And the oncology and radiation oncology verdict IS.....
I saw the oncologist and radiation oncologist today. They said all the mentions of lymph nodes on the CT scan were insignificant "because it was read by Betsey". If anyone else read the films, the report would have been only 1/3 as long .^_^.
[Drum roll please!]
The cancer is gone!
Comments
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Congrats!!!
So happy for you!
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Living, learning.....Missy3 said:OMG!!!!!!!!That is so
OMG!!!!!!!!
That is so awesome
I am so happy for you!!!!!
Of course, inside, I keep thinking they have missed something, but that's probably a natural inclination after having been treated for cancer. >_<
My radiation oncologist told me today that I was not stage 2 as the oncologist told me (well, duh!), but T2 N1 = stage 3A. Because the initial PET scan noted some fairly innocent bilateral inguinal nodes, but suggested that they needed to be further examined in view of my anal cancer diagnosis, he treated them, too. The original tumor in my posterior anal canal was the only thing that was ever biopsied.
The rad-onc is a big, jolly, teddy bear of a guy who wears football jerseys and sneakers in all colors of the rainbow.
He sat me down one day to tell me, "Stop feeling guilty about what happened in the past; you must stop being....what's the word I'm looking for?"
"A s l u t?" I said helpfully. (I was in a really painful, frustrating, negative mood.)
"No!" he growled, "Stop being perseverate."
He went on to say that although anal cancer is fairly rare right now, he anticipates it reaching a tipping point in a few years where it will gain much greater momentum.
So, not only did I get my thinking reoriented s l u t-wise, I learned a new word!
[Funny that the forum won't let me call myself a name without disguising it!]
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OuchOuch_Ouch_Ouch said:Living, learning.....
Of course, inside, I keep thinking they have missed something, but that's probably a natural inclination after having been treated for cancer. >_<
My radiation oncologist told me today that I was not stage 2 as the oncologist told me (well, duh!), but T2 N1 = stage 3A. Because the initial PET scan noted some fairly innocent bilateral inguinal nodes, but suggested that they needed to be further examined in view of my anal cancer diagnosis, he treated them, too. The original tumor in my posterior anal canal was the only thing that was ever biopsied.
The rad-onc is a big, jolly, teddy bear of a guy who wears football jerseys and sneakers in all colors of the rainbow.
He sat me down one day to tell me, "Stop feeling guilty about what happened in the past; you must stop being....what's the word I'm looking for?"
"A s l u t?" I said helpfully. (I was in a really painful, frustrating, negative mood.)
"No!" he growled, "Stop being perseverate."
He went on to say that although anal cancer is fairly rare right now, he anticipates it reaching a tipping point in a few years where it will gain much greater momentum.
So, not only did I get my thinking reoriented s l u t-wise, I learned a new word!
[Funny that the forum won't let me call myself a name without disguising it!]
I now love your rad onc and I don't even know him! Of course, he is right, you know! Beating oneself up over this disease is a waste of time and energy and certainly not good for our emotional well-being. I just do not let myself go there anymore.
As for treating those lymph nodes, even though I had no nodal involvement, my nodes were included in the treatment field as well. If you look at the NCCN guidelines under the section titled "Principles of Radiation Therapy," you'll see that it clearly outlines that the inguinal nodes, pelvis, anus and perineum should be included in the initial radiation fields. At a certain point in treatment, depending on whether or not there is nodal involvement, nodes may continue to be included in the field or excluded, as I am interpreting this information. Even to this day, 6+ years post-treatment, I can clearly see on my upper thighs where my modes were zapped, due to a permanent color change in my skin.
I have to agree with your doctor in that anal cancer is going to be much more prevalent in years to come, as will other HPV-mediated cancers. Since I was diagnosed with the disease, the SEER numbers have risen each and every year. This is the projected number of cases, as stated by the National Cancer Institute. Google it--very interesting info.
Now, take that "S" word completely out of your vocabulary--unless, of course, "S" means survivor! You are definitely one of those!
Martha
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As the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation says: "cancer thriver".mp327 said:Ouch
I now love your rad onc and I don't even know him! Of course, he is right, you know! Beating oneself up over this disease is a waste of time and energy and certainly not good for our emotional well-being. I just do not let myself go there anymore.
As for treating those lymph nodes, even though I had no nodal involvement, my nodes were included in the treatment field as well. If you look at the NCCN guidelines under the section titled "Principles of Radiation Therapy," you'll see that it clearly outlines that the inguinal nodes, pelvis, anus and perineum should be included in the initial radiation fields. At a certain point in treatment, depending on whether or not there is nodal involvement, nodes may continue to be included in the field or excluded, as I am interpreting this information. Even to this day, 6+ years post-treatment, I can clearly see on my upper thighs where my modes were zapped, due to a permanent color change in my skin.
I have to agree with your doctor in that anal cancer is going to be much more prevalent in years to come, as will other HPV-mediated cancers. Since I was diagnosed with the disease, the SEER numbers have risen each and every year. This is the projected number of cases, as stated by the National Cancer Institute. Google it--very interesting info.
Now, take that "S" word completely out of your vocabulary--unless, of course, "S" means survivor! You are definitely one of those!
Martha
mp327, you are such a sweet person! As noted, I was feeling very down at the time and reflexively feared that man whom I really liked was ready to give me a lecture when the opposite was true. I over-reacted.
After more reading, especialy at the UCSF Dysplasia Clinic site, and thinking a lot about it, I really had no worse behavior than most of the others in my peer group and even fewer of the common risk factors - I never smoked, no anal intercourse, never injected illegal drugs (or any other kind - that would involve needles!), no HIV, good isolation skills as a nurse. I was sexually molested three times as a 7/8 year old and had rheumatic fever less than a year afterwards, so that could have been the infection source and immunosuppressive episode following it, but there's no way to know for sure.
I am so glad that Dr Eanelli is my rad-onc, too. He makes up for the oncologist's short-comings.
However, I am secretly glad to have some vaginal stenosis as it excuses me from intimacy with my husband. I feel very diseased and am fearful to touch him although if he wasn't aready infected with HPV when we met, he probably has been long ago in our marriage. He's not afraid of me and has been very supportive and patient. I'll just need some time to work this out in my head.
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Celebratory cheesecake!
Before I went home, I stopped and bought a big treat for us - an amaretto cheesecake and candles. I even gave The Uncle some and it didn't effect his blood sugar all that much. That cheesecake was delicious and beautiful by candlelight!
The Uncle has been more cheerful and more compliant with his hygiene today. I even got him to go for a walk. Cheesecake does wonders.
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OuchOuch_Ouch_Ouch said:Celebratory cheesecake!
Before I went home, I stopped and bought a big treat for us - an amaretto cheesecake and candles. I even gave The Uncle some and it didn't effect his blood sugar all that much. That cheesecake was delicious and beautiful by candlelight!
The Uncle has been more cheerful and more compliant with his hygiene today. I even got him to go for a walk. Cheesecake does wonders.
Cheesecake has magical powers!
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Especially Ameretto Cheesecakemp327 said:Ouch
Cheesecake has magical powers!
Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
So happy for you!
I like the words Cancer Thriver and am glad they chose those words.
I have still not tested positive for HPV. Have you? My gynecologist said she isn't going to test me again. Even though we are taught that anal cancer has to be from HPV I still wonder. There should have been at least a positive pathology in the biopsy but there wasn't.I see myself as an anal cancer thriver and a cervical cancer thriver but I don't think of myself as a person who has hpv since it is not proven except by statistics.I did get diagnosed with HypoImmunogamagobulin G deficiency but cannot find any link from that to anal or cervical cancer, although it does have to do with mucus and is related to primal lymphaedema.I am hoping the change in intimacy patterns will improve for you. I deal with vaginal stenosis with my dilators and hope to resolve the marital issues that became worse with my diagnosis and either enjoy my husband again or move on.
But back to you. Great news! Your energy will gradually return, mine has. A good program of yoga or stretching will really help. I just signed up for year two of Bikram Hot Yoga. (i pay for the whole year in advance to get a significant discount). It is really amazing. I am addicted and go usually around five times a week as it helps with lymphedema and pain management. It is giving me a real love for my body and mind and spirit I never experienced before. It's so awesome to find myself in these amazing postures at almost 65. I hope to be doing it in my 90's
Congratulations again:-)
Sandy
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Thank you, Ms Sandy...........sandysp said:Especially Ameretto Cheesecake
Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
So happy for you!
I like the words Cancer Thriver and am glad they chose those words.
I have still not tested positive for HPV. Have you? My gynecologist said she isn't going to test me again. Even though we are taught that anal cancer has to be from HPV I still wonder. There should have been at least a positive pathology in the biopsy but there wasn't.I see myself as an anal cancer thriver and a cervical cancer thriver but I don't think of myself as a person who has hpv since it is not proven except by statistics.I did get diagnosed with HypoImmunogamagobulin G deficiency but cannot find any link from that to anal or cervical cancer, although it does have to do with mucus and is related to primal lymphaedema.I am hoping the change in intimacy patterns will improve for you. I deal with vaginal stenosis with my dilators and hope to resolve the marital issues that became worse with my diagnosis and either enjoy my husband again or move on.
But back to you. Great news! Your energy will gradually return, mine has. A good program of yoga or stretching will really help. I just signed up for year two of Bikram Hot Yoga. (i pay for the whole year in advance to get a significant discount). It is really amazing. I am addicted and go usually around five times a week as it helps with lymphedema and pain management. It is giving me a real love for my body and mind and spirit I never experienced before. It's so awesome to find myself in these amazing postures at almost 65. I hope to be doing it in my 90's
Congratulations again:-)
Sandy
Yup - my pathology report said the squamous cell carcinoma was from HPV-16. Statistically, one or another of the HPVs is the main cause of anal cancer and if I remember correctly, nearly all of the cervical cancers. There are other causative factors, though I don't really know anything about them.
My comfort zone has dwindled considerably over the years to a degree or two above and below 72-ish. Due to the rheumatic heart disease, I am supposed to avoid hot spaces in order to avoid severe sweating and vaso-vagal episodes. RHD is the one cardiac condition where one is supposed to eat salt due to the sweating that can come with it, though the electrophysiologist says potato chips don't count. However, I really can't stand salt, so my husband attempts to sneak it into my food; it doesn't fool my sensitive palate, though. Why people eat that nasty stuff is a total mystery to me!
I liked my Kripalu yoga teacher from Cape Cod, definitely not a Bikram-ite. After taking it regularly all summer, a few years back I was able to touch my toes for the first time in my life .^_^.
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