Joining the anal cancer club!

So sorry to hear about your dog. Hoping your treatment goes well. Xxx

Hi Alikat,

Welcome, and firstly I am so sorry to hear about Dyson. It is tough to lose a precious pooch but I hope your good memories will help you through.

As regards your treatment - you might want to start preparing your skin for radiotherapy by moisturising your underbits, although they will give you some heavy duty stuff once you start. I would also advise you to get hold of a sitz bath, (Amazon have them) it fits over your toilet seat and can be a godsend when wiping your bottom can be really sore. You can also 'go' into the water which lots of people found easier. I'd also say start planning food you like, especially small things like soup and crackers which may be al you feel like some of the time.

Take care xx

Welcome to this wonderful community where you can let off steam and get lots of tips on coping strategies. Mrs Vanilla has already started you off.   Hopefully you have had a good chance to read some of the posts on here and will add some can be a little disturbing which I found to be the case when I first came on here and it freaked me out a bit. But when you start treatment the effects come on gradually and you learn how best you treat them as you go on. Hospitals are different on how they go about treatment especially when they administer the chemotherapy drug. My hospital were not the most forthcoming giving out creams and I really had to ask them and luckily they did but they had a brilliant care team who were there for me 24/7. My cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes but they still gave me the full five and a half weeks chemo radiotherapy diamond treatment package. I was 66 when I was diagnosed and she said I was young and fully capable of getting through it. 

It sounds great you have a good support network to help you and my heart kind of goes out to those who have to get through this on their own and hope it helps to have us to talk to.

i am sorry about the loss of your pet as they really do become part of your family but bet he had a wonderful life and loved. Good luck with your planning tomorrow and the start of your treatment and go into 2025 getting back into the best of health.

Julie

Hi Alikat,

Im so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and a very warm welcome to the forum. So many lovely people with excellent advice and support on here. I haven’t been a great contributor as just felt so overwhelmed but have soaked up every bit of the wise advice from everyone it’s been so helpful. This diagnosis isn’t really an easy thing to talk about.

So hard to lose a beloved dog and horrible timing for you when you have so much to cope with psychologically. A shitty year indeed and hopefully everything will start to improve once you start treatment and feel.  I absolutely wish you well for the next steps on this journey you would rather not be on.

Hopefully you will also have a great team to support you.

 I agree with the others. Sitz bath, insist on the creams and don’t be afraid to take the pain killers. 

Xx

Thanks so much Ninnie  x

Thanks so much Julie.  

Unfortunately I wasn't hydrated enough for the planning session this morning - I hadn't received any prep advice and TBH I probably cried a river over this last week and didn't prioritise my health this weekend.  Fortunately they've been able to reschedule for this Friday and they did take some measurements today so not sure if it will delay when I start treatment or not.  

I'm impressed with the community group and can't thank you enough for taking the time to respond.  It's so good to know that there are people who actually understand the overwhelm of feelings and can share advice and support for one another - it's very much appreciated! 

I hope to be an active community member! I did a share on LinkedIn informing everyone I've got anal cancer because I knew that there would be people ignoring their "piles" or other symptoms - and I regret waiting so long...  If it helps one person its worth sharing.

And hope you're doing well

Thanks again Alikat x

What fabulous advice - thank you so much - the sitz bath has been ordered!!  

Poor Dyson ended up declining very quickly but we were blessed to have him in our lives - he made us and so many others smile!  He was such a character.  Our focus is now on helping our Labrador adjust who I think is actually to now be "top dog".  

I've been reading through posts and for me I feel knowledge is power and reading about the real lived experiences of others - very helpful - and strangely comforting.  

Lastly, thank you so much for sharing with me and the warm welcome - it's much appreciated and I hope you are doing well on your journey too. 

Sending love and light 

Alikat 

Ah thanks so much for this - I've now purchased the sitz bath - think I'd appreciate now tbh!  I've also moved my coconut oil up to the bathroom to help moisturise... 

And feeling a bit stronger today regarding our beloved Dyson - we have a sensitive Labrador, Buddy, who is constantly by my side - it's just so hard walking past where his bed was or walking into the house - I know it well get easier.... 

Thank you again for reaching out and sharing your knowledge and advice - it's very much appreciated.  

I hope your on track with your wellness journey. 

Warmest 

Alikat x

Hello Alikat

A warm welcome to the forum although I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  Terry the tumour!  I am in awe of you retaining a sense of humour during this and once treatment starts things really will start to look better.

And to lose your pooch as well as everything else - I am so sorry.  We have a dog that we both adore and my heart contracts when I think about being without her.  Keep cuddling Buddy - dogs feel loss too.

Let us know when it is all due to start (and invest in a Sitzbath, very cheap on Amazon and very soothing for bathing your nether regions).

Love and light back!

Irene xx

PS Ah, just seen you have already been told about the bath!

Hi Ali, I am 61 years young and I was diagnosed after having haemorroids removed, they found a tumor and a biopsy confirmed positive anal cancer.  My treatment of concurrent chemoradiation begun on November 11th and I am currently in my 3rd week of radiation.  I reached out to this forum as well and it has been so encouraging to hear from supportive people whom are experiencing this cancer as well.  I wish you all the best on your journey too.  I am so sorry to hear about the passing of your beloved pet too.