Hello
I was diagnosed with anal cancer almost 7 years ago just 3 days before Xmas. It had spread to lymph nodes in my groin and I started combined chemoradiotherapy late January. The treatment itself wasn’t so bad but the burns from the radiotherapy were pretty horrific ( a pretty sensitive area to have radiotherapy !!)
I had the all clear in the April 2011 but a follow up CT 3 years later showed it had spread to lymph nodes in my chest. I had chemo through a PICC this time which was great as I could have the chemo at home. 4 months later I went in for surgery to remove the lymph nodes and during the surgery it was discovered the cancer had spread to my right lung so I went to sleep with two lungs and woke up with one !!! I was really lucky and had a fabulous surgeon who I credit amongst others for me still being around today. Having one lung has made little difference to my quality of life apart from I get a bit breathless and can’t shout at the kids so much so that’s a good thing. I just go through life at a slightly slower pace !!
After 6 weeks or so I started 20 doses of radiotherapy before finishing treatment in July 2015. I then had PET scans every 3 months and now 6 monthly CT scans and there has been no sign of cancer.
So I’ve had quite a cancer journey, easier than some and tougher than others but it’s changed me completely. In some ways for the better and in other ways definitely not.
Will it come back ?? That’s the question that haunts all cancer survivors and I struggle with that but am trying to make a conscious effort to move on with my life.
If I can answer any questions about the journey through treatment for anal cancer I’m happy to try. It’s a cancer that’s sot so common and not really talked about so it can be quite isolating.
Thanks for reading ( I’m assuming anyone’s has actually read this but I feel better for writing it !!)
