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Radiation + Chemo (Mitomycin-Fluorouracil) for anal cancer: Anyone?

Posted by angelikab @angelikab, Nov 22, 2024

I have been diagnosed with anal cancer and start treatment this weekend. I will have 6 weeks of radiation therapy, 5 days a week, plus chemo therapy using Mitomycin and Fluorouracil. The Fluorouracil will be given via a PICC line for 4 days, then again 4 weeks later, again for 4 days. Has anyone had this treatment for anal cancer? If so, how were the side-effects? I've had the cancer side effects education session, so have a good idea of what to expect, but just wondering if anyone could share a 1st hand experience. Thanks in advance!

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Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 1 9:02am
In reply to @danworthen1973 "@hopeful33250 I was diagnosed on May 27th 2025. The reality of it all didn't set in..." + (show)
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@hopeful33250
I was diagnosed on May 27th 2025. The reality of it all didn't set in for some time after. I really had no time to think about any of it as my doctors moved very quickly. In June, I started my five treatments of radiation and completed that in a week, Then moved to chemo treatments every two weeks. I just finished my 8th and final round of chemo on Nov17th. I had a scan at the 4th treatment and it came back clear. Thank you Jesus! I had a long discussion with my family doctor and the Oncologist about continuing treatment to make sure that the cancer was gone for good. Now that my treatments are behind me i can start to live my life again. As the treatments went on the side effects increased and seemed to last a little longer each time.
The treatments were every other Monday and by Wed. Afternoon the pump was able to be removed. That is when the side effects really took over and i was super tired by Thursday morning and the neuropathy set in for a few days. All i could do was lay in bed with a heating pad on my feet and gloves on my hands. This usually subsided by Sunday of the treatment week and back to work I went. The week after treatment was normal in my mind, I felt better, had more energy, could eat and drink like a regular human again. Then it started over again on Monday. As the weeks clicked by, my side effects lasted longer and were worse than the prior weeks. Something about the F5U compounding in your system and it would take longer for the side effects to lessen. By treatment 8 I was ready for all of the pain to stop. I was tired of being sick and tired. It was a mental struggle to continue on for sure, but I looked at my two boys and did it for them. I really have a lot to be thankful for as this could have been much worse than it was. I am still not officially out of the woods so to speak, but i have a good feeling. Time will tell
Thanks for your time

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@danworthen1973

I am glad to hear that you have completed the chemo and that your first scan was clear. That must encourage you! Sometimes, there can be digestive problems after surgeries such as yours. There is a discussion on Connect: "How Do I Eat After Digestive Tract Surgery?" (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-do-i-eat-after-digestive-tract-surgery/) Here you will meet others who have had a similar surgery to yours, such as @jimdiehl. This member has also posted in several other discussion groups. You can find this member's posts on their profile: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/member/00-1be9849e6ee97698460907/activity/comments/.

I hope you will find these other discussions helpful as well! Will you continue to post as you have questions or concerns?

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