Hi every one, just wondering if any one has any experience of any of what I am experiencing with my anal cancer, and other possible cancers?
Apologies if it's a bit long, but....it's complicated!
Saw my colorectal surgeon mid Feb, followed by biopsy and removal of tumour, not thought to be cancerous.
Mid March, CT scan, which showed some anomalies, so MRI and CT-PET scans.
These showed swollen lymph nodes in the abdomen, which my Dr,, and two consultants that I saw , thought was lymphoma.
Another anal biopsy and surgery, consultant told me that the anal tumour was an AIN, but shortly after phoned to say they had found a small area of cancer,
Saw an urologist consultant about my raised PSA, and he said that he didnt know whether I had prostate cancer or not, but was reliuctant to do a biopsy.
Instead he orfered another PSA test.
I mentioned that I had three swollen nodes in my neck, which on examing, said were 'highly suspicious for lymphoma', although he said that prostate cancer can rarely cause swollen nodes in the neck.
Nurse called two weeks ago, to say that they had a meeting to discuss my case, and that I was to have 5 weeks of radiotherapy, and two sessions of chemo.
i asked if they had had the reults of the CT-PET scan, which she wasn't aware of, and on checking, told me that the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes in my abdomen. She also told me that my PSA was still high.
Saw the oncologist ten days ago, and she told me that she had only ever seen two cases where anal cancer had spread to the abdomen, but they were in more advanced stages of the cancer, but they were both sucessfully treated. So now my cancer diagnosis had changed from stage one to stage 3, which she said, indicated a more agressive cancer.
With regards to the nodes in the neck, she agreed, prostate cancer could be the cause of them, rarely anal cancer, but that it couild be lymphoma.
Then again , it could just be nothing of concern.
Waiting for an prostate biospy, ultra sound of nodes, and possible biopsy of them, depending on what they find..
On July 20th. start 14 weeks of chemo therapy, three week intervals, and five weeks of radio therapy, though of course this could all change!
So now after five months of investigations, they still don't know fully what is going on,but hopefully I will not have any other cancers, and the neck nodes are of no concern.
I was just wondering if any one had any experience of the above, or any comments or words of encouragement?
Many Thanks.
Hi mikel1956 ,
Welcome to the Macmillan online community although I’m so sorry that you’re having to deal with all of this right now.
You’re right in saying that your case is quite complicated, you have a lot going on, 5 months is a long time for you to still not have been given definitive answers too! Hopefully you’ll have all the answers very soon. You’ve definitely come to the right place for support.
As Irene has said inflammation can be an issue & hopefully you’ll find that this is the case at the very least with your nodes.
Your team seem to have a treatment plan in place at the moment that covers all eventualities although as you say pending the prostate biopsy & scans on your nodes.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help but know that we’re here to offer support & lend a listening ear if you need one.
Nicola
