Hello all, another anal cancer newbie here!

Thank you Chrissie49. I'm so pleased to have found this forum.

Kathy xx

Hi JDT,

Thank you, and that's reassuring to hear that your side effects weren't too bad and that the treatment is reducing your tumour and liver mets. Today's meeting went well and the oncologist said that it's best to get started with the chemotherapy now, which I'm happy about and don't want to have any further delay. Hope all goes well with your ongoing treatment too.

Kathy xx

Thank you Bungle1, really appreciating everyone's support.

Kathy xx

Thanks Mrs Vanilla. Yes, it's great to have found such a supportive community. 

Kathy xx

Hi Ally,

Today went well today thanks and my chemotherapy treatment has been confirmed to start next Thursday 11th at 8.30am (so an early start!). Hospital is only 20-30 minutes away, so not too bad. Stormzy is a great nickname! Paloma loves the walking, she was 'singing' a little during my half-hour stroll today. She has really helped to reduce the pain, though sometimes I get some stabbing pains in my right buttock.

Good to hear that your treatment is helping and wishing you all the best with your next test results. I'll take a look at the stoma forum.

Kathy xx

Hi Irene,

Thank you and lovely to hear from you as I recall reading about your experience, as a Stage IV on diagnosis, with the two chemo drugs when I was browsing the forum before I joined. It's great to hear how you're doing 'on the other side' and that your scans are clear so far. 

The Stage IV diagnosis did come as a shock when the two poo tests I'd had earlier in the year were negative. My GP initially thought it was piles, but after the biopsy, it's a case of 'never trust a haemorrhoid'. Since then, the GP has been brilliant and I'm lucky to have a proactive practice nearby.

It's very encouraging to hear how you coped with the chemotherapy and I'm not worried about the hair loss...after all, I guess it's not so important in the greater scheme of things. A neighbour who went through breast cancer treatment recommended some lovely chemo turbans/scarves on Amazon, so I'm ready. 

My oncologist confirmed my treatment start date for next Thursday 11th, followed by the 18th and 29th, so it's a relief to know a timetable. As you say, she said it was best to start chemo now to target the tumour, liver met and everything versus the original plan of radiotherapy first. Given the development of the fistula, they were concerned about the risk of infection and it was a horrible, upsetting thing to have. Paloma came as a great relief after that...when you need this kind of surgery, you just accept it and get on with life. 

The oncologist also said she'd see me after my first cycle, with a CT scan after the third one, halfway through. I'm also due to have my pre-chemo chat this Saturday morning when I can ask questions. If you have any advice on this, that would be great.

I'll take plenty of reading material with me on Thursday, not least the mountain of weekend newspapers to get through!

Big hug back.

Kathy x

Pleased it went well today, Kathy. It can be a lot! I was diagnosed with Stage IV anal cancer in June 2024, with metastases to the liver, peritoneum and lymph nodes. I had one round of chemo and then pelvic radiotherapy for five and a half weeks. So far, so good! Welcome to the forum. 

That's great news about your start date Kathy and I hope everything goes smoothly for you on Thursday.

Can't even imagine how painful a fistula has been for you, hopefully it will now have time to heal and the pain in your buttock will ease.

I had weekly chemo by IV and Stormzy would blow up like a wind sock, I am just imagining Paloma singing through your sessions.

Enjoy your walking and keep us updated.

Ally xx

Hello KatB5 

The only advice I can give you will probably be well covered on Saturday - I take lots of supplements and when this extremely young pharmacist came round and told me to stop them all I thought I need to talk to the oncologist for real advice (to my shame, I admit), but she completely backed him up.  It wouldn't be ethical to test the difference between treatment with or without supplements and she told me that they admit that some supplements do help with cell renewal which is the last thing they want when the chemo is trying to stop cell renewal.

The other point she made was that if I had to miss a session (which I did due to the liver levels and also a later session due to a vasovagal episode) that the sessions would continue without making up the missed sessions.  With a stage IV diagnosis at the forefront of my mind, I decided I needed every bit of help I could get and wasn't prepared to miss ANY sessions of chemo so I rang up reception and told them I had had to miss a session (I did this both times) and they booked me in for the missed session, no further questions asked, so my whole treatment was extended by a couple of weeks.  I don't think my oncologist was any the wiser, and even now four years later, I feel absolutely no regret at my actions.  It was right for me then and now.

A chemo session is a brilliant time to catch up on all the news!

Irene xx

Hello Kat,

It’s good that you now have a plan and start date in place. 

I can see that you’re getting some great advice from the lovely forum members. There is a wealth of experience on this site and it can be so helpful when you don’t know where to turn or who to ask.

Despite the awful time that you have gone through lately you sound very positive and want to wish you well for next Thursday. 

Sending hugs xx