Introducing myself, another newbie here!

Hi, sorry that you have to be here, but it's great that your treatment has been organised so quickly (in UK it takes about 6 weeks from diagnosis to the beginning of treatment.) I finished mine in December. I too found it hard to talk about, usually saying that it was rectal cancer, which I reckon covers it!

Everybody has a slightly different trajectory through it: I found that initially the pain reduced, I stopped taking any pain killers and for the first three weeks I felt a lot better than I had beforehand. I was told that the side effects would kick in at three weeks,  and certainly by the time I was into the fourth week I started to need pain killers again. I didn't experience any of the standard side effects that the hospital give you medicines for: nausea and diarrhoea. I did experience burnt skin around the anus and that's standard, and that's where you need to put most attention. I used a plastic peri bottle to clean myself - you may have a bidet in Spain; then a hair dryer to dry the skin; then the gel that the doctor had prescribed (Flaminal Hydro) twice a day and a hydrating cream in between (Dermol 400). 

The pain was the worst: but if it feels like shards of glass now, it doesn't sound as if it will get any worse! I didn't experience that until the fourth/fifth week, when I found that even with morphine I still had to take two fistfuls of cubes of ice to the toilet to squeeze during the bowel movement. The thing you have to bear in mind is that this is temporary and you will be completely pain free at the end of this. 

My oncologist said to me before I started: 'This is going to be hard, but it's so worth it.' Think yourself lucky - you've got a cancer that can be cured !

Hi Mix 

I’m sorry you have been given this diagnosis but at least you now know what is going on with your body.

It seems counterintuitive to think one self lucky to have a particular type of cancer because of course we would rather not have it at all. But, if we are going to have a cancer this is definitely one of the better ones to have. The outcome seems likely to be so positive.

I felt shame when I was first diagnosed and deep frustration because my diagnosis took well over a year to get. But, there is nothing to be ashamed about this can happen to the best of us.

I have had my bum fingered, prodded and pocked now by several GPs, four oncologists and this week a radiologist. I have also had three students in tow. On one occasion my consultant was eating a sandwich for his lunch before looking up there. I have now finally and officially given up any shame or embarrassment.

I really do wish you well on your healing journey. What I have learned from this forum is, you are never alone, where you are people have been and where they are now, you are headed. People on here are incredibly kind and normalising.

Good luck and be well soon.

x

Thank you so much, for your kind message, it’s so comforting to know that I can talk about this with others and not feel embarrassed

Thank you so much for your message and kind words, it really does help me to accept what I have and begin to  coming to terms with what will follow x

I must admit I owned my diagnosis - did posts on LinkedIn and Facebook with the headline of "I've got anal cancer" - I'm not sure why I should feel ashamed.  I've been honest too about the link to HPV - as I was completely oblivious even though I had pre-cancerous cells removed from my cervix at 27 due to HPV.

I wanted to share my very limited symptoms before diagnosis but symptoms that I ignored for too long....  In the hope that it might encourage others to stop suffering in silence....  

However, I also believe that dealing with a cancer diagnosis is personal - it's no one else's business but yours - including if you share with others or not.  Cancer is cancer - it can be in your blood, in your bones and also in your butt! 

It's great to hear that you've got supportive friends and family as well as treatment starting soon..   And it's likely that things will get worse before they get better, they might also getter better, get worse and then get better again - and now you'll have a health care professional team will be there every step of the way and can help with whatever symptoms you're impacted by including minimising the pain you are experiencing.  

I've got my fingers and toes crossed for you and keep us posted on your progress.

And hope the weather where you are is nicer than here in the UK right now!

Ali x

I”m loving your forum name as bad ass is certainly is!! Thank you for your kind message. 
I also had pre cancerous cells removed twice due to HPV, once when I was in my 20”s and the other time was just last year, and had the HPV Vaccination. I had no clue there was a link and I feel very strongly that anyone with HPV should be made aware and screened regularly. 

Hi Mix

Welcome to the club. Everyone on here is lovely and either going through it or out the otherside. We are all here for you. Ask questions, share how you are feeling, have a good old rant about anything whatever you need. It's your cancer so who and what you tell is entirely upto you. Sending hugs. Xx

Hello Mix

A warm welcome to the forum, although I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis.  I am so pleased that you are surrounded by understanding friends and relatives who can be called on to help you out during and after treatment.

What I found really strange me is that people who knew me well didn't question much about the type of cancer but others that I barely knew had no hesitation in wanting to know all the detail!  I became really excellent at shutting down conversations by just saying it is GI (gastrointestinal) cancer.  I didn't feel ashamed in the least but my health is my own private business and I didn't want to chitchat with relative strangers about it.

Spain has a very good reputation for treatment of cancer, (actually more than just cancer) and it is excellent that you haven't had lots of waiting around which adds hugely to the stress.

There are no holds barred on what we discuss on here and we have lots of tips and coping strategies we can share.  And we are always here to provide support too should you need it.

Irene xx

Hello Mix,

 I’m sorry to hear of your diagnosis but glad you have found the forum. Welcome to our club.

It certainly sounds that things moved very quickly for you from investigation to diagnosis and treatment plan. For me it took many months so it sounds like a very responsive team.

 I did find it a difficult diagnosis to discuss other than with close friends but we are all different and do and say whatever you feel comfortable with. 
The treatment has good outcomes and I hope that your treatment journey goes as smoothly as possible.

Not everyone gets all of the side effects and there is so much helpful information and great tips on this forum about managing any you do experience. I absolutely wish I had used the forum more prior to and during treatment.

Dont hesitate to reach out for any support or just to vent feelings as it can be an emotional journey as well as a physical one xx

Just wanted to add in terms of things getting worse before they get better - they get different. I had such a sore bottom and a few sessions into the radiotherapy, I realised that pain had gone. I'd been living with it for several months and it was just great to have that relief.

You will probably get some other effects as you'll have read but we are all different and so are our side effects, but they can be dealt with, it's not forever and the outlook is good!