Tumor pain after radiation

mp327 said:

lat10m

I think this is normal.  Keep in mind that the last few treatments you received were aimed directly at the tumor site.  In time, I'm sure this will resolve. 

I'm 4 weeks post tx and the extreme tumor-site pain that I had all throughout the treatments isn't entirely gone but has diminished signifigantly.  

debrossi said:

Hi  It's been over 2 years

Hi  It's been over 2 years since I finished treatment and I still have alot of pain in the tumor site.  I have had additional biopsys since and I wonder if this could be causing the pain.  Just curious if anyone else still have heaps of pain?

 

Debbie

Yes bad deep pain and quite a bit of blood and mucous.  It's a journey.

Eliz3 said:

Staging

Hello, I am new to this site, my sister has been diagnosed with Anal cancer but has not yet been told what stage her cancer is at.  She has been told that there is a gland in her groin that it has spread to, can anyone please tell me if this would be considered as stage 4?

 

I'm sorry to hear of your sister's diagnosis.  What a good sister you are to come here to learn more about anal cancer.  The first thing I would say to you is to remember that this disease has a high rate of successful treatment--many of us here are evidence of that!  I'm sure her staging will include a PET scan (or CT scan at the least).  That will give her and her doctors much more information.  From what you've said, it sounds like she perhaps has some lymph node involvement (gland in groin).  This is a common spot for this cancer to spread, but that should not keep her from having complete remission from this disease.  Treatment, even for cases where the cancer is localized to the tumor site, includes radiation to the entire pelvic region, including lymph nodes, just to make sure no rogue cells go missed.  So, she will likely be getting the same treatment as the rest of us had. 

I'm sure both of you have many questions at this point.  You have come to a good place to ask questions and get support.  We will try to answer your questions to the best of our knowledge.  I have found that some of the best information comes from people who have been there.  Another source of information you may want to check out is a bit more clinical, but is the latest protocol for anal cancer.  Go to the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN.org) and register.  Once registered, you will have access to the most current treatment guidelines for anal cancer.  There's a lot of good information there and may prompt some very good questions for your sister's doctors.  I believe that knowledge is power, so I hope you'll print out those guidelines for yourself and your sister and discuss them with her docs to make sure everyone is on the same page.

I wish her all the very best and hope you'll keep us posted on her journey.  We are here for you whenever you need us.

mp327 said:

Hi Eliz3

I'm sorry to hear of your sister's diagnosis.  What a good sister you are to come here to learn more about anal cancer.  The first thing I would say to you is to remember that this disease has a high rate of successful treatment--many of us here are evidence of that!  I'm sure her staging will include a PET scan (or CT scan at the least).  That will give her and her doctors much more information.  From what you've said, it sounds like she perhaps has some lymph node involvement (gland in groin).  This is a common spot for this cancer to spread, but that should not keep her from having complete remission from this disease.  Treatment, even for cases where the cancer is localized to the tumor site, includes radiation to the entire pelvic region, including lymph nodes, just to make sure no rogue cells go missed.  So, she will likely be getting the same treatment as the rest of us had. 

I'm sure both of you have many questions at this point.  You have come to a good place to ask questions and get support.  We will try to answer your questions to the best of our knowledge.  I have found that some of the best information comes from people who have been there.  Another source of information you may want to check out is a bit more clinical, but is the latest protocol for anal cancer.  Go to the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN.org) and register.  Once registered, you will have access to the most current treatment guidelines for anal cancer.  There's a lot of good information there and may prompt some very good questions for your sister's doctors.  I believe that knowledge is power, so I hope you'll print out those guidelines for yourself and your sister and discuss them with her docs to make sure everyone is on the same page.

I wish her all the very best and hope you'll keep us posted on her journey.  We are here for you whenever you need us.

Thank you mp327 for your very kind reply, it was so good to hear from you, I am most grateful.

As I know you can well imagine, we are all very anxious at the moment.

I have been reading your posts and you are such a lovely, positive group of people, that have been through more than your fair share of suffering, I am very fortunate to have found this site.

My sister seems to be holding up quite well but it is just one shock after the other, so I feel very helpless and just want to be there when she needs me.

As seems to be the experience with many of the members, my sister was told it was just a hemorrhoid and not to worry about it, so after bleeding and pain, she decided to have it removed and that brings her to where she is today.  She met with the Oncologist this week and, from what I can gather, there is lymph node in the groin involvement..  Next week she meets with the Chemotherapist and then it all begins for her.

I will check out NCCN, thank you.  I also believe knowledge is power, so I will read up all I can.

Again, thank you so much for replying, I feel like I can now start to talk to you wonderful people.

Eliz3 said:

Thank you

Thank you eihtak, so very kind of you.  

How wonderful to hear you are nearly two years post treatment, you must be most proud of yourself after all you have been through, it was so good to read that very positive news, it gives me such hope.

I hope no one minds if I pop in regularly to chat, I have learnt so much already from reading all your posts, that I can't thank you all enough for sharing. 

Someone will always be here for you whenever you need to talk to someone.  People on this site drift in and out, but it never goes completely silent, so please keep posting and we will hear you!  I wish you sister all the best and you too!