Anyone else have Anal cancer: What treatments did you have?

Hi @gabyivonne17, I moved your question to the Colorectal Cancer support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/colorectal-cancer/

I did this so you can connect with other members diagnosed with anal cancer like @hopenjoy2024 @msmarcy @jackiemarie @samclembeau @wilcy @marty28 and others.

Gaby, is this a new diagnosis for you? What treatment has been recommended?

It is a new diagnosis. No treatments yet, will start next week with radiation for 6 weeks every day

I had proton radiation for 30 sessions.
Started chemotherapy, but didn’t like the way I felt on it so only did about 10 days. I am now what is called NED ( no evidence of decease). that was just a year ago.
Was difficult to get doctors to okay proton radiation because they don’t have the proven numbers. If I had done regular radiation, they could have caused damage to my sphincter muscle because it was wrapped on it. Where are you located?
If yours has clear margins you may be able to just have surgery. UCSF had a program of surgery then chemo or surgery with a wait and see or radiation and chemo. But that one is also the one that is hardest on your system. Normal recommended treatment is radiation’s and chemotherapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks. A lot depends on the stage and position of the tumor.
I personally am very happy with the decision I made for my treatment.

I had surgery then radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks, also chemo. That was in 2016, and I am so happy to still be here! Best of luck with your treatments, Hang in there.

I was diagnosed July 2024 with anal rectal cancer. Went through 6 weeks of chemo and radiation. During treatment, I had to pause the chemo and radiation for 2 weeks. Then continued and finished both. I had lost a tremendous amount of weight and found it difficult to eat. I will be as blunt as I can on this forum it is extremely difficult to get through. I had burns from the radiation in the most private areas and while, yes, they will give you pain medication, you may still be in pain or extreme discomfort in those private areas. While most may feel better 2 or 3 months after treatment and the worst may be over, unfortunately, I also have Lupus SLE and it delayed healing process. Finally, now at the second week of April 2024, I am starting to feel better and am able to be walk outside, stand longer than I have been able to stand for a long time. I am still trying to regulate bowel movements and the excessive watery stools stopped in February/March 2025. I had my first sigmoidoscopy last week and there was no visual evidence of the tumor. My PET Scan is scheduled for May. The Sigmoidoscopy was very emotional for me as most likely the PET Scan may also be. Keep water at your bedside and drink 10-13 8 oz. Bottles a day but, do not forget to eat and back off the water if you are taking in fluids with your food so there will be room in your stomach for food. Food was an issue because I really was not given direction. Once I started eating Old Fashioned Oatmeal with blueberries that seemed to help my system. I tried to stick with protein, fruits… apples but, no peels, bananas and blueberries, potatoes, vegetable soup, etc.
I wish you well and it is intense what you will go through, you will cry and think you won’t get through it but, you will. My prayers are with you. By the way, I was diagnosed at the age of 64 and turned 65 in February. Wishing the best for you.

Thank you for your comment I really appreciate it.

Hi. I guess everyone’s experience is different. I was diagnosed with anal cancer in March, 2024. Started treatment end of May. One chemo infusion on day 1, followed by six weeks of radiation and two chemo pills per day. I had NO pain. My appetite was decreased a little bit but not because of nausea. I had some lack of bowel control and wore diapers for a few months. That’s back to normal now. My biggest problem was extreme fatigue. I’m 90% better now but have to pace myself. I’m 84. 🙂

Hello. since I have not started the treatment I don't know how my body will react to treatments. I was already told I will have 6 weeks of radiation. I do worry about loosing weight since I am already very thin, I weight only 110 lbs. I will be 57 years old in May. The doctor did tell me that I could experience nausea, diarrhea. I am hoping for the best.

Wow! So glad you are doing well except the exhaustion. I am more tired than what I think I should be. Wishing you the best.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 anal cancer January 2021. There was one large tumor and ten small ones. The large tumor caused a bowel blockage so I had an emergency colostomy. Then I had 10 days of radiation where I lost 22 pounds, had no appetite and was exhausted. This was followed by a year of chemotherapy and two years of immunotherapy with Keytruda. The colostomy was reversed early 2023. There was no sign of cancer, so in November 2023 they stopped treatment. The Pet scan this past December found a new tumor. I had surgery to have it removed in March. So I am back on Keytruda, probably for the rest of my life. Hoping for the best and staying positive.