including myself, were misdiagnosed for quite awhile. Take heart. This cancer is very treatable and has high potential for cure. Unlike, Eihtak, i did not find the treatment all that difficult. Yes, there was some pain and burning for a short time, but so doable. Compared to the treatments for most cancers, it is very short term and the healing is quick.
It will be important for you to take good care of yourself during this treatment. We have all been where you are at right now, so as treatment progresses, there will be many here who can give you good tips for self care.
Hang in there. You are in my prayers.Although it is someimes "described as brutal and barbaric" this was also NOT the case for me. I did have some compications that arose from my ostomy surgery made worse by radiation, but was spared any painful bowel issues that so many suffer such horrific pain from.
Thats whats soooo great about this site: a variety of experiences and paths all with the same goal!
Praying that the terms brutal and barbaric don't apply!
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Thanks,
Thanks, everyone for welcoming me to the group! Just returned home from radiation treatment my third one, and I feel a little bit of burning, discomfort but very bearable. I woul love to hear your tips regarding self care I am trying to eat healthy and drinking lots of water, I am very lucky we have a bidet which I am sure will be getting a lot of usage. I meet with my radiologist tomorrow
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Destroying your cancer
SisterPretty:
I echo the others in that I am sorry you are here, but glad that you found us. I don't know how much you've been able to read the various posts, but here are a few quick tips: Ask your radiologist if you should go into rad with a full bladder. Many, but not all doctors recommend this to lift the bladder out of the field of radiation. Very important: if you are using any creams at all, make sure you remove them thoroughly before rad tx. It can exacerbate the burns when or if they come if you leave on creams/lotions, etc... Make sure you get lots of protein. Eat while you can and if later on you don't feel like it, drink Ensure type products or eat Greek yogurt as it is generally high in protein. Consider taking stool softeners if needed and blot, do not rub after having a BM. A bidet will probably be good, but you may want to use a sitz bath as well. Also a hand held shower attachment can come in handy as well. Take any anti-nausea meds at first sign of upset stomach. You want to stay ahead of the wave. There are gobs of other useful info on various posts, so scan through them and ask any questions. We've all been there; done that, so there are lots of different advice on things that may work for you. And remember, hardly anyone gets ALL of the side effects, so you will learn to deal with your most onerous ones. Good luck in you tx and may you be cancer free within two months!
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Thank-youDog Girl said:Destroying your cancer
SisterPretty:
I echo the others in that I am sorry you are here, but glad that you found us. I don't know how much you've been able to read the various posts, but here are a few quick tips: Ask your radiologist if you should go into rad with a full bladder. Many, but not all doctors recommend this to lift the bladder out of the field of radiation. Very important: if you are using any creams at all, make sure you remove them thoroughly before rad tx. It can exacerbate the burns when or if they come if you leave on creams/lotions, etc... Make sure you get lots of protein. Eat while you can and if later on you don't feel like it, drink Ensure type products or eat Greek yogurt as it is generally high in protein. Consider taking stool softeners if needed and blot, do not rub after having a BM. A bidet will probably be good, but you may want to use a sitz bath as well. Also a hand held shower attachment can come in handy as well. Take any anti-nausea meds at first sign of upset stomach. You want to stay ahead of the wave. There are gobs of other useful info on various posts, so scan through them and ask any questions. We've all been there; done that, so there are lots of different advice on things that may work for you. And remember, hardly anyone gets ALL of the side effects, so you will learn to deal with your most onerous ones. Good luck in you tx and may you be cancer free within two months!
Thank-you Dog Girl for all your good advice. They did tell me to go to radiation with a full bladder.
I have finished my first week of radiation and chemo. I was very tired and had a lot of diarrhea on Friday and the weekend. I am experiencing a lot of gas, yeech. My mouth is very sore, I called my oncologist and I am waiting to hear from him. Mouth is sore and gums are bleeding. Otherwise, I feel fine,
annoying side effects, but nothing too bad.
Sister Pretty Exhausted0 -
Thank-youDog Girl said:Destroying your cancer
SisterPretty:
I echo the others in that I am sorry you are here, but glad that you found us. I don't know how much you've been able to read the various posts, but here are a few quick tips: Ask your radiologist if you should go into rad with a full bladder. Many, but not all doctors recommend this to lift the bladder out of the field of radiation. Very important: if you are using any creams at all, make sure you remove them thoroughly before rad tx. It can exacerbate the burns when or if they come if you leave on creams/lotions, etc... Make sure you get lots of protein. Eat while you can and if later on you don't feel like it, drink Ensure type products or eat Greek yogurt as it is generally high in protein. Consider taking stool softeners if needed and blot, do not rub after having a BM. A bidet will probably be good, but you may want to use a sitz bath as well. Also a hand held shower attachment can come in handy as well. Take any anti-nausea meds at first sign of upset stomach. You want to stay ahead of the wave. There are gobs of other useful info on various posts, so scan through them and ask any questions. We've all been there; done that, so there are lots of different advice on things that may work for you. And remember, hardly anyone gets ALL of the side effects, so you will learn to deal with your most onerous ones. Good luck in you tx and may you be cancer free within two months!
Thank-you Dog Girl for all your good advice. They did tell me to go to radiation with a full bladder.
I have finished my first week of radiation and chemo. I was very tired and had a lot of diarrhea on Friday and the weekend. I am experiencing a lot of gas, yeech. My mouth is very sore, I called my oncologist and I am waiting to hear from him. Mouth is sore and gums are bleeding. Otherwise, I feel fine,
annoying side effects, but nothing too bad.
Sister Pretty Exhausted0 -
Dear Sister Pretty ExhaustedSisterPretty said:Thank-you
Thank-you Dog Girl for all your good advice. They did tell me to go to radiation with a full bladder.
I have finished my first week of radiation and chemo. I was very tired and had a lot of diarrhea on Friday and the weekend. I am experiencing a lot of gas, yeech. My mouth is very sore, I called my oncologist and I am waiting to hear from him. Mouth is sore and gums are bleeding. Otherwise, I feel fine,
annoying side effects, but nothing too bad.
Sister Pretty Exhausted
Congratulations on the completion of your first week! I believe you will find the absence of that chemo pack thing to be liberating! Sorry about the mouth sores. I found that a wash of distilled water, sea salt and baking soda helped keep those pesky mouth sores and bleeding gums at bay. I probably gargled that stuff 10x a day. Your doctor may want to prescribe some stronger cocktail for you as well.
Get some good r&r and take one day at a time and very soon you will be signing out of your posts as Sister Pretty Healed!
Blessings,
Angela
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Feeling GrouchyAngela_K said:Dear Sister Pretty Exhausted
Congratulations on the completion of your first week! I believe you will find the absence of that chemo pack thing to be liberating! Sorry about the mouth sores. I found that a wash of distilled water, sea salt and baking soda helped keep those pesky mouth sores and bleeding gums at bay. I probably gargled that stuff 10x a day. Your doctor may want to prescribe some stronger cocktail for you as well.
Get some good r&r and take one day at a time and very soon you will be signing out of your posts as Sister Pretty Healed!
Blessings,
Angela
Hi Feeling Grouchy and sorry for myself today! I have been doing well so far staying positive but today my mouth is very sore although I do have a great mouthwash my oncologist prescribed for me feels like I went to the dentist and mouth is frozen after I use it! I can only eat soft foods anything else feels like chewing ground glass. I have a cold sore on my lip, my skin especially my heels are dry,dry, dry. My husband who is wonderful is getting on my nerves. My Pic line is bleeding have to go to hospital at 3pm to have it check out. I have gas and diarrhea. Hope I feel better tomorrow, really not as bad as it sounds I am just miserable!!0 -
mouthsoresSisterPretty said:Feeling Grouchy
Hi Feeling Grouchy and sorry for myself today! I have been doing well so far staying positive but today my mouth is very sore although I do have a great mouthwash my oncologist prescribed for me feels like I went to the dentist and mouth is frozen after I use it! I can only eat soft foods anything else feels like chewing ground glass. I have a cold sore on my lip, my skin especially my heels are dry,dry, dry. My husband who is wonderful is getting on my nerves. My Pic line is bleeding have to go to hospital at 3pm to have it check out. I have gas and diarrhea. Hope I feel better tomorrow, really not as bad as it sounds I am just miserable!!the ONLY thing that helped me for sores in mouth was CAPHOSOL.... need prescription....it helped... i got it too late for the first round of chemo...suffered terribly... anyone with sores needs this.... i had rinsed with salt water ,, soda water, etc.... nothing helped but this.... good luck ...... sephie
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Feeling Better
Hi everyone,
I am feeling a lot better today!! I had a prescription for Nystatin with Xylocaine for my mouth sores and they are improving!! Still only eating soft foods but mouth not as sore!! Also have a prescription for Zovirax for cold sores and they have pretty well cleared up never developing into the painful phase thank goodness also have Nexium for heartburn, did anyone else suffer from heartburn not sure if it is caused by chemo or it's just me. Going to body shop today to buy some oils and cream for dry skin. Tomorrow I have appt with chiropractor, did anyone else use herbal treatments along with chemo and radiation?
Thanks for all the support and kind words! Feeling a lot more like myself today,taking Joel's advice waking up each morning and saying to myself " something good is going to happen to me today".0 -
Great news!SisterPretty said:Feeling Better
Hi everyone,
I am feeling a lot better today!! I had a prescription for Nystatin with Xylocaine for my mouth sores and they are improving!! Still only eating soft foods but mouth not as sore!! Also have a prescription for Zovirax for cold sores and they have pretty well cleared up never developing into the painful phase thank goodness also have Nexium for heartburn, did anyone else suffer from heartburn not sure if it is caused by chemo or it's just me. Going to body shop today to buy some oils and cream for dry skin. Tomorrow I have appt with chiropractor, did anyone else use herbal treatments along with chemo and radiation?
Thanks for all the support and kind words! Feeling a lot more like myself today,taking Joel's advice waking up each morning and saying to myself " something good is going to happen to me today".I'm so glad you are feeling better! I don't remember having heartburn, so I really can't comment on that. I'm glad you are waking up on the sunny side each morning. I think a good attitude helps us get through this. Take care!
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Made it through the blizzard !!
Hi Everyone, Just returned from my radiation treatment, it is an hours drive to hospital and my husband insisted we go,he has Big Truck. We made there and back safely although we saw many Transport Trucks in the ditch.Week Two of treatment is completed!! Went by quickly. Feeling well today, mouth sores are gone and cold sores are gone. Eating solid food again, looking forward to a nice weekend. Saw my husbands chiropractor and he wants me to do a biofeedback session, has anyone else expienced this? I hope everyone has a safe and cosy weekend!!
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Sister!SisterPretty said:Made it through the blizzard !!
Hi Everyone, Just returned from my radiation treatment, it is an hours drive to hospital and my husband insisted we go,he has Big Truck. We made there and back safely although we saw many Transport Trucks in the ditch.Week Two of treatment is completed!! Went by quickly. Feeling well today, mouth sores are gone and cold sores are gone. Eating solid food again, looking forward to a nice weekend. Saw my husbands chiropractor and he wants me to do a biofeedback session, has anyone else expienced this? I hope everyone has a safe and cosy weekend!!
Glad you made it to treatment! Are you in New England? I hope you have a nice restful weekend. Sounds like you are doing as well as you could be. Hang in there.0 -
ThanksMarynb said:Sister!
Glad you made it to treatment! Are you in New England? I hope you have a nice restful weekend. Sounds like you are doing as well as you could be. Hang in there.No, I am in Niagara Falls. My husband is wishing for the power to go out as he just installed a new generator last year and wants to see how it works. Silly man!
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HiSisterPretty said:Made it through the blizzard !!
Hi Everyone, Just returned from my radiation treatment, it is an hours drive to hospital and my husband insisted we go,he has Big Truck. We made there and back safely although we saw many Transport Trucks in the ditch.Week Two of treatment is completed!! Went by quickly. Feeling well today, mouth sores are gone and cold sores are gone. Eating solid food again, looking forward to a nice weekend. Saw my husbands chiropractor and he wants me to do a biofeedback session, has anyone else expienced this? I hope everyone has a safe and cosy weekend!!
What exactly is a biofeedback session?
Glad you made it safely to your treatment! Enjoy eating again and stay warm this weekend!
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New ToySisterPretty said:Thanks
No, I am in Niagara Falls. My husband is wishing for the power to go out as he just installed a new generator last year and wants to see how it works. Silly man!
Big Boy with a new toy. I find that part of men sort of endearing.... lol
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