Results not good

Sorry to hear your news. Don't hold back on your tears, this is a very difficult time for you and your family. This stage was the worse part for me and my family. Once you get your other scan out the way and treatment start dates you will get stringer. I have 5 days left of treatment. You can do this xx

Thank you , don’t think it’s a case of ‘ holding back the tears ‘ think it just hasn’t hit me properly yet xx

Hi Poohbear,

I’m so sorry to hear of your diagnosis & the news wasn’t better at your appointment yesterday. It’s such a difficult & scary time when you receive your diagnosis, it’s a bit of a whirlwind thereafter with scans & appointments etc., & I know it doesn’t feel like it right now but once you have a treatment plan in place & you get started you’ll start to settle down a bit. The information you’ve been given is correct, squamous cell carcinoma is the most common of all anal cancers & it does respond well to chemoradiotherapy. What you’re feeling is completely normal also, I remember feeling traumatised after receiving my diagnosis & then just kind of numb! I think that feeling only passed once I began my treatment. There’s many of us here that are testament to this treatment being successful. We’re here to support you through this so please don’t feel like your alone. 

Nicola 

Hi Poohbear I’m sorry to hear this. Hearing the news that you have cancer is truly a life changing moment. Like you I was just numb, didn’t really cry and went onto auto pilot. It will take quite some time to absorb the news. Like Watto78 and Nikki65 I felt better and more in control of the situation once there was a treatment plan and start date in place. The ‘good’ news is that this type of cancer does have pretty high success rates. There lots of support on here for you so don’t hesitate to post whenever you need to. Bev x

Thank you x 

Hello Pooh Bear, 

It is a shock to get that cancer diagnosis and it does leave you reeling. However, as you've said this one does have a well-tested treatment path and it is pretty successful.

Once you are seen by the specialist staff at the hospital you might start to feel a bit calmer, knowing there is a way forward and a fantastic team of people who will scoop you up and look after you. 

Stick with this forum - there is lots of support and advice here from a lovely group of people who have been through it, and will be with you whatever you need to ask or say. 

Let us know how you get on. All the very best.

Thank you , I think in the back of my mind I was expecting that result so wasn’t ‘shocked ‘ as such , I need to help my son get his head around it - my daughters like me sort of knew , so wasn’t such a shock for them. It my son wouldn’t even think about it and was very visibly shocked when I told them xx

Yes, it is very tough to tell loved ones. I found myself not using the C word with my son, for some reason I found it easier to think and say 'I have a tumour and it's going to be treated'. It was partly for my own mind too, because I didn't want to engage with that big cancer thing.

I tried to stay with the 'treatable' aspect of things and explained that I might be a bit wiped out by the treatment, but it was very effective, so would be worthwhile. I think if loved ones are not aware of this, they worry that you are becoming really ill, instead of it being part of the road to getting better.

I think he sees it as the worst thing ever but he has a very supportive partner and they were talking about it last night , we have her the titles of the books I was given by the nurse so he could read them online and get a better understanding x

Hi Poohbear, so sorry the results turned out how they did. I think this time frame you’re in is the worst possible time (in my experience so far) I have 3 days left of treatment and finish on Wednesday. One thing to keep in mind is that this is a very curable cancer! And you are going to be getting treatment in the best cancer centre in the country!! Christie’s! Completely get the telling loved ones. My family (mum sister and husband) were on teams with me when I got my news so didn’t have to tell them and they were strong and asked all the good questions. I couldn’t tell my son because he was too young to understand he just knew that mummy had a sore bum, but I found telling friends quite hard because I had my head around it by then (thanks to my cancer specialist nurse sister) I was just talking about it openly like i had a cold and they got really shocked and upset.

Everyone on this sight is amazing and is here with you to support you when you need it. xx