Hi Wendy

im sorry to read about your diagnosis. It’s very scary isn’t it. Ive recently been diagnosed with anal cancer but not started treatment yet. I’m seeing my oncologist for the 1st time in a couple of days. I’ve not been sleeping very much the last 3.5 weeks and keep finding myself on google in the middle of the night. I can’t offer any advice as I’ve not started treatment but I’m going to keep in touch with Bungle1 who replied and if you’d like to maybe we could too. x

Can I ask if you have lost your hair. I believe certain chemotherapy cause hair loss but others don’t. x

Morning I asked them that question about a million times. They said I wouldn't lose the hair on my head but it might thin a little bit but would probably lose pubic hair. So far I have lost a little bit downstairs. My head hair is fine potentially a bit more comes out than usual when I wash it but I'm washing it less at the moment so overall its fine if that makes sense. X

I’m hoping I don’t as mine is long. Don’t mind about downstairs though . I hope your radiotherapy isn’t to hard this week. I’ll be thinking about you. xx

I have long hair to I'm pretty sure you will be fine. I was the same don't care about downstairs. Good luck with the oncologist tomorrow. X

Thank you x

Hi

how are you getting on?

I’m starting chemo/radio on 18/11. 28 lots of radiotherapy with the 1st one being IV then 27 lots of chemo tablets twice a day. So my treatment will finish Xmas day so they said they will do a few weekend ones two I’m finished by Xmas eve. I asked about the chemo pump and they said they don’t do that there. I’m under a hospital in Manchester. 
Are you getting sore with the radiotherapy? 
hope you’re doing ok xx

Hi happy christmas to you . not to long to wait. I am sore and have had some bleeding this week but its not as bad as I expected. The worst bit is the wind and going to the toilet. Obviously do what your medical team tell you, but I would start using E45 on all of your downstairs now get it well moisturised. I've been using E45 and flamigel which the hospital gave me and sometimes I sit in the bath with epsom salts for 5 minutes. Some people buy a thing called a sitz bath which fits on your toilet to soak your bits in but ive been fine with the bath.I've also taken paracetamol occasionally if the wind pain gets to much. Least you won't have to have a picc line will make washing easier for you. Xx

They didn’t mention wind pain to me. I had that after surgery a few times and it was awful. I used to drink peppermint tea or cordial. l’ll get some of the cream now then. Hope it doesn’t get any worse for you. Yes the picc line sounds a pain. Does that stay in until your chemo in the last week? Did they talk to you about a leaky bum? They don’t mention it to me but it was in the booklet I got. That’s a side effect I def don’t want! Hope this week doesn’t get any harder for you xx