Last November I was diagnosed with anal cancer

Hi my name is Michelle but Shelly for short ,last November I was diagnosed with anal cancer , I’m 58 have six children and 12 grandchildren, I already have a stoma bag for 3 years but since the day I had it put on I’ve had problems, I have a fistula and I was told I needed a stoma bag for my fistula to heal I was having bowel movement from my virgina, it was nasty so stoma was meant to be temporary, but I was not healing and my condition was getting worse plus I have several other medical issues, my consultant gave me a endoscopy and a couple of weeks passed I was still in hospital and my consultant came in on his day off that’s when I knew that something was wrong he sat down and told me the biopsies came back as cancer and it was a fast growing cancer. I met my oncologist who wanted me to have surgery as she said that was the best thing with case, she actually said chemo and radiotherapy was rite for me that surgery was but surgeons refused to operate on me due to all my other conditions, so I had 5 weeks of chemo radiotherapy which had to have half strength chemo coz of my platelets,im waiting on results but all symptoms are still their and the lump what will happen if my cancer is still their I can’t get no one to explain I think I’m going crazy someone please reply

  • Hello Debbie4ever-1, 

    A big welcome to our friendly community. I hope you won't mind but I have changed the title of your thread so that it describes your situation and this should hopefully increase the likelihood of you getting relevant replies. I am sorry to hear that all symptoms are still there and I hope that you will get your results very soon and that they will shed some light on what it going on. 

    It sounds like it might be helpful to you to perhaps talk to one of our cancer nurses about the situation and they will be able to explain to you what might happen if they find out that the cancer is still there and give you some helpful advice. You can get in touch with them on this free number 0808 800 4040 - their helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. 

    I hope that you will also hear from other members of this forum who have been diagnosed with anal cancer - it helps to talk to others who find themselves in a similar boat and who may have had the same treatment. 

    I am keeping everything tight for you as you await your results. Let us know what you find out if you get a chance - we'll be thinking of you in the coming days. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator