When the first cancer was diagnosed I was stage IV. The only symptoms I had were malignant hypertension (very high blood pressure, it had always been low), & in hind sight fatigue. I was diagnosed in February of 2021, at a physical. My physical had been cancelled twice in the prior year, due to COVID. The ureter was blocked by the tumor, which killed my kidney, causing the rise in my blood pressure. I am also blessed with good doctors. My tumor was “gooey” & fell apart when they attempted to remove it (non-resectable), so some remained, it had also grown into the adjacent muscles. The pathology came back unspecified with squamous characteristics, which is rare for that area. The lymph node near that tumor was negative for cancer, but the peri-aortic, & para-iliac lymph nodes were positive. The treatment for that type of cancer (high grade UTUC) was surgery to remove the kidney, ureter, & bladder cuff, followed by 4-6 courses of chemotherapy (Cisplatin with Gemcitabine), followed by 28 radiation treatments to the area where the tumor was left, & lymph nodes. I got through 4 courses of chemo (about 4 months), but had a heart attack during the last infusion, so couldn’t have the last two courses.
My scans showed no evidence of disease for 18 months, then this anal cancer showed up. I have been struggling with energy, shortness of breath, & bowel problems since the first treatment, so I wouldn’t say that I had returned to healthy. Prior to all of this I worked out every day, water skied, hiked, led a very active life.