Any tips on how to get through the chemoradiation 28 days deal?

Welcome to this site, however, I'm sorry a diagnosis of anal cancer has brought you here.  I'm glad to hear that you are beginning treatment so soon after your diagnosis and it's great that you have found this group.  The support will be most helpful and the members here are always happy to share advice and tips on getting through treatment.  I did not have the benefit of this group back in 2008 when I had treatment, but I survived and 9 years later, I'm still around and doing well!  You have every reason to be hopeful that your treatment will be successful, so be hopeful!

You mentioned getting a list of side effects from your doctor.  Does that list also give suggestions for dealing with those side effects?  Which ones do you have questions about.  Please ask here and we'll give you some feedback.  Not everyone experiences the same side effects, but it's likely that someone here has experienced one or more of the ones that might affect you, so please speak up!  We are here to help you!

I suggest becoming informed and here are a couple of links to websites for you to check out to learn more about this disease, the treatment, follow-up, etc.  Please check them out.

https://www.analcancerfoundation.org/

http://www.analcancerhelp.info/

You will get through this, you will!  Let us know how we can help you.  Ask questions and we will do our best to answer.  I wish you all the very best in this journey.  You can do this!

I agree with MP327 you are fortunate to start your treatments so soon after being diagnosed, I had to wait a few months to start mine and all it did was fill me with more anxiety, but I faired pretty well through them, the only side affect I had was mouth sores and from what I heard is pretty common, but gargling with baking soda and salt brings much relief and heals them quickly.  Radiation was not to bad except towards the very end, but managable.  I am 7 mos. out from treatment stage 3B with lymph node involment and so far doing well, so sure you will do well too.  The anxiety is quite normal, although no fun but everyone here is super supportive and encouraging.  They have saved me many a time with my worries.  All my best to you and I have faith you will get through it.  Were here for you!

Im very sorry to hear that you have the same thing I had- Stage 2 anal cancer.  Here's what I learned and what worked for me : Ask about/insist on using a dialator to try and protect your vagina from stenosis if you can tolerate it.  It helped me alot. Clean yourself with a spray bottle with saline in it and this will also help you later on when urination can burn.  The PH of water is too harsh on your skin.  Use aquahphor as soon as you are done with radiation. As burns progress, I made a 50/50 mix of it with lidacaine cream. My doctor said that lidacaine creme by itself was rather drying.  I used to carry a bag with gloves and as soon as radiation was over the ointment went on so I could drive myself home.  I also wore loose long skirts because I found them comfortable.  I also used mugard to prevent mouth sores and it worked much better than magic mouthwash when it was time for chemo.  Everybody is different but this is what helped me as I had to do this mostly by myself and only relying on others when I absolutely needed them.  Crying is very normal.  I found it best to get it out of the way in the beginning and then never look back, keep moving forward.  Again everybodyis different.  For me it took too much energy to cry and I needed every ounce of it to stay strong and get through this.  And if you havent- go to the websites and the links and follow the NCCN protocol.  Anal cancer is rare and many people are not familiar with its treatment.  As my surgeon told me, the good news is it is very curable, and the bad news is it is painful.  I'm 2 years out and it appears to be gone. Instead I have to deal with massive heart attack problems and the latest is a blood clot in my left ventricle which almost had me in tears last night fearing a stroke until I found out it isnt that big of a deal except I was scheduled to have my chemo port out tomorrow and now I have to reschedule it for the second time!  I will prevail and it will come out as soon as I get the approval! Stay Strong and dont give up!

A couple more things that helped with the radiation burns.  I walked around the house bottomless for a couple of weeks then I wore boxer shorts.  I still wear boxer shorts around the house because they are so comfortable.  I also took sitz baths with Epsom Salt and baking soda.