Worried this might be anal cancer

Hi Tina, see my lengthy reply to yancy. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am a 74yo female. I was recently diagnosed by a Galleri blood test that detects 50 types of cancer. Squamous cell anal carcinoma was confirmed by a biopsy. I’m currently awaiting surgery, ct, scan, mri, and staging in late march before treatment begins. I read somewhere that women are predominantly diagnosed with this rare cancer. Cigarette smoking is a factor. I quit smoking nearly 25 years ago. I’m sorry to hear about your severe radiation experience. Are you being treated with a photon or proton laser?

Thanks for sharing Yancy. Did anyone tell you your anal cancer phase? Was it photon or proton radiation?
I stepped outside of my Medicare HMO and ordered a Galleri blood test online from Grail in December 2024 because I experienced mild, vague symptoms for about 3 years (bloated feeling, 5-9 daily pencil thin soft bowel movements with a reddish orange hue and occasional light bleeding). I developed distinct pain on the left side of my anus following a colonoscopy 2 years ago. I have fibromyalgia pain everywhere so I always worry about my brain’s ability to properly interpret the seriousness of pain signals. I was diagnosed with non cancerous colon polyps and hemorrhoids in February 2023 and told to repeat my colonoscopy in 5 years. Galleri blood test confirmed markers for anal cancer in Feb2025. My Medicare HMO doctor pushed back against this type of blood test until her anal palpation identified an irregularity on left side of anus. Sigmoidoscopy and biopsy confirmed squamous cell anal cancer. I am currently scheduled for mri, ct scan and surgery in late March. I hope to know stage and path forward by early April. Your fatigue comment is very helpful as I am primary caretaker for my partner of nearly 50 years who has severe dementia. I need to plan for outside help.
Thanks again for posting your comments.

Hi my name is Tina, and I was recently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma anal cancer. I am a 53 year old female. Over the last two years I had some anal itching but didn't think anything of it. I had recently went through surgery for a total thyroid ectomy and the pain medication caused me to become constipated, which in that time is when I noticed that I had a huge tumor protruding in the vaginal area. I went to see the doctor to find out it was not in the vaginal area but it was in the rectal area. CT scans and MRI revealed a mass and also a lymph node that was enlarged. They did a colonoscopy and found the mass did a biopsy and it was then revealed to be staged 2 squamous cell carcinoma anal cancer. I was ordered to do two rounds of chemotherapy one in the beginning of treatment and another at the fifth week I was given two different medication one was given in the office the other was put on a pump that I went home with for 5 days. I have finished both rounds of chemotherapy and I am now finishing my radiation. As I started the beginning of the 6th week of radiation they had to stop and give me a week's break because I was burned so badly down in that area that I could not handle any more radiation. I was ordered 30 plus session of radiation, which is a total of seven whole weeks. I still have 2 weeks left to go

Hi. I was Dx with squamous cell anal cancer in March of 2024. After several months of tests, etc., I started with one chemo infusion through a port, followed by 28 sessions of radiation and chemo pills. I had nausea only after that first infusion. I’m happy to say that I had no pain. It was so much “easier” than I anticipated. The partial lack of control over my bowels wasn’t pleasant but I used diapers. The worst part was the fatigue. I finished treatment in July 2024 and still not quite back to full strength. I’m getting there and otherwise feel fine. So hang in there, and stay positive!

Hi @lolly, have you been diagnosed with anal cancer? Do you have symptoms that are concerning you?

What were your symptoms? Thanks.

@kassray, have you had your follow-up appointment? How are you doing?

Yes, I have had colon cancer and a colon and liver resection 5 yrs ago, had Chemo and check ups regularly, at 83 I was told they did not want to do anymore colonoscopies for safety reasons , they could damage or perforate the the colon. Had CT scans and blood tests instead. I have passed the 5 year mark and cancer free. (Am 86 now)
Margreet

Of course.!!

I don’t have constant pain just sporadic. I was told they had to wait 8 weeks since I also had gallbladder surgery