3rd recurrence, tell me will be ok

Swood

I’m so sorry you have reason to be back on the site. I have no answers for you or experience with recurrence. I’m just so sorry after all your mom has been through now this. There are times when life is not fair and this seems like one of them. Please let us know how she is doing and what the team says.

swood9008....

Hi,

I'm so sorry your mom is dealing with all this and I know how emotionally exhausting this can be on top of all else! If I'm understanding correctly her original diagnosis was in 2015, then a local (same area) recurrance in 2017, and now (2019) a tumor on the vaginal wall. Treatment varies depending on location as well as the make-up of the cancer cell.

I was initially dx with anal cancer stage 3b in 2011. In 2012 dx with breast cancer. In 2015 anal cancer metastasis to my lung (so still the anal cancer cell but it had moved to my lung) and last fall in 2018 another anal cancer metastasis to a different area near the lung called the hilum. Each of my treatments were different yet some included parts of the same. While my dodctors were quite convinced that my most recent recurrance was anal cancer (in the hilum) I did request a biopsy to be sure. The treatment was radiation so may not have mattered but I wanted to know if it was anal, breast, or a 3rd primary cancer. 

I was scanned as follow-up last week and for now at least...no new areas of concern! Yay!! I feel great and surely pray that your mom will tackle this and be saying the same soon! I too have an ostomy as a result of my first treatment so we have that in common as well.

Its a vicious cycle, cancer and its treatment. When our immune system is run down we become even more susceptible to all sorts of things. My initial tumor in 2011 was not tested for HPV but the 2 lung area recurrances were and they were positive for such. This is a tricky virus and still being studied in depth.

In your moms case, I am curious if the doctor believes it to be anal cancer or a secondary cancer and what treatment is recommended. I think that many things are a factor in how fast and how well we recover and some of what works is unique to each person. You have every right to be positive and assume that your mom has health in her future so don't let your mind get the best of you with anger and worry. I am currently planning a fun family beach vacation later this summer, and I've had days when I couldn't plan on eating the next meal, and everything in between...I will plan also to keep you both in my prayers for healing.

Please keep us posted as you learn more and know that we will be here to get through this with you. 

katheryn

swood9008 said:

Hey ladies team called today,

Hey ladies team called today, appt with chief of Obgyn at Brigham and women’s tuesday, port weds. Biopsy later in the week. Discussion radiation seeds or implants next week. Want to hold off on May surgery 

swood9008....

Thank you for the update. Im glad that things are happening right away as the waiting game is never fun. I have no personal experience with the radiation seeds but have read some information regarding this method and the benefit of saving surrounding tissue from damage often caused by external radiation. 

Please let us know what you learn moving forward, and I will continue to keep you and your mom in my thoughts.

katheryn

swood9008

Thanks for the update.  It sounds like your mom is in very good hands and that things are getting into place very quickly, which is good.  I wish her all the very best and hope you'll keep us posted.

eihtak said:

swood9008....

Hi,

I'm so sorry your mom is dealing with all this and I know how emotionally exhausting this can be on top of all else! If I'm understanding correctly her original diagnosis was in 2015, then a local (same area) recurrance in 2017, and now (2019) a tumor on the vaginal wall. Treatment varies depending on location as well as the make-up of the cancer cell.

I was initially dx with anal cancer stage 3b in 2011. In 2012 dx with breast cancer. In 2015 anal cancer metastasis to my lung (so still the anal cancer cell but it had moved to my lung) and last fall in 2018 another anal cancer metastasis to a different area near the lung called the hilum. Each of my treatments were different yet some included parts of the same. While my dodctors were quite convinced that my most recent recurrance was anal cancer (in the hilum) I did request a biopsy to be sure. The treatment was radiation so may not have mattered but I wanted to know if it was anal, breast, or a 3rd primary cancer. 

I was scanned as follow-up last week and for now at least...no new areas of concern! Yay!! I feel great and surely pray that your mom will tackle this and be saying the same soon! I too have an ostomy as a result of my first treatment so we have that in common as well.

Its a vicious cycle, cancer and its treatment. When our immune system is run down we become even more susceptible to all sorts of things. My initial tumor in 2011 was not tested for HPV but the 2 lung area recurrances were and they were positive for such. This is a tricky virus and still being studied in depth.

In your moms case, I am curious if the doctor believes it to be anal cancer or a secondary cancer and what treatment is recommended. I think that many things are a factor in how fast and how well we recover and some of what works is unique to each person. You have every right to be positive and assume that your mom has health in her future so don't let your mind get the best of you with anger and worry. I am currently planning a fun family beach vacation later this summer, and I've had days when I couldn't plan on eating the next meal, and everything in between...I will plan also to keep you both in my prayers for healing.

Please keep us posted as you learn more and know that we will be here to get through this with you. 

katheryn

Anal Cancer SUCKS
AHello Everyone, I was first told that I had a cancer tumor in 2014, but was taking care of my mother and could not do anything about it. She passed away on 8/9/2016. I had a lot to take care of, like my breathing and being able to move. I have a lot of other health issues and thought of this as a speed bump. I had my blood work done in January 2017, and it came back positive for cancer markers, I underwent exams, colonoscopy's and biopsy to come back for Stage 4 Anal Cancer. I finished my treatment, aggressive chemo, which gave me cellulitis in both legs and made my heart stop. I underwent my intensive radiation and it was only supposed to burn some skin off. I ended up getting blisters on my ****, and around my testicles. and then I got to October and thought I was in the clear. Then it happened. The cramping, bloating,nausea, and vomiting, all came back with a vengeance. Oh!! but it brought friends, bleeding, diarrhea, constipation, and a smell straight from HellBoy!!! I have had constant bleeding , well every time I pass gas, or start cramping really bad. I have been told to take FIBER.. lol that was a joke,that just exasperated the problem. I have had to have blood transfusions for these issues, and I found out today that I may even be in Kidney failure.. So Yeah Cancer Sucks,and if it comes back, there is no way I would put myself through this again. I love life, and have fought to live through so many tragedies, and I have always succeeded, but I am so damn tired of fighting, and just want to rest now. You don't know until now that I was raped repeatedly in high school for two years, contracted AIDS from the monster who did it to me, I have had my appendix rupture and had paratinitis and went into septic shock. Spent 3 months in the hospital and given a year to live. I had the widow maker, 100 percent blockage LAD, I had another heart attack, 96 percent blockage and stint placement in both. I had a Double Bypass surgery, I had Renal Failure, and I also have Congestive Heart Failure Level 3, Chronic COPD , Neuropathy in both hands and feet, includes legs and arms. I have spasisity all over, arms and legs. I have also been blessed with having a small stroke that I didn't know about. I have to take Lasix for the swelling in my feet, legs, and pretty much every where in between. I have Sleep Apnea, and use a CPAP..
. am exhausted beyond belief some days..and the pain is unbearable.. and NOW THAT WE HAVE AN OPIOD CRISIS I CAN'T GET THE AMOUNT OF MEDICATIONS THAT i NEED. So what would you do... LOL the Television show..

swood9008

I am thinking positive thoughts that your Mom's cancer has been caught early and is treatable.  I had a reoccurrence and a metasis to the lung both treated with surgery.  No sign of cancer now but my oncologist wants a PET scan every three months.  He said we need to catch any metsis early and treat it.  I know a woman who had uterine cancer two years ago.  The same time I was diagnosed with anal cancer.  She was treated with the radioactive beads and she is doing very well.  We want to remain positive for those in early treatment but we also want everyone to know there are so many cancer treatments available these days for those with reoccurrence and metasis.  

swood9008 said:

Met with everyone yestwrday,

Met with everyone yestwrday, the plan is to start chemo next week week. 4days on 3 weeks off for 4 months possibly surgery after that. The tumor is in the vagina with a lymph node in pelvis that is “tough to get to” boggles my mind this day I’m age they can’t just remove that lymph node. feeling optimistic, mom needs to lose about 40 lbs for surgery total pelvic externarion with what surgeon said is A 50/50 curative chance. that pesky lymph node is what’s throwing some stuff ofd we will take it day by day 

Lymph node

After I finished my treatment, they were concerned that a lymph node hadn't responded to treatment. It was difficult to get to and near major blood vessels. Turned out it was actually my right ovary! I had read that it can sometimes happen that an ovary can masquerade as a lymph node. Hope this is the case for your Mom