New diagnosis, anal and rectum cancer

Have you actually been told it has metastasised? My understanding of it is that spread to adjacent tissues isn't called metastasis. In my son's case (different cancer) it was just called spread, which is much less serious. But I'm not a doctor.

They have just confirmed it is a large tumour in both areas, it's probably me reading that has made the assumption it has metastasised.

Did your son have surgery or chemo radiation?

I hope he had good results and thank you for sharing.

My son had both surgery and chemo before surgery (4months of it), radiation (30 sessions) after surgery. His thymoma had spread into his left lung so half of that was removed as well as the thymus gland where the cancer started. Yesterday his second and more important scan came up negative for cancer!!. The first scan 6 months ago was just to give a baseline.

I think it is only called metastasis when the cancer travels through blood & lymph vessels to distant organs. I wish you success with the treatment they give you.

Hi AllyL 

I don’t have the same diagnosis, but just wanted to add a couple of things. Squamous cell cancer caused by hpv is most likely to be anal cancer, rather than rectal cancer which is normally adenocarcinoma. 

If you think about our digestive system, the colon, rectum and anus are all part of it, but are different. If you have a large tumour it can easily encroach onto the next part of the intestine, so if it’s anal cancer it might affect the rectum, being the next part up from the anus. 

It sounds like you searching for information has led you to believe this is a metastatic cancer spread from anus to rectum, but you may have assumed this incorrectly. Metastatic cancer typically means a spread to somewhere else further away, but you’ve confirmed the cancer is not in the lymph nodes or another organ which is a good thing! 

As you’re going to be having a stoma, you might find it helpful to join our stoma support group here

Stoma Support Group

I hope this help a bit.

Sarah xx

I think my brain was in over drive last night Sarah.

Thank you for taking the time to reassure me, stops my brain going into overdrive.

Ally xx

That is such good news about your son. I hope he continues to get stronger.

I've stopped looking up this cancer, so hopefully only correct info x

It can be really hard not to do lots of overthinking, but it can be very anxiety inducing to read stuff on dr google, so try to stick with reputable sites like here, the NHS and Cancer Research UK where you can be sure the information is up to date and accurate. 

You can also ask medical questions of the Macmillan nurses here

Ask the Expert

The support line number is in my signature and you can call and chat to the lovely folk there if you need a bit of extra support-getting a diagnosis is tough for us, and there’s a lot to cope with both physically and mentally. You’ll get lots of help in the community, especially here and in the anal cancer group so feel free to ask questions or share any worries. I’ve got a permanent stoma myself, and the stoma support group has lots of useful advice and tips.

Sarah xx

Thank you Sarah.

Having my temporary stoma fitted today pretreatment. Can't wait for some relief from the stenosis.

I have stopped researching now, my way of managing stress. But I am hopeful, I might be able to chat to somebody who has had a squamous cancer spread from anus to rectum.

I didn't know about ask the expert, sounds like a great option.

Ally xx

Hi @AllyL

I’m sure you’ll feel a great relief once the stoma is formed and you’re not needing to poo. I’m not sure it’s helpful to concentrate on “spread” however.

Spread in my own case, which was a different type of cancer, just referred to my tumour invading the tissue round about-it didn’t mean it was a different type of cancer or was in a different location-just that the tumour was big enough to have encroached into the tissue round about it. Same as your case, everything is in very close proximity in that area of the body! 

I any case, I hope you’ll find the temporary stoma formation a great help as you go through all this and best wishes for your upcoming surgery.

Sarah xx

Good advice Sarah....thank you xx