Sambasweet - living with anal cancer for 2 years. Just found out my cancer has grown and I have opted for drug trials. This is the hardest thing I've ever done

Hi, I was diagnosed with T4 N1 M1 anal cell squamous cell carcinoma with paraaortic,  illac and inguinal lymph node involvement,  basically anal cancer that has spread, 2 years ago,  I've been on different chemos for two years,  I'm not new to cancer , my sister passed away from cancer of the brain when she was 27, and my partner of 25 years passed away in 2019 of lung cancer,  my son is my rock and my grandchild keeps me going too. I have a amazing family,  and friends too. I had my scan results one day ago, my oncologist told me my cancer has grown,  I have no more chemotherapy options left, as none of them are doing any good unfortunately,  I was told I had 3 options,  drug trials  and immunotherapy,  my 3rd option was enjoy your family and my quality of life,  I wanted to hear there's this chemo an that chemo,  so I have opted for drugs trials,  just waiting on that.  I'm an extremely positive person which keeps me going through all this,  this is the hardest thing I've ever done,  but I'm fighting it all the Way,  it's the only way.  To everyone out there who is going through this horrible thing all I can say is stay positive stay strong and don't let the *** beat you down,  you'll lose a couple of battles but you'll win the war my dad said, love to you all xxxxx 

  • Hi Sambasweet12, 

    Thank you for coming here and sharing your story and inspirational words and I love your dad's quote "you will lose a couple of battles but you will win the war". I am so sorry though to hear about all the hurdles you have encountered along the way since your cancer diagnosis 2 years ago and also about the loss of your sister at such a young age and of your partner too. You've been through so much and I am glad you have the support of your son who seems amazing and your grandchild during this difficult time. Being surrounded with friends and family you can count on can be a true blessing at a time when you need their love and support the most. 

    What a blow it must have been for you to find out that your cancer has grown and that chemotherapy is no longer an option. It must have been hard to know what to choose from your options and I hope that you will find out soon what trials are available to you. 

    I just wanted you to know you are not alone on this forum living with anal cancer and only today I was welcoming another member  who posted this thread on being diagnosed with anal cancer - feel free to drop a line in there if you would like to talk to others who have also been affected by anal cancer. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator 

  • Thank you so much for your kind words,  my head is in a total spin, I haven't taken it in, I can't I won't,  not yet,  I live with my elderly parents now, my whole family are so amazing,  I'm just so scared , I'm scared of leaving my son , I don't want to see him hurt going through so much pain and loss, when I see him with My granddaughter,  she's 18 months,  I just want to cry, but I haven't told him everything that the oncologist said , I can't.  I'm just in limbo,  that's how I feel,  wondering what it's going to do to me , I'm so scared.