Intro
Hi Guys,
My name is Patti and I'm new to this venue. DX'd with Stage 3A Anal cancer Sept 2018-finished chemo radiation 11/18. First pet scan showed partial response/residual disease. Docs said this is quite common. Any thoughts? The surgeon said he no longer feels the tumor but prepare myself for a colostomy just in case. WTF. I am a nurse case manager. I am only working 1-2 days a week. I feel lazy and broke but when I try to increase hours I have extreme fatigue. I walk every day, eat well blah blah but still so tired. My husband died of HPV + head and neck cancer 2 years ago so this could be grief too.
Your stories have been so helpful. Thank you all for being here!
Sign in or sign up to post a comment.
Thanks so much for responding, I think the APR part of the surgery is what scared me so much. Yeah chemo-radiation are super tough. I don't feel so alone now. Thanks!
I irrigate my stoma and only wear a 1 1/2 “ cover, or plug... it’s virtually unnoticeable even in a bikini!
Good luck with your treatment xxx
Sorry about the loss of your husband. That sucks to lose your spouse to cancer and then face it yourself a short time later.
Just hang in there cause it will get better...just keep taking good care of yourself.
Welcome! I am sorry about your husband. That is so hard, and now with your anal cancer.
The radiation and chemo stay active in the system for 6 months; so I hope this kills it off.
I hope that you are able to give you body a chance to heal and make time to do things that bring that healing, maybe traveling or something special.
I will be sending good thoughts your way.
Hugs E
I see you are in the Atlanta area--me too. There are some other Georgia gals in this group too. Sometime, perhaps, we can all get together.
Take care and celebrate every little improvement, even if it's not falling asleep before the 10 o'clock news! I wish you all the very best!
The radiation keeps working, the tumor is dead, it just doesn't know it yet, that is why there is a little residual showing. Of COURSE, the surgeon said that, he is a SURGEON! I am an OR nurse 35+ years, and we like to say, "When you have a hammer in your hand, everything's a nail", so ignore that comment! Yes, WTF?
A nurse friend of mine who lost her husband said grief counseling was so beneficial, even as she had to force herself to sign up, because as you know, nurses are invincible, (or so we think).
Glad you found us, this is a great group, and welcome!
Tiredness will be with you for a while yet, sorry to say. We're all different, but I am still tired after 2 1/2 years from treatment. It is getting better now, thankfully.
Really sorry about losing your husband, just terrible.
Keep posting.
We all get through it together here, so welcome