Where is it I should begin?
I'll take you back to the Autumn of 2023. I had discovered something not normal in my back passage, something I thought was a haemorrhoid. I went to my GP concerned and she asked me a few questions including did I have unprotected anal sex recently and I said no. She examined me and referred me on to have a colonoscopy. I messed up the first time going having not taken the bowel prep correctly and having had toast the night before so second time round I did everything correctly. The date of this colonoscopy was early December the same year.
I went home with a page of photos of my colon and was told I'd hear from my surgeon from last year Mr Hewitt. His name will pop up later.
I had heard absolutely nothing until the next year of 2024. I think late Spring early Summer I saw Mr Hewitt for a brief appointment. I can't remember much really and hadn't noticed proper symptoms until late 2024 into early 2025 when I had lots of pain sitting down and even standing. I was also having chronic diarrhoea and constipation. I had more haemorrhoids form on my outer anus. They're still there now. By about June of last year I felt so annoyed with all these symptoms and being in constant pain and discomfort all the time. Then my brother and I were talking and we decided it would be best to go private to get somewhere so I did I contacted a private health centre place and got an appointment I think it was for a Wednesday evening around half 6 or 7 in June. Eventually after a couple of appointments Mr Hewitt my surgeon who also dealt with me and did my stoma surgery at the end of July last year he put me back on to an NHS waiting list and miraculously I was given an appointment to get a procedure done called a sigmoidoscopy which revealed after a biopsy was done that I had a precancerous tumour in my anal canal. I was told I'd need both a nephrostomy and a stoma and I was also told that I would need chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat the tumour. At that point I wasn't alarmed having been told it was precancerous. A further biopsy done the same day as the stoma surgery then revealed eary August that I did indeed have anal cancer, some big fancy medical term it was known as some kind of carcinoma. I was told this news while in my hospital bed alone. Thankfully my auntie and uncle were close by and were there to visit me soon after. I had told my brother and my former foster parents soon after getting the news before my auntie and uncle arrived. I told them as soon as they entered my room. I think I was kind of in denial at first, maybe not denial but I remember being very strong and positive even considering the news I just received about having anal cancer. I don't think it properly sunk in for a few days and weeks after. It all seemed to become real when I started my treatment in September and October of last year.
Fast forward to now I was told at the end of January after an MRI scan that my tumour had responded very well to treatment. It's not the end of my cancer journey yet but I'm hopeful and I look forward to being able to live life how I did before this cancer journey and diagnosis. I can't wait until I go to concerts again because that's something I'm very passionate about.
But for now I thank whoever reads this and if I can offer any sort of wisdom or advice from my experiences of anal cancer, living with both a nephrostomy and stoma and even my everyday struggles with living with bi polar depression and anxiety.
Thank you, Maeve 
Thank you
Hi Mabr051527 & another warm welcome to our little corner of the MacMillan Online Community although I’m sorry to hear of all you’ve been through.
It never ceases to amaze me how long it can take to get to a diagnosis of anal cancer & why Dr’s don’t seem to be referring people quicker. I asked this question of my lovely oncologist when I realised so many people here were being treated for benign conditions such as haemorrhoids for months & sometimes longer before being referred & his reply was that most GP’s will possibly only see 1 or 2 cases of anal cancer (if any at all) in their whole careers & because it’s rare they treat for other things that it could be first e.g., haemorrhoids! For someone that’s had this diagnosis this just isn’t good enough. Yes it is one of the rarer cancers but numbers are on the up & there’s plenty of us here that are testament to its existence! Can I just add I’m applaud that your GP asked about unprotected anal sex!
Thank you so much for sharing your journey thus far, there will be many people that can relate I’m sure.
Nicola
