Starting Treatment Soon

Kim,  I am glad you found this group. Sorry you have been diagnosed. I did not have alot of hair loss. Just a little thinning. 

So sorry that you have gotten a diagnosis of anal cancer and also sorry to hear that your mother had the same type of cancer.  I was treated in 2008 for anal cancer and, while I have experienced a few long-term side effects, they are very manageable.  I will say honestly that they have not really had much impact on my quality of life.  As for hair loss during treatment, I lost about a third of my hair.  It all grew back, which took awhile, and it may be slightly thinner than it was before.  That was my experience, however, many people do not have any hair loss, so perhaps you will be fortunate too.  I would focus primarily on learning more about the side effects from this treatment that will impact you during treatment because you have to jump that hurdle first, then worry about any long-term issues.  I wish you all the best as you begin this journey.  You will get through it!

Kim All my hair has grown back. I hope your treatment goes smoothly. This site is wonderful.  Greet place for information and other people that have gone through this

I had radiotherapy everyday for 6 weeks, with chemo for the first and last week, and all my scans have been clear since then. That was in 2016. It was manageable, I didn't lose my hair, a little came out but I have thick hair anyway so it wasn't noticeable at all. The chemo made me a bit sick, especially the first week, so take lots of anti-sickness medication. I lost my appetite, but could eat poached eggs on toast, every day! The radiotherapy really burns away at your bottom, so get loads of ointment etc from the hospital, but this will heal. The longer lasting effects I've found are having unreliable bowels, I take Loperamide to help with this, and I also have aches and pains in my pelvic region, hips and legs, but it's not too bad, and I'm hoping it'll get better in time. Do try to get plenty of rest, the fatigue is awful, never experienced fatigue like it. But, I'm grateful to still be alive, and I'm sending you warm wishes and I do hope the treatment goes well for you. By the way, I'm in the UK, so your treatment might be a bit different. Best of luck to you anyway

Started treatment, chemo and radiation in October, 2017.  Within 3 weeks, I noticed the hair loss; first from my head.  Hair was everywhere, in the shower, on my bed pillows and on the back of the couch!  Finally I called in my BFF/hair stylist to shave my head.  Luckily I didn't look too bad being bald but I did buy a few wigs.  I found that I was cold too so I bought a few cute caps to keep my head warm.  The hair started to grow back within 4 weeks but not curly (as some claim that it should have), straight as an arrow and WHITE.  Yes white.  Now I am 60 years old but I didn't expect white.  I have been told that it looks regal, so I'll take it.  Of course, all the pubic hairs and thigh hairs fell out but the hair on my lower legs looked like a forest.  I wasn't allowed to shave because if I cut myself I could bleed to death!  Also, my eyebrows grew bushy but my eyelashes got thin.....explain that one?  The American Cancer Society as the Florida Hospital, Flagler, offered me a free wig and several free caps!  My husband thoroughly enjoyed me trying on the wigs!  Being bald for a few weeks isn't as bad as you may think, as a matter of fact, you should rock it!

I have recently been diagnosed with rectal cancer.  They say it is real low in rectum.  Surgeon says with removal there will not be nothing left to connect to. Colosomy will be needed.  They have decided that it would be best to do chemo and radiation first to shrink it.  I am having a port put in, so they can put a pump on me for chemo. Will have radiation at same time.  Any advice will be deeply appreciated.  Thanks

Welcome to the group, sorry you have to be here. Are you getting 6 weeks of daily radiation with two rounds of chemo? MitomycinC and 5florouracil? That's the basic regimen many of us have gone through. Like the post above rectal and anal cancer are different cell types so it's best for you to find out which it is. Anal cancer is made up of squamous cells. Either way there are people on this site who will do their best to help you and support you- but if you find your cancer is rectal not anal the colorectal site might help you as well.