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AZANNIE
AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

I had an appt with my medical oncologist today. Lab results were good - whew! I expressed concern about my colorectal dr wanting to do a biopsy and he said that's routine so that eased my mind a bit. He checked lymph nodes and they were normal. My medical oncologist has an excellent bedside manner and so easy to talk to. The next hurdle is biopsy in August. Would have liked it sooner, but August was the only time my sister could get off work. So instead of one to two months that the CR dr said, it will be three months. He didn't seem concerned. PETscan and labs in November. Didn't think to ask if there was enough time between biopsy and scan. When I left the office, the waiting room was full of people...

Ann

 

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Ann

    I'm glad all your labs were normal and your physical exam went well.  I would think that having a biopsy in August would be enough time prior to your PET scan in November to be healed, but that would be a question for one of your docs.  I hope you'll get the all clear with the biopsy and that it goes well.  Please keep us posted and take care!

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #3
    ?

    What are they biopsying? The scar tissue? 

    I don't understand why you need a biopsy.

    Good luck though. Are they going to anesthesize you, I hope?

    Fondly,

    Sandy

  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #4
    sandysp said:

    ?

    What are they biopsying? The scar tissue? 

    I don't understand why you need a biopsy.

    Good luck though. Are they going to anesthesize you, I hope?

    Fondly,

    Sandy

    Sandysp

    Thanks! Yes, I'll be knocked out. I was surprised about biopsy. I talked to oncologist about it and he said it was routine. The colorectal dr didn't seem concerned. Just wants to make sure cancer is gone. At least he can get a good look at everything. Others on this site have mentioned they have had biopsies post treatment. Now the worrying begins again... So actually it will be EUA with dilation and biopsy. I've had an EUA and dilation a couple months after treatment ended.

    Ann

  • pem
    pem Member Posts: 81 Member
    #5
    AZANNIE said:

    Sandysp

    Thanks! Yes, I'll be knocked out. I was surprised about biopsy. I talked to oncologist about it and he said it was routine. The colorectal dr didn't seem concerned. Just wants to make sure cancer is gone. At least he can get a good look at everything. Others on this site have mentioned they have had biopsies post treatment. Now the worrying begins again... So actually it will be EUA with dilation and biopsy. I've had an EUA and dilation a couple months after treatment ended.

    Ann

    AZANNIE

    Hello, glad your tests went well.  I have questions regarding your dialation and EUA.  first what is an EUA and second , did you get the dialation due to having narrow stools?  Also did you have incontinanunce after it was done And was there any pain?  That's something my dr wants to do but I'm scared about having incontinanunce after .  Also because my anal opening is slanted due to a botch apeziauotomy during delivery and I have an anal fissure.  Scared both those are gonna creat more problems.  I go to washroom everyday with next to little pain but for some reason dr wants to do it.  I also have scar tissue right at opening due to the removal of tumour.   Just wondering how yours turned out.  God bless you.  Pem

     

     

  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #6
    pem said:

    AZANNIE

    Hello, glad your tests went well.  I have questions regarding your dialation and EUA.  first what is an EUA and second , did you get the dialation due to having narrow stools?  Also did you have incontinanunce after it was done And was there any pain?  That's something my dr wants to do but I'm scared about having incontinanunce after .  Also because my anal opening is slanted due to a botch apeziauotomy during delivery and I have an anal fissure.  Scared both those are gonna creat more problems.  I go to washroom everyday with next to little pain but for some reason dr wants to do it.  I also have scar tissue right at opening due to the removal of tumour.   Just wondering how yours turned out.  God bless you.  Pem

     

     

    pen

    EUA is an exam under anesthesia. The dilation was because I had difficulty getting bms out of the chute. This was done a couple of months after treatment was completed. I had minor discomfort and used sitz bath - no incontinence. I had a colonoscopy last year and also dilation. Radiation shrinks the opening and it's called stricture.  Did your dr tell you why he wanted to do dilation since you're not having problems?  Best wishes to you!

    Ann

  • pem
    pem Member Posts: 81 Member
    #7
    AZANNIE said:

    pen

    EUA is an exam under anesthesia. The dilation was because I had difficulty getting bms out of the chute. This was done a couple of months after treatment was completed. I had minor discomfort and used sitz bath - no incontinence. I had a colonoscopy last year and also dilation. Radiation shrinks the opening and it's called stricture.  Did your dr tell you why he wanted to do dilation since you're not having problems?  Best wishes to you!

    Ann

    AZANNIE

    thanks for responding so quickly.  i should have mentioned it also that my bms are only as thick as my thumb.  however i still go everyday though. it us usually really soft too.  i thought when your anal is shrunk from radiation it was called stenosis?  maybe i have something different.  i do know that its more my opening that is tight because when i do go it feels like its going to be huge but when it squeezes out its thin.  im pretty sure its just the opening due to the scar tissue and of course the radiation.  dr said when he did a scope that all looked good in the anal canal, no signs of radiation damage.  did you have scar tissue around anus opening?   god bless!  pem

  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #8
    AZANNIE said:

    Sandysp

    Thanks! Yes, I'll be knocked out. I was surprised about biopsy. I talked to oncologist about it and he said it was routine. The colorectal dr didn't seem concerned. Just wants to make sure cancer is gone. At least he can get a good look at everything. Others on this site have mentioned they have had biopsies post treatment. Now the worrying begins again... So actually it will be EUA with dilation and biopsy. I've had an EUA and dilation a couple months after treatment ended.

    Ann

    Same time table

    We are on about the same time table, receiving our treatments just a month or so apart. It seems you are having more after radiation issues than I have had. I guess that's just the luck of the draw. And I guess you don't have Lymphedema. 

    I am sorry you are having all this trouble.  You had a lot of radiation scarring and had trouble with your colonoscopy too, didn't you?

    I don't seem to have that, just damage to the lymph system, which was damaged, apparently from birth anyway, due to the immune deficiency I found out I always had and am now getting treatment for.

    Good luck. I am rooting for an easy time for you and negative pathology reports. You've been through enough already!

    All the best,

    Sandy

  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #9
    pem said:

    AZANNIE

    thanks for responding so quickly.  i should have mentioned it also that my bms are only as thick as my thumb.  however i still go everyday though. it us usually really soft too.  i thought when your anal is shrunk from radiation it was called stenosis?  maybe i have something different.  i do know that its more my opening that is tight because when i do go it feels like its going to be huge but when it squeezes out its thin.  im pretty sure its just the opening due to the scar tissue and of course the radiation.  dr said when he did a scope that all looked good in the anal canal, no signs of radiation damage.  did you have scar tissue around anus opening?   god bless!  pem

    pem

    I've heard it referred to stenosis too. Yes, radiation did a number on the opening. I know what you mean about the size of bms and sometimes it takes awhile to expel. I'm going to ask about scar tissue. As fried as I was I'm sure there is scar tissue. I'm 3 years post treatment.

    Ann

  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #10
    sandysp said:

    Same time table

    We are on about the same time table, receiving our treatments just a month or so apart. It seems you are having more after radiation issues than I have had. I guess that's just the luck of the draw. And I guess you don't have Lymphedema. 

    I am sorry you are having all this trouble.  You had a lot of radiation scarring and had trouble with your colonoscopy too, didn't you?

    I don't seem to have that, just damage to the lymph system, which was damaged, apparently from birth anyway, due to the immune deficiency I found out I always had and am now getting treatment for.

    Good luck. I am rooting for an easy time for you and negative pathology reports. You've been through enough already!

    All the best,

    Sandy

    Sandy

    Yes, we're about same time table. Actually I'm doing pretty good. Didn't have any problems with colonoscopy last year - just that I now have diverticulous but hasn't bothered me. Bathroom times are longer - the new normal, but I'm still here. No lymphedema. Sorry you're dealing with it. Treatment affects everyone differently. I have radiation proctitis, too. Thanks for your good wishes. The best to you.

    Ann

  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    #11
    AZANNIE

    Glad to hear all is going well, good luck with the next step, sending good vibes for August !

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