I was diagnosed with breast cancer (15mm Grade 2 Er+ Pr+ Her2- not in the lymph nodes) in September 2020 following a mammogram. I had 2 operations (WLE and sentinal nodes) to get clear margins followed by a week of radiotherapy. I am now on Letrozole for 5 years .
When I finished my treatment on 5th March, I thought I had better sort out my slight anal bleeding which had been going on since about September 2019. I had seen my GP on 9 March 2020 and, hearing my symptoms but without examining me, she said I had piles. I had been rather diverted from this by my breast cancer and the pandemic, but the bleeding had continued, not very much, but usually after each BM. Also I had to push back the pile from time to time. In March 2021 I got a telephone appointment with another GP in the practice. When she heard my symptoms I had a face to face appointment 3 days later and she did examine me. She said that it didn't feel squishy enough (technical term!) for piles and thought it was a polyp and put me on a 2 week urgent referral to the colo-rectal team. Following a telephone appointment I had a colonoscopy which didn't show anything in the colon except mild diverticulitis. However, they were not able to see or photograph the polyp (which they could feel) which was too near the end and referred me for a 2 week review and rigid sigmoidoscopy with the colo-rectal surgeons. I had that 10 days ago and the consultant said I had a polyp part of which seemed to be benign but the underneath part of which was irregular and hard. So I was then put down for an MRI scan and also biopsy of the polyp, under general anaesthetic, within 2 weeks. I had the MRI scan today and am due to have the biopsy next Wednesday. It is fairly clear to me that they think this is cancerous. When I asked what the treatment would be if it is cancer, the consultant said it would depend on whether it was in the rectum or the anus and it is on the margin. Apparently the treatment is different.
I have not been told what will happen at the biopsy and whether it will involve removing the polyp or what to expect after such a biopsy.
So now I feel as though someone has punched me in the stomach. I can't believe that I might have a second primary cancer in such a short time! Of course, I may be wrong and it might all prove to be benign. I am anxious all the time, having terrible trouble sleeping, and can't settle or clear my mind to work. I am 70 and am self employed. I have a lot of support from family and friends but they also have their issues at the moment so am very reluctant to burden them with all my fears. Is there anyone out there who has had anything similar? I would love to hear from you.
Thank you in advance,
Jane
Hi OldRhodie I’m very sorry to hear of your situation, you’ve been through so much already. Anal cancer is where cancer occurs in the anal canal or on the anal verge, which is the skin immediately outside the anus. The anal canal is about 5-7 Cm long. If the cancer occurs after the anal canal, in the rectum ( immediately after the anal canal), that would be Rectal cancer. The treatments are different. In relation to anal cancer, if it is small, and clear margins can be achieved it is possible to have surgery to remove the tumour and avoid radiotherapy and chemo. My tumour was in the anal canal emerging out onto the anal verge. It was over 2cm and clear margins could not be achieved so I had the standard treatment which is 5.5 weeks of radiotherapy and chemotherapy Monday to Friday. The chemotherapy in the UK is a one off infusion of a drug called Mitomycin on day one then daily tablets of Capacetabine for 5.5 weeks. The chemo tends to be well tolerated, the radiotherapy causes different side effects which people tolerate in different ways. As you’ve already been through a cancer diagnosis you know this is the worst bit, the waiting for results. Hopefully this will turn out to be non-cancerous but if not please be reassured that anal cancer has high treatment success rates. Please come back on for further support when you need it. Bev.
Hi Jane (OldRhodie),
Welcome to our forum although I’m sorry you’ve had the need to find us. I'm also sorry that you’ve been through so much already without the issue that’s brought you here.
I’ll not go over the info that Bev has given you regarding the treatment for anal cancer but the dilemma for you seems to be, if in fact this unfortunately turns out to be cancer again, whether it’s anal or rectal cancer. For being in such close proximity to each other they do seem to be very different diagnosis's with different treatment plans. Anal cancer as was explained to me by my surgeon & oncologist is more akin to a skin cancer & mine presented as an external polyp whereas rectal cancer is closer related to bowel or colon cancer. Bev has thoroughly explained the treatment for anal cancer but with rectal cancer the first line treatment where appropriate is surgery, if surgery isn’t suitable then I think chemotherapy is the next step.
When I had my biopsy the colorectal surgeon removed probably 80% of the external polyp although obviously the lesion underneath was still there. If you click on my username you can read a little of my story there. I took Movicol or Laxido stool softeners as I was a little sore afterwards.
It really is the worst time having to wait for tests & results as you already know from you previous experience. The anxiety is just awful & like you I found my concentration was non existent & sleep very poor, I think this is totally natural.
I do hope this turns out to be benign & you can just get back to living your life you’ve been through enough already. Good luck for your biopsy next week.
Nicola
Hi OldRhodie all the waiting around for the diagnosis is truly terrible. During that time I tried to keep as busy as possible with work but inevitably your mind keeps drifting back to it and imagining worse case scenarios. I really hope it is benign but if you will get through the treatment and it is short which is great. I had friends with breast cancer who were diagnosed around the same time as me and their treatment lasted 6 months. Please continue to reach out for support there will always someone around on here to help. Bev.
Hi OldRhodie there certainly seems to be a lack of information provided to you. It seems that the polyp has been biopsied and my biopsy results came back after about 10 days. I hope your scan went ok today. I would give the hospital a call after about 7 days, there is a chance the biopsy results may be back by the and maybe the scan results too. If they're not back I would be asking when you should expect to hear from them which should be straight after the MDT on 1st June. The waiting is so frustrating and very very difficult to deal with, it really is the hardest part. Bev x
