newly diagnosed squamous cell anal cancer

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  • pacificnw
    pacificnw Member Posts: 29 Member
    #62
    mp327

    Thanks for the boost. The more I wander around this site, the more I realize what an incredible person you are. You are always there for a kind word and a little boost in spirit. Thank you!

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #63
    pacificnw said:

    mp327

    Thanks for the boost. The more I wander around this site, the more I realize what an incredible person you are. You are always there for a kind word and a little boost in spirit. Thank you!

    pacificnw

    You are very sweet, thank you. I have every reason to believe that you are pretty incredible yourself and YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!  Hang in there!

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #64
    Pacificnw

    Hang in there. The good thing about the second round of chemo is that you are in the home stretch of treatment. I think I hit my low point emotionally around week 3 or 4- even though I was physically sicker later at the very end of treatment. It does get better.

  • maggiesco
    maggiesco Member Posts: 39 Member
    #65
    newly diagnosed

    hello. my name is maggie, i'm a "healthy" 47 year old female from southern california. i got a pathology diagnosis (from an anal tag biopsy) that it is: BASALOID SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, INVASIVE. (HPV related) this happended just a few days ago. i've already had my blood work, ct scan, and will meet with an oncologist in 4 days (and PAP SMEAR and PET SCAN soon too). of course i'm so afraid while trying to main positive and calm. my awesome husband and family and friends are my support system. my emotions come in waves and at this point i'm just trying to gather information and find out more about the diagnosis. 

    i've been reading and i'm confused about pathologly terminology for BASALOID SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, INVASIVE..? I just read from Stanford school of Medicine that "Basaloid squamous carcinoma" is an alternative/historical name for "Squamous carcinoma, of varying levels of differentiation, involving the anal canal".  Is anyone able to comment on this?

    Thank you, peace,

    Maggie

     

     

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited December 2017 #66
    maggiesco

    I'm sorry you have a reason to join this support group, but glad you have found us under the circumstances.  I'm sorry you have received a diagnosis of anal cancer.  However, the good news is the rate of successful treatment is very high for this type of cancer.  Most anal cancer is squamous cell and the standard treatment is approximately 6 weeks of radiation concurrent with two rounds of chemotherapy.  While it all sounds scary right now, I can assure you that many people, including myself, have gone through it and recovered with no sign of cancer.  I was treated in 2008, which makes me headed towards the 10-year survivor mark.  You will get through this.  I know you are anxious to learn about this type of cancer, so I would suggest that you register on the website below for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.  Once registered, you will have access to the latest treatment guidelines, which will help you understand this type of cancer and what lies ahead.  It may also prompt you to ask many questions of your doctor(s), which is a good thing.  Being informed is NOT a bad thing, so please register and check out this site. 

    https://www.nccn.org/default.aspx

    I hope you find the answer to your question about the terminology in the information on that website.  Squamous cell just describes the type of cancer cell--there are several different types of cancer cells.  You would need to ask your doctors about your cancer and what makes it "invasive."  Sometimes it can go into the vaginal wall.  Definitely ask your doctors what stage the cancer is.  I would also ask them how many cases of anal cancer they have seen/treated.

    I'm sure others on this site will chime in and welcome you.  I wish you all the very best and hope you'll keep us posted as you begin this jouney.  You'll get through it!

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #67
    Maggiesco

    Welcome to the site but sorry you have to be here. Martha above has given you excellent advice. Read all you can and educate yourself. Treatment is rough but doable. Keep us updated with how you are doing and what stage your cancer is. There is a lot of excellent information in these threads and you can always ask questions here. There are a lot of indignities that go along with this but we've all been there so don't hesitate to ask about what's bothering you.

  • pacificnw
    pacificnw Member Posts: 29 Member
    edited December 2017 #68
    Maggiesco

    I have to say you are in the best of hands. I remember the waiting, and just wanting to get started with treatment was the worst.

    This wonderful group has walked me through each step of the process. I am in week 4 and I do not hesitate to ask questions anytime. Connecting with people who know, firsthand, what you're dealing with is so reassuring.

  • maggiesco
    maggiesco Member Posts: 39 Member
    edited December 2017 #69
    thanks

    thanks for the responses, i can feel the support. :)  i started a new thread today. 

  • judithlee
    judithlee Member Posts: 1
    #70
    Hi all, so glad to have found this site. I was just diagnosed

    Hi all,

    I am so glad to have found this site.

    I have just been diagnosed with squamous anal cancer (with huge hemorrhoids added to the mixture (which I was already aware of.and may have delayed the diagnosis of cancer)

    My gastroenterologist feels we caught it early though and hopes that I just may need surgery to remove the mass. Unfortunately, the office of the oncology surgeon I was referred to is closed until Jan 9/18.

    So in the meanwhile, two questions:

    1, Do any of you know of anyone who just needed the surgery and not the follow-up cocktail of chemo/radiation?

    2. If hemorrhoids were also present were they removed at the same time as the cancer surgery.

    Thanks for any input.

    J

     

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    edited December 2017 #71
    Judithlee

    Most of us on this site have not had surgery if the cancer has not spread. Six weeks of radiation with two rounds of chemo is standard of care. If I were you I would call and get an appt with an oncologist (medical, not surgical) as soon as you can- of course keep appt with surgical oncologist too. You will need scans (CT, MRI, and/or PET) to help your team stage your cancer - they will check for spread to lymph nodes in groin or organs like lung and liver. Martha will probably answer this thread and put a link to the Natl Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. This cancer is rare enough that a lot of doctors haven't seen many or any cases. My GI doctor gave me the pathology results like it was a death sentence - he knew nothing about prognosis - which is actually great. 

     

  • maggiesco
    maggiesco Member Posts: 39 Member
    #72
    Calliope43 said:

    Itching

    I'm 43 and just finished my treatment Nov 15. (Mitomycin x2, Xeloda x 30 doses, radiation x 33) I will add that ITCHING (where you can't scratch) started on week 3 and on week 4 the pain during BM's hit its worse. The advise I got here was spot on. There were times that I couldn't make it 10 foot to the toilet so I bought some of the fancy depends. I'm a private person with regards to the bathroom so this cancer tried to break me down many of times. Stay strong and positive is the best advise I could give for the mental game. I worked full time unitl week 4 then went to half days for a few weeks. I still struggle with extreme shortness of breath with normal daily living but hoping that will change soon.

    calliope43

    hi. just found your story. and i'm 47 and will start treatment soon after news year. i'll be going through 6 weeks of radiation plus the chemo (just like you). any advice, products (i noted the fancy depends).. should i prepared for diarrhea? that is amazing that you worked full time until week 4. you didn't feel tired? i'm wondering if i should work at least until week 2?  my doctors advised that i don't work at all. 

    also, how are you feeling now? 

  • maggiesco
    maggiesco Member Posts: 39 Member
    edited December 2017 #73
    judithlee said:

    Hi all, so glad to have found this site. I was just diagnosed

    Hi all,

    I am so glad to have found this site.

    I have just been diagnosed with squamous anal cancer (with huge hemorrhoids added to the mixture (which I was already aware of.and may have delayed the diagnosis of cancer)

    My gastroenterologist feels we caught it early though and hopes that I just may need surgery to remove the mass. Unfortunately, the office of the oncology surgeon I was referred to is closed until Jan 9/18.

    So in the meanwhile, two questions:

    1, Do any of you know of anyone who just needed the surgery and not the follow-up cocktail of chemo/radiation?

    2. If hemorrhoids were also present were they removed at the same time as the cancer surgery.

    Thanks for any input.

    J

     

    judithlee

    mollymaude is correct. i too am newly diagnosed and i start my treatment soon after new years (chemo/radiation). i'm not sure about removal of hemorrhoids, but you shouldn't hesitate to ask your nurses or doctors. i'm sorry you are going through this, and i'm still wrapping my head around it, but the good news is that sqauamous cells react well to the combo of chemo/radiaion. hang in there!

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