Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Perianal Margin

Fran1
Fran1 Member Posts: 42
edited March 2016 in Anal Cancer #1

Hello Everyone, 

I am so happy I have found this forum. Last Thursday, I was diagnosed with SCC in the anal margin, moderately differentiated. No HPV was found. The tumor size is a 4 mm in thickness. The suture tagged deep margin is negative for tumor involvement. I still have cauterized tumor cells present at the radial margin. The doctor took a biopsy, although, not knowing what the lesion was in the first place, did not realize to cut more in the surrounding area. My doctor performed a complete colonoscopy, no cancer found. 

Next week, I will have tests done to see, if the SCC has spread. MRI, CT scan, PET Scan. Are there any other tests that I should ask my doctor to set-up for me? I did see a dermatologist, no cancer of any kind on my skin. 

Any information given, will be greatly appreciated. 

Thank you!! 


Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Fran1

    I'm sorry that a diagnosis of anal cancer has brought you here.  It sounds like your doctors are being very thorough with the scans to accurately assess your situation.  The only tests I got after my cancer was confirmed by biopsy were a PET scan for staging and to look for any other organ involvement and, of course, a ton of lab work. 

    This treatment is very effective, so you have every reason to be hopeful.  I would encourage you to register on the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network at www.NCCN.org.  Once registered, you will have access to the most up-to-date protocol for diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up of anal cancer.  I think this will answer a lot of questions you may have as you get further into this.  You will be well-informed, which will work in your favor.

    I wish you all the very best as you begin this journey.  We are here to help you and you'll find that in some cases, the information you get from fellow survivors is much more helpful than what you get from the doctors.  Please ask us any questions you might have and we'll do our best to answer!  Please keep us posted.

    Martha

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #3
    Fran1.....

    Hi, I just wanted to welcome you to our "family"..... and like all families, we end up in them whether we want to or not! I am glad you have found us as I did not have access to this forum when initially dx over 5 years ago and would have greatly welcomed the support and advice.

    It sounds like you have the necessary preliminary tests scheduled and I will assume that you have had blood work done as well.  My blood work did indicate the need for an iron supplement as my red blood count was dangerously low prior to beginning treatment. Along with taking 2 ferrous sulfate a day I was also given an iron infusion.

    The first couple weeks are a whirlwind of test scheduling and crazy thoughts if I remember correctly, but once in a treatment routine I'm sure you'll have more questions or concerns. Please do not hesitate to ask as nothing is off limits here and usually there is someone else with the same situation.

    Keep us posted as you move forward, and I will have you in my thoughts and prayers for a problem free journey!

    katheryn

  • Fran1
    Fran1 Member Posts: 42
    #4
    eihtak said:

    Fran1.....

    Hi, I just wanted to welcome you to our "family"..... and like all families, we end up in them whether we want to or not! I am glad you have found us as I did not have access to this forum when initially dx over 5 years ago and would have greatly welcomed the support and advice.

    It sounds like you have the necessary preliminary tests scheduled and I will assume that you have had blood work done as well.  My blood work did indicate the need for an iron supplement as my red blood count was dangerously low prior to beginning treatment. Along with taking 2 ferrous sulfate a day I was also given an iron infusion.

    The first couple weeks are a whirlwind of test scheduling and crazy thoughts if I remember correctly, but once in a treatment routine I'm sure you'll have more questions or concerns. Please do not hesitate to ask as nothing is off limits here and usually there is someone else with the same situation.

    Keep us posted as you move forward, and I will have you in my thoughts and prayers for a problem free journey!

    katheryn

    Katheryn

    Thank you for replying to my message. It really does help having a forum of people going through the same illness.  I have never heard of anal cancer before. So, I was very surprised when I was diagnosed with SCC. 

    Thank you so much for the prayers. I do hope you have been healed and have recovered from SCC. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

  • Fran1
    Fran1 Member Posts: 42
    #5
    mp327 said:

    Fran1

    I'm sorry that a diagnosis of anal cancer has brought you here.  It sounds like your doctors are being very thorough with the scans to accurately assess your situation.  The only tests I got after my cancer was confirmed by biopsy were a PET scan for staging and to look for any other organ involvement and, of course, a ton of lab work. 

    This treatment is very effective, so you have every reason to be hopeful.  I would encourage you to register on the website for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network at www.NCCN.org.  Once registered, you will have access to the most up-to-date protocol for diagnosis, staging, treatment and follow-up of anal cancer.  I think this will answer a lot of questions you may have as you get further into this.  You will be well-informed, which will work in your favor.

    I wish you all the very best as you begin this journey.  We are here to help you and you'll find that in some cases, the information you get from fellow survivors is much more helpful than what you get from the doctors.  Please ask us any questions you might have and we'll do our best to answer!  Please keep us posted.

    Martha

    Martha

    Thank you very much for replying to my message. I am very thankful for everyone on this forum. It's amazing how well I am handling this situation. I have to keep the Faith and, realize I can get through this situation. I have read this cancer is curable, if caught early. I am also grateful there is no SCC on my outer skin. if I would of went to the doctor right when my Perianal skin came off, I would not be in this situation. I thought it was an anal fissure, so I kept trying to heal it. How crazy is that? So, now, I am going to tell people, if anything in the anal  area changes, do not try to heal yourself or look on the Internet to find out what it might be. Do not walk to the doctor, but, run. I didn't realize a person could get cancer in the anal area. 

    I will make sure to sign-up at NCCN.org

    So, now, here I am, from my own doing. 

    Thank you for listening, it's really appreciated. I hope your are doing well and have healed from having SCC. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #6
    Fran1 said:

    Martha

    Thank you very much for replying to my message. I am very thankful for everyone on this forum. It's amazing how well I am handling this situation. I have to keep the Faith and, realize I can get through this situation. I have read this cancer is curable, if caught early. I am also grateful there is no SCC on my outer skin. if I would of went to the doctor right when my Perianal skin came off, I would not be in this situation. I thought it was an anal fissure, so I kept trying to heal it. How crazy is that? So, now, I am going to tell people, if anything in the anal  area changes, do not try to heal yourself or look on the Internet to find out what it might be. Do not walk to the doctor, but, run. I didn't realize a person could get cancer in the anal area. 

    I will make sure to sign-up at NCCN.org

    So, now, here I am, from my own doing. 

    Thank you for listening, it's really appreciated. I hope your are doing well and have healed from having SCC. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

    Fran

    Thank you, I am doing well.  I hope you will find the NCCN guidelines helpful.

    As for this being your "own doing," I hope you won't blame yourself.  I think it's human nature to dismiss symptoms.  None of us ever wants to believe we could have something seriously wrong with us. 

    You will get through this and I hope you'll let us virtually hold your hand as you take this journey.

    Martha

  • Fran1
    Fran1 Member Posts: 42
    #7
    mp327 said:

    Fran

    Thank you, I am doing well.  I hope you will find the NCCN guidelines helpful.

    As for this being your "own doing," I hope you won't blame yourself.  I think it's human nature to dismiss symptoms.  None of us ever wants to believe we could have something seriously wrong with us. 

    You will get through this and I hope you'll let us virtually hold your hand as you take this journey.

    Martha

    Martha

    Hi Martha, 

    Thank you for replying. I did at first, blame myself, although, I am no longer doing so, because, to continue blaming myself, will not help my recovery. I need to stay positive, so my body can heal. 

    Next Wednesday, I will have all the tests done for invasion of the body. On Friday, I will find out the results. 

    Thank you so much for your kindness. I have read a lot about you on the forum. All good, by the way. 

    You're an Angel!! 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #8
    Fran1 said:

    Martha

    Hi Martha, 

    Thank you for replying. I did at first, blame myself, although, I am no longer doing so, because, to continue blaming myself, will not help my recovery. I need to stay positive, so my body can heal. 

    Next Wednesday, I will have all the tests done for invasion of the body. On Friday, I will find out the results. 

    Thank you so much for your kindness. I have read a lot about you on the forum. All good, by the way. 

    You're an Angel!! 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

    Fran

    I will be thinking of you on Friday and hope you get answers to all of your questions.  Your doctors can then form up your treatment plan and you will be on your way to getting back to good health.  Please keep us posted and take care--it's all going to be okay!

    Martha

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #9
    Fran1 said:

    Katheryn

    Thank you for replying to my message. It really does help having a forum of people going through the same illness.  I have never heard of anal cancer before. So, I was very surprised when I was diagnosed with SCC. 

    Thank you so much for the prayers. I do hope you have been healed and have recovered from SCC. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

    I had a perianal scc of the

    I had a perianal scc of the anal margin two years ago - I was tild less than 2 cm in size. 4 mm seems very small.  Mine was excised which was very uncomfortable to say the least but never spread any further.

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #10
    Fran1 said:

    Katheryn

    Thank you for replying to my message. It really does help having a forum of people going through the same illness.  I have never heard of anal cancer before. So, I was very surprised when I was diagnosed with SCC. 

    Thank you so much for the prayers. I do hope you have been healed and have recovered from SCC. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

    I had a perianal scc of the

    I had a perianal scc of the anal margin two years ago - I was tild less than 2 cm in size. 4 mm seems very small.  Mine was excised which was very uncomfortable to say the least but never spread any further.

  • Fran1
    Fran1 Member Posts: 42
    #11
    oncology12345 said:

    I had a perianal scc of the

    I had a perianal scc of the anal margin two years ago - I was tild less than 2 cm in size. 4 mm seems very small.  Mine was excised which was very uncomfortable to say the least but never spread any further.

    Oncology12345

    Hello, 

    Thank you for replying. You stated "I had SCC in Perianal area", was yours invasive SCC or non-invasive? The SCC, I have is invasive. My hope is since the tumor size is quite small, the invasive SCC has not spread. Today, I had all the tests, PET, CT, chest. I thought my appt was tomorrow, although, it was today. I'm glad it's over, now, I just wait for the results. If the SCC has not spread, the issue, I will have, the Surgeon that performed the biopsy did not take out some the healthy skin, so now, I still have SCC on the radial margins. Ugh!! So, the radial margins will have to be dealt with to heal the SCC. 

    I hope all is going well for you and, good health is yours, abundantly. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

  • Fran1
    Fran1 Member Posts: 42
    #12
    oncology12345 said:

    I had a perianal scc of the

    I had a perianal scc of the anal margin two years ago - I was tild less than 2 cm in size. 4 mm seems very small.  Mine was excised which was very uncomfortable to say the least but never spread any further.

    Oncology12345

    Hello, 

    If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take for your biopsy to heal? I had the biopsy two weeks ago. Going on the third week. I know what you're saying about uncomfortable. The first two weeks, I could not sit, I laid down on my side most of the time. I never thought about the biopsy being so uncomfortable. Also, my biopsy is an open wound, healing by itself, no stitches.

    Any sugesstions for healing will be appreciated. This is what I have been doing, so far. I sit on a warm to hot Sitz bath w/epson salt several times a day.  I also run hot water on the biopsy in the shower. I have also been drinking pink Himalayan salt, because it contains 94 minerals and a natural antibiotic and, take daily vitamins.

    Thank you in advance for the suggestions. 

    Sincerely,

    Fran

     

  • JJV69
    JJV69 Member Posts: 2
    #13
    Fran1 said:

    Oncology12345

    Hello, 

    If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take for your biopsy to heal? I had the biopsy two weeks ago. Going on the third week. I know what you're saying about uncomfortable. The first two weeks, I could not sit, I laid down on my side most of the time. I never thought about the biopsy being so uncomfortable. Also, my biopsy is an open wound, healing by itself, no stitches.

    Any sugesstions for healing will be appreciated. This is what I have been doing, so far. I sit on a warm to hot Sitz bath w/epson salt several times a day.  I also run hot water on the biopsy in the shower. I have also been drinking pink Himalayan salt, because it contains 94 minerals and a natural antibiotic and, take daily vitamins.

    Thank you in advance for the suggestions. 

    Sincerely,

    Fran

     

    healing from biopsy

    I had my biopsy on 3/8 and in the last 2-3 days have stopped feeling the discomfort. Are you still experiencing pain?  I found soaking with warm water a few times a day was the best remedy.

  • Fran1
    Fran1 Member Posts: 42
    #14
    JJV69 said:

    healing from biopsy

    I had my biopsy on 3/8 and in the last 2-3 days have stopped feeling the discomfort. Are you still experiencing pain?  I found soaking with warm water a few times a day was the best remedy.

    JJV69

    Thank you for responding. I am now in my third week. I now have little to no pain With the biopsy. I have been soaking the wound with a Himalayan pink salt sitz bath. 

    I hope you're recovering well and, abundant health is yours for the keeping. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

     

     

  • oncology12345
    oncology12345 Member Posts: 41
    #15
    Fran1 said:

    JJV69

    Thank you for responding. I am now in my third week. I now have little to no pain With the biopsy. I have been soaking the wound with a Himalayan pink salt sitz bath. 

    I hope you're recovering well and, abundant health is yours for the keeping. 

    Sincerely, 

    Fran

     

     

    When I had the growth excised

    When I had the growth excised it was very painful and the only cure I found was to soak in a warm bath. The doctor said  the growth was suspicious for microscopic spread and since then I've had a few biopsies there with thank goodness no evidence of abnormality. The last biopsy I had was a punch biopsy and was very painful - more painful than the others and bled afterwards for 2/3 days. Again my only cure was the bath. I also find a hot water jar helped greatly. I am hopeful that that's the end of it.  Best wishes to all those suffering with this disease.

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