anal cancer

Hi Deb

I have been put of town and not email - oops

but I am 5 months post Chemo YEAH!! for Anal Cancer stage 3,

I went thru 3 weeks of chemo on and off , week 1 and week 5 , along with 38 rad treatments, ( i had an extra chemo treatment on week 7 as I had 2 lymd nodes involved)   it was diffcult, but I made it and I am strong and cancer free today, please note there is limited info on our diease vs other cancers - but this is a great web site  too be involved with -  new news on anal cancer was released today on this site

you can get thru this and be healthy again -- I am 46 years old and if I can do you can to!!, Where am I today- still healing as I have a lot of scar tissue and my legs hurt when I excerise ( most likely from the rad treatments) but I keep pushing and know that I am getting stronger everyday not to mention my weight is coming back FAST HA 

 - Remember on the bad days, they are only bad days and tomorrow will be better

 I hope you are off the bag and getting some what use to the routine by the time you read this e mail

I will keep u in my prayers and if you ever want to call me please feel free - respond back in private and I will give you my #

God bless and huge hugs :)  Diana

Hi Deb,

I'm wondering how you are doing (or have done) with the radiation now that it's over a month later.  I can't say enough about IMRT radiation.  I guess they don't have it everywhere yet, but having it was great because I didn't experience most of the typical radiation side effects.It's definitely worth asking your radiologist about (I know you're already into or almost done with yours, but that comment is for people who haven't started their radiation yet- look into IMRT, everyone!)  It was effective, because my rectal tumor completely disappeared (which I know can also happen with traditional radiation), but the great thing is the lessening of side effects- I did not have any burned skin until the last two days of radiation (out of 28).  I also only got the predicted diarrhea 3 or 4 days. 

Take care!

Lisa

I'm sorry I didn't read this email sooner as I  assume you have completed your treatment.  I was 49 when diagnosed with Stage 2 anal cancer in the summer of 2006 and completed my treatment of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.  It was a rough road for a few weeks with the chemotherapy knocking out my immune system and the radiation leaving me with severe burns in the anal and vaginal areas.

I have been cancer free for the past two years but did want to suggest that you talk to your GP about your bone density.  Following treatment I had a bone density test which showed that I had osteopenia (early stages of osteoporosis).  The doctor said that this was likely from the radiation therapy as well as the chemotherapy throwing me into early menopause. 

 Last month we had a scare when a follow-up CT scan showed an abnormality on my sacrum.  They followed the CT with a nuclear medicine bone scan and a pelvic x-ray which pointed to metastic cancer.  The doctor then ordered an MRI which showed that I have an insufficiency fracture of the sacrum instead of cancer.  What a relief!

From the reading I have been doing it sounds like women who have radiation therapy for anal caner have a 200% higher chance of having a hip or sacrum fracture.  Who knew?

 Start loading up on your calcium + vitamin D (1500 of each). I did ask if I could start taking the bone building medication but my doctor said that they only recommend you be on it for 6-7 years so would prefer to wait until I am older in case I need it more when I'm over 65.

 Best wishes to you.

 Cheryl

On 11/14/2008 CherylB1 wrote:

I'm sorry I didn't read this email sooner as I  assume you have completed your treatment.  I was 49 when diagnosed with Stage 2 anal cancer in the summer of 2006 and completed my treatment of radiation therapy and chemotherapy.  It was a rough road for a few weeks with the chemotherapy knocking out my immune system and the radiation leaving me with severe burns in the anal and vaginal areas.

I have been cancer free for the past two years but did want to suggest that you talk to your GP about your bone density.  Following treatment I had a bone density test which showed that I had osteopenia (early stages of osteoporosis).  The doctor said that this was likely from the radiation therapy as well as the chemotherapy throwing me into early menopause. 

 Last month we had a scare when a follow-up CT scan showed an abnormality on my sacrum.  They followed the CT with a nuclear medicine bone scan and a pelvic x-ray which pointed to metastic cancer.  The doctor then ordered an MRI which showed that I have an insufficiency fracture of the sacrum instead of cancer.  What a relief!

From the reading I have been doing it sounds like women who have radiation therapy for anal caner have a 200% higher chance of having a hip or sacrum fracture.  Who knew?

 Start loading up on your calcium + vitamin D (1500 of each). I did ask if I could start taking the bone building medication but my doctor said that they only recommend you be on it for 6-7 years so would prefer to wait until I am older in case I need it more when I'm over 65.

 Best wishes to you.

 Cheryl

Cheryl your story sounds just like mine. I had a fractured sacrum, and still having problems with it. My anal cancer was in June 2000, I've always have wondered if all the females has had this problem, dry and scared vagina and have a very hard time being a wife (sex). I bleed and burn for a few days, I have real bad arthoritis in my hands and basal joint taken out.  If you or somone knows of someone that can answer this '?' Thank you Nancy

I went through radiation and did not get burns from it.True the radiation is strong but never heard of anyone getting burns from it.There might be swelling and redness and it will make you vomit and give you nausea.As for chemo,everyone has different side effects that can be treated with other medications.I'm sure someone will add comments to our posts.I'm always here to talk too.

On 3/4/2009 cancergotme wrote:

I went through radiation and did not get burns from it.True the radiation is strong but never heard of anyone getting burns from it.There might be swelling and redness and it will make you vomit and give you nausea.As for chemo,everyone has different side effects that can be treated with other medications.I'm sure someone will add comments to our posts.I'm always here to talk too.

Have you ever had radiation or chemo between your legs, cheat or rearend? I doesn't sound like it because you have no idea how bad it burns the tissue and skin and what ever else it hits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On 3/5/2009 skatergirl wrote:

 

On 3/4/2009 cancergotme wrote:

I went through radiation and did not get burns from it.True the radiation is strong but never heard of anyone getting burns from it.There might be swelling and redness and it will make you vomit and give you nausea.As for chemo,everyone has different side effects that can be treated with other medications.I'm sure someone will add comments to our posts.I'm always here to talk too.

Have you ever had radiation or chemo between your legs, cheat or rearend? I doesn't sound like it because you have no idea how bad it burns the tissue and skin and what ever else it hits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amen to that!!!  I finished my radiation (31) treatments in October of 2006.  And although my burns have long since healed, I still have the visible scars to remember them by. 

erin

I thought I had this I know I can’t eat bread any more as it erates it I had two operation to fix it

From Wikipedia  squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a form of cancer of the carcinoma type that may occur in many different organs, including the skin, lips, mouth, esophagus, urinary bladder, prostate, lungs, vagina, and cervix. It is a malignant tumor of squamous epithelium (epithelium that shows squamous cell differentiation).