Carol's Cancer Blog

Type of Cancer: Anal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: squamous cell carcinoma of the anus

Diagnosis Date: February 23, 2011

Stage of Cancer: Stage 2

Tumor Size: 2.1 - 3.0 cm

ER: Negative

PR: Negative

Her2 Status: No

Lymph Node Involvement: No

Surgery: Colorectal Surgery

Radiation: Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy: Fluorouracil (5-FU), Mitomycin

What I Hate Most About Cancer: Difficulty going to the bathroom; telling my kids. Worrying about how to pay for tx. Seeing all the young people here. Chronic stool incontinence..which keeps me from participating in certain exercises and, definately, avoiding group outings.

What I Have Learned From Cancer: REALLY be a support for others/fight for my kids

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help: Prayer, listen, feedback.

Alternative Cancer Treatment: Orange Juice! (I craved it); steak; homemade vanilla pudding.

Cancer Drugs Positives & Negatives: Negatives: the shortness of breath. Positives: my horrible bloating episodes are gone. (Update: 09/24/17: Bloating returned--not as severe, after last Colonoscopy, June 2015. Sigmoid polyp was removed. Doc was a JERK.)

Gift Friends or Family Could Give You: Patience, an ear, chocolate . . .

Cancer Center: Western Washington Oncology 2011-2012. Switched to VA in 2013, to save $$.

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer: If you have a choice, get a port. Exercise through treatment, if possible. It helps.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer: Take every day head on. Prayer, whatever, too.

End of Treatment Date: May 19, 2011

NED Date: October, 2011

Has the Cancer Come Back?: No, as of 09/24/2017. However, a sigmoid polyp--1st one, was discovered and removed 06/2015.

Anal Cancer symptoms: Chronological order: Blood-tinged drainage for months, then heavy bleeding with BMs-which I "hoped", for months, would go away. A hard skin tag, change in stool appearance, increased difficulty defecating. PAIN!

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: 02/17/11: Anal fissurectomy with lateral sphincterotomy. Only SE was pain. Now, I can poo w/o pain for the first time in MONTHS. It still looks weird (TMI.) This found the CA. 07/03/12--anal/rectal biopsy of suspicious tissue found during a DRE. Thankfully, it was only scar tissue.--I hurt like hell for 3 wks after though!! :/

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Mitomycin and f5u-begin 4/12/11. . . . I was EXTREMELY tired and became EXTREMELY short-of-breath (ended up with bronchitis, but I have asthma.) One of the meds, Mytomycin, I think, can adversely affect the lungs. My thyroid got messed up so I now take meds. Nodules on lungs, on CT . . . monitoring those.

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: Pelvic radiation x28 tx. Mine was "pin-pointed" can't think of what that is called right now. It decreases damage to surrounding tissues/organs. . . Update: Side Effects-"heaviness and weakness in my hips, pelvis, legs still, three years out (from end of treatment.) There are "good days" and "bad moments/days". More good than bad. Still some painful BMs. I use a stool softener (docusate sodium) 3x/wk so I won't pass out from pain if stool is too formed..... Update:08-02-2018--Long-term SE-stool incontince, chronic anal pain ("doable" most of the time), still lower body heaviness & weakness, but not as often or as pronounced as, say, two years ago and prior to that. Oh! Anal strictures from the radiation and nonworking Thyroid (dc 8 most. after cancer tx.) My life revolves around my gut. Nevertheless, I am walking, talking g, working... LIVING. 😇👍😎

Fundraising Description: I give to various charities: St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald house,cancer charities; multiple fund-raisers. I am too tired and lazy to organize a fund-raiser. Mostly, my emotions are shot. Gone. Just...gone.