Hi @joan19, welcome to Connect. You'll notice that I moved your message to the Colorectal Cancer group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/colorectal-cancer/). I did this so that you can more easily connect with other members, like @travelgirl @lcmtc @kowalski @sbsurfside @susan24 @mom23boys and @wilcy, who have experience with anal cancer or are caring for someone with anal cancer.

Joan, the outcome of treatment will in part depend on the stage of the cancer and your husband's overall health. It sounds like you and your husband are at the beginning of this cancer journey. I'm sure you have lots of questions and are learning a lot too. We look forward to getting to know more about you and to support you as you go through this. When was your husband diagnosed? Do you know what stage his cancer is (early or late-stage)? Have you discussed treatment options with his cancer team yet?

Hi @joan19,

I thought you may also be interested in these articles:

– Rectal Cancer Advanced Treatment Approaches https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rectal-cancer/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20352891
– Anal Cancer Advanced Treatment Approaches https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anal-cancer/care-at-mayo-clinic/mac-20354150
– Ablation and Embolization for Colorectal Cancer https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/treating/ablation-embolization.html

I’d also encourage to take a look at the Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Page on Connect, where Mayo Clinic experts discuss colon and rectal cancer questions through a series of short videos:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/gastroenterology-and-gi-surgery/tab/colorectal-cancer/

The problem is he had radiation for prostate cancer in 1997 and also seed implants -now radiation is to close to the same place so they will do chemo then possibly surgery! I’m wanting to know if this is going in the right direction but I don’t think their is other options !

@joan19, I’m also tagging @predictable to see if he might be able to provide more insight about the prostate cancer radiation; in the meantime, you might wish to give this article a quick read:
Recent advances in the management of anal cancer https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6173125/

@joan19 I can tell you about my friend who had breast cancer about 20 yrs ago and then 10 yrs later she had gotten anal cancer. She had surgery and Chemo for both cancers and it has been about 14 yrs now since the anal cancer. She is doing fine.

They have made excellent advancements since she had her treatments.

I would recommend you speak with several Dr's as to how they would treat this situation. I know she must of saw like 5 DR's from Top Hospitals in Chicago. I believe she ended up going to Northwestern Hospital. They had the most advanced treatment at the time. She was pretty young at the time too 49 yrs old.

But do get several opinions for your best results.

Wishing you the best
Jackie

Hi @joan19. I'm weighing in as suggested by Kanaaz to give you another concerned member to rely on as you may wish in connection with your husband's impending cancer treatment. I'll emphasize right away that I have no personal experience with prostate cancer or rectal cancer, but some on-point experience with prostate surgery (to remove excess prostate tissue) and superficial bladder cancer uncovered when the prostate tissue was removed. Over the last several years, my urologists and I have examined my bladder, prostate, and urethra regularly and found no evidence of cancer. However, we always have a short discussion about whether rectal tumors are growing and pressuring my urinary organs in a way that forces me to urinate more often than usual. Part of that involves examination of the inside of my rectum in search of any tumors. Glad to say none has been noticed so far.

From all of this, though, I have a pretty good picture and understanding of how one might become concerned about radiation effects in this tightly packed area near the anus. Like you, I would want to have a full explanation of what an examination has found and what additional findings might mean — especially in terms of selecting the method of surgery for attacking your husband's anal tumor. The factors involved are multiple, and I'm not able to advise you about what course to take — except to say that your husband's medical team is probably the only source of information about this unique challenge. You should try to satisfy yourself — through discussions with them — that they can be relied upon to do the best for your husband — as well as the least necessary. Martin

Thanks they have decided chemo first since radiation could be to close -then surgery-after they look at it in surgery they may know more if he can do radiation afterwards -The dr also said his cancer was probably caused by the radiation from when he had prostate that was in 1997 but had no trouble then !

Yes we have had about 6 Dr’s they have been getting together -the problem is he had prostate cancer in 1997 so the very area has had radiation so they are going with chemo first then surgery after they see the area in surgery they may do radiation! I think I’m trusting the Dr ‘s more ! One especially Dr Rojan is great !

Yes I have read about the virus but this is not the case -they said his cancer was probably caused from the radiation he had on his prostate in 1997 -thanks for the information though !

It’s stage 3 spleen and liver is clear -just got a cat scan for lungs Monday-he was diagnosed about a month ago -they have had a time discussing what to do because of the radiation would be very close to a lot of organs -they decided chemo then surgery and maybe radiation after surgery! It is 6 centimeters -he will get a port Monday and chemo starting Tuesday ! They explained it all to us the day before yesterday-Dr Rojan seems very knowledgeable! Thanks for asking and for the info !

Diagnosed 5 years ago! Colostomy now! Contact me if you like!

@wilcy, I don't know if I mentioned this already, but we have a group talking about living with a colostomy here:

– Ostomy: Adapting to life after colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ostomy-adapting-to-life-after-colostomy-ileostomy-or-urostomy/

As you are so helpful with other members who may be new to this, I thought your participation in the Ostomy group would be very welcome by others. There's also an Ostomy blog on Connect here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/living-with-an-ostomy/

Mine was stage 3 about 6 years ago! Reconnection failed! Am happy with colostomy! Any questions? Good luck!