Need some reassurance

swood9008
swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

My mom was diagnosed with stage 2 Anal cancer in January of 2015 and  treated with chemo and radiation. she's been ned since June 2015. She went for a checkup last week and her radiologist was concerned about a spot im the same area,but said could be scar tissue  and told her to follow up with her surgeon. She did and he said the spot didn't look good. The surgeon briefly said if cancer surgery would be necessary and a colostomy bag. She said she has felt fine, she had a full checkup in August (cat scan, bone scan, exam) and all was good. She goes for biopsy tomorrow 

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    swood9008

    I'm sorry to hear this.  Scar tissue is quite common after this treatment, so I hope this is what this spot turns out to be and nothing more.  Please let us know the results.  I will be thinking all good thoughts for your mom.

    Martha

  • swood9008
    swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
    #3
    Martha you have no idea how

    Martha you have no idea how relived I was to see your comment come up, a little sigh of reliefe ❤️. you were so helpful, informative and comforting my first days on here. 

  • swood9008
    swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
    #4
    Hope you are well!

    Hope you are well!

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited March 2017 #5
    swood9008 said:

    Martha you have no idea how

    Martha you have no idea how relived I was to see your comment come up, a little sigh of reliefe ❤️. you were so helpful, informative and comforting my first days on here. 

    swood9008

    You are so kind.  Thank you!  And to answer your question below, I am doing well.  Tomorrow I will be 8 1/2 years out of treatment.  Thank you for asking!

    Martha

  • swood9008
    swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
    #6
    Unfortunately biospy was

    Unfortunately biospy was positive, no detail yet but said was aggressive about the size of a walnut. Mom is super optimistic that surgery will fix her up even if that means a colostomy bag. 

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited March 2017 #7
    swood9008

    I am so sorry to hear this.  I was so hoping that the news would be better.  I'm glad your mom has a great attitude about what might lie ahead.  I'm sure if she has APR surgery with a colostomy, she will handle it like a champ.  Please keep us posted on what happens next for her.  May God bless and you too.

    Martha

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #8
    Swood

    Wow, your mom sounds amazing. The idea of APR and colostomy sounds daunting but she is taking it in stride. I'm really sorry the spot wasn't scar tissue. I know you will be with your mom every step of the way. Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you and your mom.

  • swood9008
    swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
    edited March 2017 #9
    She almost feels better about

    She almost feels better about the apr she feels the cancer will really be gone, with radiation it was a waiting game. thank you so much. i don't know what I would do without this site. The surgeon did mention he doesn't think it's the same kind (squamous cell) not sure if you have any input on that?

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    edited March 2017 #10
    swood9008 said:

    She almost feels better about

    She almost feels better about the apr she feels the cancer will really be gone, with radiation it was a waiting game. thank you so much. i don't know what I would do without this site. The surgeon did mention he doesn't think it's the same kind (squamous cell) not sure if you have any input on that?

    swood9008......

    Hi,

    I am sorry to hear that your mom has this new challenge to face. Her positive attitude will work wonders for her as she moves forward! I was dx with Stage 3b anal cancer in 2011 and had ostomy surgery at that time. The initial thought was that my ostomy could be reversed about 6 months after treatment, but then due to radiation damage the potential for a successful reversal was too risky, so it is permanent. Many people don't realize that there are several different ways to perform this surgery, yet when no intention of reversal, APR is usually the norm. The basic difference is that I still have my anus and rectum, they are just "out of commission" so to speak.

    If your mom does need the APR surgery, expect a period of adjustment and healing, but we will all be here for both you and her throughout. It is not the way for all, but be encouraged to know that for many, myself included, life with "a bag" as people say, has had little negative effect on my life at all. Once into a regular routine, it becomes a natural part of grooming. I am physically active, travel, and enjoy life chasing after my energetic grandchildren!

    I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers as she moves forward, please keep us posted.

    katheryn

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited March 2017 #11
    swood9008 said:

    She almost feels better about

    She almost feels better about the apr she feels the cancer will really be gone, with radiation it was a waiting game. thank you so much. i don't know what I would do without this site. The surgeon did mention he doesn't think it's the same kind (squamous cell) not sure if you have any input on that?

    swood9008

    That is strange that your mom's surgeon feels that the cancer cells are of a different type than the anal cancer.  Anal cancer is typically squamous cell, but in a small percentage of people, adenocarcinoma is found instead.  However, adenocarcinoma anal cancer typically involves only the glands that surround the anal canal and not the anal canal itself.  If you get more information about this from her doctor, please share when you can.

  • swood9008
    swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
    edited March 2017 #12
    Ok thabknyou, I believe it

    Ok thabknyou, I believe it was squamoud the first time. I'm having a little panic attack doing research and reading about anorectal malanoma. I will keep you posted 

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited March 2017 #13
    swood9008 said:

    Ok thabknyou, I believe it

    Ok thabknyou, I believe it was squamoud the first time. I'm having a little panic attack doing research and reading about anorectal malanoma. I will keep you posted 

    swood9008

    Oh yes, melanoma is another one that can strike the area, but very rare.  I didn't even think about that one.  Thanks for keeping us updated.  Best wishes to your mom and you!

    Martha

  • tanda
    tanda Member Posts: 174 Member
    edited March 2017 #14
    swood9008 said:

    She almost feels better about

    She almost feels better about the apr she feels the cancer will really be gone, with radiation it was a waiting game. thank you so much. i don't know what I would do without this site. The surgeon did mention he doesn't think it's the same kind (squamous cell) not sure if you have any input on that?

    swood9008

    If the confusion persists, it might be helpful to get a pathology slide review from another institution. This is a simple procedure....the path slides get sent to a large center or one of the NCI cancer centers and they  send back a detailled report. The patient does not go with the slides.

    Some breast cancers can change from hormone negative to hormone positive over time, but they are still breast tissue.

  • swood9008
    swood9008 Member Posts: 116 Member
    #15
    Just hoping whatever kind,

    Just hoping whatever kind, its not anywhere else. she had all her tests done in August and they were clean so that's a positive 

Discussion Boards