Anal Cancer Awareness Day

Thank you for pointing that out i am going to share it on my social media x I had no idea and agree its not talked about enough, and nothing to do with any link to HPV - I dont have HPV before or after anal cancer x 

Love Angie xx

That’s great, Angie. I reminded Bowel Cancer UK and Colostomy UK about it last year and they said they would make awareness of it this year, but of coursed they haven’t! My anal cancer wasn’t linked directly to HPV, but there is very often a link. There a lot of information on the Anal Cancer website and Digestive Cancers Europe. Mine first appeared 40 years ago. xx

Wasn't aware it had a day and I follow some of the big cancer organisations, nothing posted.

I know - I  keep reminding them! I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links here, but if so try https://www.analcancerfoundation.org/take-action/anal-cancer-awareness-day/ and https://digestivecancers.eu/bringing-rare-cancers-to-the-forefront-anal-cancer-awareness-day-march-21/ 

Second link have instagram post so have shared on mine. X

Hi Patsyann,

Thanks for this. I certainly hadn’t heard of this day. It really isn’t a cancer that gets talked about is it and I had never heard of it until diagnosis. 

My Oncologist said that with young people having the hpv vaccination now anal cancer will become extremely rare in the future thankfully. X

Hello Patsy

So reassuring to see you on here and still campaigning, I am in awe of how active you are after all you have been through.  I must admit I didn't know and I have made a note in my diary.

Other members on here - please read this lady's history, we think we have had it tough but it doesn't come anywhere near this.  Patsy, please post a link.

Irene xx

I live in hope for the future, especially if boys too take advantage of the HPV vaccine as well as girls. However I am dismayed that this day of "ours" (the club we didn't want to be in) still doesn't feature on the Cancer Research, Bowel Cancer UK, or Colostomy UK websites. xx

Hi Patsyann,

 I just read your profile prompted by Irene comments. I can’t believe what you have been through. It sounds incredibly traumatic. 
It really is admirable that after all that you are putting energy into raising awareness.

 I have no doubts that the lack of awareness contributes massively to the difference and length of time so many people have in getting diagnosed and the distress that this causes.

 Thank you for all that you’re doing! X

Hello again Irene, 

So good to hear from you. Can you believe I turned 80 this month, that makes 40 years without cancer and 40 years with. In recent years it's been skin cancers of one form or another, the latest being a melanoma last year. I had three lots of surgery on the initial site and 4 lymph nodes removed from under my arm. Coincidentally I had a review at the hospital today and the doc is arranging for me to have an ultrasound and maybe needle biopsy from under my arm. 

Other that that I have a duodenal ulcer and a blood test recently flagged up a problem with my liver! I have an appointment for an ultrasound on that next week. But I'm still continuing with my artwork and have just sold an up-cycled piece in a recent exhibition - yay! 

The blog series I wrote for Macmillan during the first lockdown was called "Cancer & Me 35 years on - vol1 - to begin at the beginning", but I'm not sure if it still exists. The longer version on my personal blog can be found here: https://willowilliams.wordpress.com/2015/02/08/cancer-me-thirty-years-on-part-one-to-begin-at-the-beginning/  It's awfully long, though and runs through about 13 episodes! 

Anyway, how are you doing, Irene?

Love and best wishes xx