Perianal Lump

Hi 

Thanks ever so much

I think if I’m offered the further treatment irrespective of the margins I’m going to take it.
You guys are inspirational and very brave and I really do mean that.
I get really embarrassed and humbled when I get encouragement and I have shed a tear or two tonight as we really are in this together. 
John x

We stand together in this fight & support one another throughout John, we’re all only brave because we’ve had to be & you’re braver than you know also. We’re here for you in your next steps whatever they might be. 

Nicola 

Hi JayC - just wanted to relay my experience - I also had a "haemorroid" removed in 2008 which they told me afterwards was SCC and I went through the CT, MRI etc and finally a colonoscopy under general anaesthetic.  When I finally met the oncologist he said that I was completely clear and that this does happen in some cases.  I lived happily until this January when I was diagnosed with SCC again but this time I had to have the full radio/chemo treatment.  What I want to impress on you is that if you ARE found to be clear - make sure you chase regular check ups.  Sadly I didn't - I thought I had dodged the bullet lol. I really hope you are found to be clear!

Best wishes

Hi Cranford

Thank-you so much for your kind words. What a journey you’ve been on and I hope and pray the future is bright for you.

If  further treatment for me is offered I will definitely take it .If  the clear margins are only a couple of millimetres I will take the view that this cancer is so rare and anything can happen including it coming back despite being clear.

I don’t think cancer ever goes away but regular surveillance is key

I know this from the skin cancer lesion. I’ve had 7 Basel Cell Carcinomas to date and the hospital wanted to discharge me after the first. I insisted that I needed yearly examinations and that’s when the other subsequent BCC’s were found.

This new Anal Cancer diagnosis is on a different level and I will never accept that  I will be completely cancer free.

Your advice is brilliant and I will insist  on regular check ups 

Kind regard

John x

Hi again John, I too have had a couple of BCC’s removed (post anal cancer diagnosis), I’ve just had another checked out at my GP’s surgery as my oncologist told me if I’d had one then I was at higher risk of getting others only to be told to take photographs 3 months apart & review again then! I was also told that the referral for a BCC is now months as they’re non life threatening!! I understand they’re not as urgent as say a suspected melanoma or SCC but can become invasive & if that occurs they can get more complicated to remove! Because the 2 I had removed were fairly small they were both dealt with in the dermatology clinic within 10 minutes with a local anaesthetic. The GP that saw me this time was the one that gave me the referral last time but she thought the last one was a SCC, this time she seemed very blasé about the whole thing! I will be going back (with said photographs) when the 3 months is up! 

Nicola 

Hi Nicola excuse me for squeezing in but where do you find these BCC’s. I don’t really look for them but I know I have some large freckles on my back but difficult to monitor them. 

John, it is totally normal.  When I was told I vaguely heard the consultant's voice as if he was talking to me from the next room, my husband was with me which was just as well.  I was totally numb and was having difficulty absorbing anything and went into a state of denial, I thought they had made some mistake.  The best thing that happened in those early days was when treatment started and life started to take on some sort of normality again.

Hang on in there John, the team will be working out your treatment plan and you will feel a lot more in control than you do right at this moment.

Sending hugs

Irene x

Julie, I know that wasn't directed at me but my husband was a flaming red-head and is covered in freckles.  I keep a very close eye on his back (any area that gets the sun) and noticed one was a bit scaly.  He went to the GP who sent him to the hospital dermatologist and sure enough, it was BCC.  The guy froze it off there and then.  My father-in-law (with the same colouring) was in Singapore during WWII and exposed to lots of sun with no protection and in later life developed lots of BCCs on his forearms, the side of his face and his shoulder.  All were successfully treated.  It may be worth asking your GP if they do skin checks, especially if you have back freckles.

Best of luck! 

Irene x 

Hi Jaycee12 , the dermatologist that dealt with mine said they’re typically caused by sun damage, the one I went to the GP with would be ok for a while then all of a sudden would bleed a little & scab over, it itched a little but not excessively. When the dermatologist checked my back she found another small one on the back of my shoulder, I’m not sure how I would have spotted that one! If you’re at all concerned maybe see your GP just to get checked over.

Nicola