Newly diagnosed with Anal cancer

Hello Andy

I don't think you have posted on here before, but a warm welcome and thank you for your honest account of your own experience and I am so impressed with how positive you are in spite of the various major issues you have faced.  I hope that life is treating you a bit more gently now and wish you all the very best in your planned return to work.

We are here for you too if you need a wee bit more support (I am judging everyone by my own needs!)

I am so glad you are here to tell your tale.

Irene xx

Hello Jaycee and thanks so much for your sharing your story. Despite a tough slog, all the stories shared have a positive outcome which really helps me. I’m so pleased I joined this group so I can start to prepare myself as much as possible.

I'm so pleased to read post treatment life is good and that you had a great support team. And I’m happy to share my story as I know most men, stick their heads in the sand and deal with these type of things silently. The more we share, the better and thanks for your good wishes for my16/1 appt. Have a fabulous 2024!

Hello Nicola and thanks so much for your story. It’s really perked me up this morning. I’ve already started a 2024 diary so I can track medication, appts and hopefully tick off all those treatments.

A friend suggested keeping a bottle of champagne in the fridge - to be opened once all the treatment was completed and so every time you went to the fridge, you saw it and knew what it was for and when you could open it! I really liked that.

I'm being treated in Norwich and they have a Big C charity hub which I intend to visit next week. I really feel positive about being proactive and having joined this group., even after a couple of days and all these lovely replies. Thank you and everyone else for supporting me in the journey ahead. David

Thank you ️

Thanks Laura. Boy, what a time you had with it. Well done for coping throughout it and I’m so pleased to read you’re in remission. I confess, the thought of a stoma frightens me, but I’ll cross that bridge if I have to and the fact you’ve said it’s given you a better quality of life is great. I had started to follow Adele Roberts on Instagram - she’s an inspiration and full of positivity.

i wish you a fabulous 2024 and good health going forward. And I promise to stay positive, David x

Hello Irene and thanks for taking the time to reply and share your story

Thank you also so much for the recommendations and support, I will add them to my list of things to get in readiness.

Wishing you well for 2024 and hope to be in touch again. I feel a little overwhelmed right now but the feedback from my post really helps. David x

Morning David, 

Thanks for getting back to me, to be honest I really did just sail through when you read people’s stories of what they have endured I really do thank my lucky stars how lucky I was to end up with just a stoma, which has given me a better quality of life and I really have no problems with it at all she is my best friend now. 

I to was following Adele. I’m glad you have found this forum everyone has been brilliant  and supportive and I now to try and  give advice and what worked for me, once you get a plan and start treatment it will go so quickly, I went back to work 6 weeks after my treatment just a couple of day and worked my way back to full time with in a couple of months. 

wishing you well throughout your journey 

Laura x x

Hi Horus

Really sorry to hear your recent diagnosis of this horrible disease. You’ve done the right thing and joined a really caring group of folk who are there and have been there to battle this bloody nuisance.

For what’s it worth I’m also being treated at Norfolk and Norwich as well and I echo your words describing the Medical teams.

I was diagnosed in November 23 with Anal SCC.

The tumour measured 23mm and had a clear margin  of 0.2mm.

I’ve been pencilled in for another operation to try and take some more healthy tissue to give better clear margins and possibly avoid Chemo/Radiotherapy treatment. I’m not sure if that just delaying the inevitable. 
Anyway if I see you in a waiting room at Norfolk and Norwich I’ll say hello. 

Regards

John

Hey John. What a small world! Thanks for sending your note. The NNUH is fast becoming my second home and I haven’t even started treatment yet! Thank God you can get free car parking if you’re being treated for cancer (just ask the receptionist to switch your car parking ticket for a free pass exit, which you scan on exit - in case you weren’t aware)

The MacMillan team at the hospital are brilliant (Bethan particularly).

Good luck with your own journey and YES, do say hello if you see me around. I’ve uploaded my photo onto my profile.

Best, David