Loose ends being tied.

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
edited March 2015 in Anal Cancer #1

Today is my 1 year diagnosis day, though I was ill for months before while brushing it off. What a roller coaster day that was.

MEDIPORT - Gone! I insisted that I have an anesthesiologist for the removal and what a huge difference! No pain, diaphoresis, or vaso-vagal effects at all. I still have steri-strips on and the site where the head of the device was is still painful and inflammed, but that will fade away, I hope.

SKIN - Although the skin of my upper inner thighs is darker than normal, it has been slooooowly fading. Maybe there's a bathing suit ahead for me after all.

WEIGHT - Due to the thrombocytopenia and the high doses of prednisone, I gained back most of what I lost during treatment. Bummer!

CONTINENCE - Still have some real urgency issues and a few incontinences. I pass a lot of inflammatory mucous, too. I have to be aware of every bathroom and not drive where there are no rest stops available. No improvement, really.

PAIN - Still here, still more than I had from the cancer itself. Each time it fades out, a 3 month scoping tears the fissures open again and each stool reminds me they are there. I plan to refuse the next 3 month scope and drag it out much longer. I still have to take Percoset at least once a week when it's particularly bad.

HAIR - Still curly-whirly! It's about 4" long now, but curls up to about 1-1/4" spirals. I've been told that chemo curls stay from 3 months to years afterwards. They've endured five months now. Thanks to a curly mentor and the naturallycurly.com forum, I'm learning how to take care of them and I'm no longer shocked whenever I look into a mirror.

.^_^.

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Hi Ouch!

    I'm glad to see your post, as I have been wondering how things were going for you.  Congrats on getting the port out!  For me, that was a real step forward in my recovery.  My skin in the upper thighs stayed dark for a long time, but has finally faded, except for a round area (approximately 1 1/2 inches around) on each inner thigh that remains darker than the surrounding skin.  I just assume that this is where the lymph nodes were nuked, but I'm not sure.  My skin is still tender in the anal area at 6.5 years out of treatment if I experience diarrhea or frequency of BM's and irritate the skin.  I still have the occasional "oops," but I think you'll see improvement with incontinence.  Just give yourself a little time.  Two years post-treatment was the real turning point for me.  That goes for the pain too, however, I did not have any fissures.  It took almost a year for my hair to look and feel normal again.  I'm glad you are enjoying your curls.  I didn't get those--my hair has always been straight as a board!

    Congrats on reaching the 1-year diagnosis mark.  All in all, I'd say you are doing great and may that continue!  Thanks for all you contribute to this site--your support is very much appreciated!

    Martha

  • jcruz
    jcruz Member Posts: 379 Member
    #3
    Ouch

    Thank you for posting your update.  Regarding your pain and the 3 month scoping.  Have they given you a reason for every 3 instead of every 6 months?  I thought the standard was 6 months.

    I had my curls for close to a year.  Sounds like you're enjoying them.  I had a hard time - never accepted them and was so happy when they were gone.

    Happy for you and happy to hear from you

    Janet

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