Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Sam, I believe your question was for @zobesca. Looking back through their comments, they were on the immunotherapy called pembrolizumab, which stopped working for them.

Sam, have you decided to move forward with chemoradiation?

can i ask what immunotherapy you are doing and where?

has anyone done the new low dose chemoradiation? how is it going. how severe are the side effects?

I agree we have a bidet (hand held sprayer style), that was easy to install. It has been priceless during this treatment. I’ve had one round of chemo & 12 radiation treatments so far. Not an easy treatment!

I’m so sorry to hear all that you’re going through. My anal cancer was diagnosed this past September. It was stage 3. I had 6 weeks of chemo and radiation. My first scan was in March and 2 out of 3 inches of it was gone. They say the treatment continues to work for an additional few months after it’s stopped. It’s a constant roller coaster ride and series of doctor’s appointments. They say I have a 25% chance of it coming back. Even if I wanted to put it in the back of my mind for a minute, I couldn’t because I’ve been left with fecal incontinence from the radiation.I do so appreciate your honesty. I was lucky the first 2 times I had cancer. I’ve had a mastectomy and a thyroidectomy due to cancer. How long will my luck hold? I am not a religious person, but find myself praying a lot. I will pray for you and all of us in the fight of our lives. Thank you again for your honesty.

I couldn’t agree with you more about the bidet. When I was diagnosed with my squamous cell anal cancer and heard about the treatment my husband insisted we buy a bidet. It helped immensely then and is still helping now. It’s an expense, but we’ll worth it.

I was diagnosed with Anal cancer in May of 2020. Since then, this has been one hellova ride. After being told 1 year max of dealing with it...wrong. Within the first 6 months, I was diagnosed a stage 4. The chemo and radiation was pure hell on me. Not gonna lie, having it in that area is the worst. You will want to have plenty of dresses as you will have blisters and swelling. You will need to have a squirt bottle to clean yourself after doing your business. And it is humiliating, but you'll get over it. My husband had to help me with putting the medicine on. You are gonna need to stay hydrated and EAT!! I have resorted to living on boost/ensure. Little Red Door Cancer Society provides it free to me with a prescription from my Oncologist team. As for any other options, radiation and chemo were the only ones available to me for stage 4 Anal Cancer.

Having since it has metastisized to my groin, liver and lungs. After having a lobe of my liver removed and been going thru chemo since the beginning, the disease wants to stay in my lungs but just found out last week that it has metastisized to my bones. I go to see my Radiation Oncologist tomorrow. I have been in remission 1 time and it was only for a month. Everything we have done has only been life sustaining. I have had times where I wanted to give up but now hearing that my time is nearing the end, just makes me want to fight harder!!

My advice to you is to get a second opinion and never give up!! Not sure if you are a believer, if so, PRAY!! And find someone you can confide in.

I didn't mean to scare ya but would rather be honest as to the possibility of what could happen.

I will pray for you. If you use Facebook, you can send me a friend's request @ Nickie Knauss. I use messenger to talk to a group of people dealing with Cancer.

Good luck and prayers 🙏🏻

The trial is in Newark DE. I should find out tomorrow if I’m in it out. I want to get started w treatment son. The Mets in my liver doubled in size in 1 month. Makes me scared.

Hello, Stuart here. diagnosed with Squamous Cell Anal Cancer. Rated at Stage 1B in May 2022. Did six weeks of radiation and two weeks of Chemo (week 1 and 5). Had a pet-scan in November 2022 and a Short scope colonoscopy in March 2023. Both showed cancer gone. Can't help but read about Farrah Fawcett and her story with Anal Cancer. Definitely have to be vigilant! I will recommend something to help with aftercare. My wife and I purchased a Bio-bidet 2000 from Amazon. You are just replacing your toilet seat, adding a water line and an outlet near your toilet tank. Definitely helps with all the issues when going number 2. Sorry to be so forward but I think I'm in the right company. Good luck and GOD Bless everyone! Stuart Grant

I'm being treated at huntsman in salt lake City with full chemo now. Sadly immunotherapy didn't work for my cancer. Where's the trial?