OT: Dealing with anal C

[skiezo]

So I had a scope done a few weeks ago and a follow up scope w/biopsy last week and was diagnosed with early stage anal cancer. Luckily they are saying treatment is chemo/radiation only, so no cutting out of parts. 6 weeks of 5 days a week radiation and chemo 1 or 2 days a week.
I am playing the waiting game at the present time and waiting on blood work and CT scan and then meet with the Team that is be doing the treatment. I am real close to Hershey Medical Center so my treatment will be handled at that premiere facility.
The DR. said that long days in the saddle for the last 35+ years may of atribulated to the C but he cant say 100% but did say he has seen his share of cyclist over the years with the same or similar diagnoses.
If it don't feel right don't wait,get it checked out sooner than later. I choose the sooner.
It has not quite set in yet but I have faith that all will turn out well.

[Blue Jays]

Stay strong. Best wishes for a full recovery.

[XXtwindad]

Best wishes for a full recovery and getting back on the saddle.

[tctyres]

The treatments are fairly well directed now. With Hershey medical nearby, you are in good hands. Best wishes to a speedy and full recovery. :hello:

I've had two family members who went through cancer treatment several years ago. Both are doing well. From their experiences, I would say that there's no reason to panic, which seems to be a fairly common reaction to cancer. Take a reasonable amount of time making decisions for your health.

[gasman]

Best of luck with the treatment and recovery. Sounds like you'll be in good hands.

I've never heard of cycling causing anal ca. I suppose it's possible but there would likely be a heck of a lot of ex-pros with it, if it did cause it.

[Dekonick]

Will definitely keep you in my thoughts. I am sure you are being well advised and cared for. That does not at all take away from the fear, anxiety, and turmoil this must be causing you. You aren't alone - reach out to support groups. It helps to hear from others who have or are going through similar angst.

Stay strong.

[Matthew]

Sending good vibes to you and your family. Sounds like you caught it early. Do you mind stating what made you get checked out? Symptoms and such. It may help others here that might be experiencing something similar. If not I understand. Best of luck to you. Matthew

[Hank Scorpio]

Sorry to hear of the recent diagnosis. I am just a little over two years post ca so I have some idea of what you are going through. If you want to talk feel free to
PM me for my email/ phone number. Stay positive!

[pjm]

I’m glad it was caught early. The best of luck to you.

[kiwisimon]

They caught it early and at stage one the chemo and radiation will kick in and kill it. You will feel like crap but that a is small price to pay to be cancer free. In two months your treatments will be done and you'll be well on the way to making a recovery. Feel free to vent, rant and inform as you wish.

there was this thread over on RBR which I found informative. Amazing how many ppl have went through cancer.
https://forums.roadbikereview.com/lounge/dealing-cancer-my-version-347176.html

[Tickdoc]

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery.

So can anyone explain why cyclists might be at a higher risk? I mean other than long hours sitting with friction, what would be the cause?

[K3RRY]

You’ll make it through! Best wishes

[kiwisimon]

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery.

So can anyone explain why cyclists might be at a higher risk? I mean other than long hours sitting with friction, what would be the cause?

I'm no onkologist (can' even spell it), but if cells are damaged and are then repairing, that is an opportunity for a cancer cell to also make itself a home during the repair stage. Maybe if there is rubbing, irritation and some skin damage?

[skiezo]

Sending good vibes to you and your family. Sounds like you caught it early. Do you mind stating what made you get checked out? Symptoms and such. It may help others here that might be experiencing something similar. If not I understand. Best of luck to you. Matthew

What made me get checked?
In late 2017 I did a double metric century in high heat and humidity and suffered saddle sores that did not really go away totally. In mid/late 2018 I noticed a small lump on my anus and thought it was an external hemorrhoid. In January of 2019 I went to my family Dr. and he also stated it was a external roid. In july/august of 2019 my bowel habits changed significantly both in frequency and shape even tho I am on a high fiber mild protein diet so I had a scope ordered with biopsy and that is when they ordered a second scope and better biopsy.
That is where I am now. Waiting to hear from the Dr.'s to get everything rolling in the right direction.

[soulspinner]

Prayers and well wishes to you as you face this.

[oldpotatoe]

Very sorry to hear..seems everybody, everywhere is touched by this awful disease. FU%#Cancer!!
Hang in there, trust yer docs..glad you found it early.

[etu]

Sorry to hear about your dx. Anal Cancer is associated with latent HPV viral infection which is very common, but very few people develop cancer or warts from it. Skin trauma isn’t really known to contribute. It is highly curable at the early stages but the radiation will cause mild scarring to your skin and your rectum and anus. You might want to use chamois cream regularly and wear nice padded shorts after you have beaten this!

[redir]

Best to you my friend on a quick and full recovery. My wife's sister was just diagnosed with a throat cancer at 50 years old. We spent the last several days preparing her for it by setting up a Carebridge calendar which sets up on a calendar all her appointments and that sort of thing so that friends can help at her time of need. It takes a village. It's a battle, think of it as a fight and go out there and win it.

[veggieburger]

Quick bow of the head for you here at my desk. Take care. Strength in the days and months ahead.

[batman1425]

So sorry to hear but also so glad you caught it early. Direct relationship (particularly with lower gastric cancers) in positive outcomes and stage at detection. Hershey is a good shop, you'll get great care there. Stay strong.

[MattTuck]

Wish I could add some great insight, or helpful advice. Stay strong. You can count me among the people in your corner.

[seanile]

What made me get checked?
In late 2017 I did a double metric century in high heat and humidity and suffered saddle sores that did not really go away totally. In mid/late 2018 I noticed a small lump on my anus and thought it was an external hemorrhoid. In January of 2019 I went to my family Dr. and he also stated it was a external roid. In july/august of 2019 my bowel habits changed significantly both in frequency and shape even tho I am on a high fiber mild protein diet so I had a scope ordered with biopsy and that is when they ordered a second scope and better biopsy.
That is where I am now. Waiting to hear from the Dr.'s to get everything rolling in the right direction.
well, that's concerning, i've just had the same thing happen this past month. just scheduled a dr. appt for tomorrow at 9am...

[MattTuck]

if i could ask, what didn't feel right?

OP responded to this already, second to last post on the first page of the thread.

[wc1934]

Hoping you are steadier, stronger and better every day.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

[harlond]

I am 18 months out from my rectal cancer diagnosis, for which I received chemo/radiation and a second round of chemo. Hope all goes well for you. Everybody responds differently, but chemo/radiation totally wiped me out. Are you doing fluorourasil (5FU)?

Anyway, a couple suggestions. Chemo/radiation tends to cause severe diarrhea, which makes it very easy to become dehydrated. And if you're doing 5FU. you can't drink anything cold. That made it harder for me to stay hydrated, because very few things taste as good luke warm as they do cold. So you're already feeling bad from the chemo/radiation, then you add dehydration on top, I was weak as a kitten. Moral of this story: be proactive in asking for IVs. Once a week is not too much. I didn't start asking until the end of my six weeks, and one week I needed three liters to get back to feeling normally bad instead of totally weak.

Next, if you're on 5FU, start taking vitamin B12. 5FU often causes nerve damage in your extremities (and I think the condition known as chemo brain--it's a real thing :mad:--is also a result of nerve damage, but I'm not sure). If you're having your colon irradiated, you might well have some nutrient uptake issues due to inflammation and radiation damage to the colon. (From my reading, low B12 levels are not generally known to be caused by chemo/radiation; in my particular case, I did experience low levels, and that likely exacerbated the nerve damage I'm dealing with.) A low level of B12 can itself cause nerve damage. So either get your B12 levels checked weekly, or just as easily, take 1000mg of B12 a day as a prophylactic measure.

Good luck.

[skiezo]

Thanks for all the support. I have a great group of guys here for support as well as my wife of 35 years who is a HVICU clinical head nurse at the facility I will be treated at.
As far as the B12, I do take both B12 and B6 on a daily basis. Just waiting to get the ball rolling and get it over with.
Good thing I picked up disability insurance a few years ago. That will help out alot with me being off work for a few months. It will pay my salary based on a 40 hour work week.
I will be updating this as things get moving.
Thanks again.
Brian

[YesNdeed]

A response from one of my best friends, anal cancer survivor, after asking him what kind of treatments he underwent, and sharing your diagnosis...

It's usually caused by HPV; and yes, I did 29 radiation treatments, 2 types of chemo= a 96 hour slow drip through a mediport twice, and a less toxic chemo twice...had stage 3, one more week and it would have been stage 4....I would not wish it on my worst enemy... the real pain comes after about 5 radiation treatments.... surgery was an option also, in conjunction with the radiation and chemo... I'm terrified of knives and needles...in hindsight, I would have had the surgery and less radiation....here I am 9 years later and still in pain
But I'm alive
He'll be able to ride again

He's not a cyclist, and there are likely many contributing factors to any type of cancer. Hang in there, skiezo pal.

[avalonracing]

Best of luck and thanks for posting this. I know a lot of guys here are 50ish and your post, which will soon be a success story, might inspire people to get checked even though they have no symptoms.

[veloduffer]

Wishing you a speedy recovery and best of luck.

[colker]

Hang in there. It will go away.

[Dekonick]

This brings up a good point. Ask your doctor to check your stool for blood. They can give you a packet you take home, and smear a little poop... then send it in. Easy to do as part of early cancer screening. The finger prostate exam is really a shot in the dark (literally) but they can do a blood test. Also cheap and easy... As we ride out in the sun, get your skin looked over yearly - including butt cheeks, between fingers and toes, scalp... Melanoma hides...

And CANCER - FU*K YOU

[skiezo]

I am almost through week 4 of a 6 week chemo/radiation regiment. So far so good. Oral chemo twice a day and get my second chemo infusion next week.
I have been feeling good for the most part. Just starting to get the radiation burn to the affected area. Being active has been my saving grace imho.
Hikes with the doodle a few times a week and still riding 2/3 time a week but just 12 to 15 mile at a slower pace. I think today may have been my last ride till I am all healed up on my back side. Today was a bit uncomfortable with the rad burn becoming more prevalent to the treatment area.
Wife is not keen on me riding due to my WBC down to 2.1 and platelets really dropping over the past week. Staying active and a great support group helped me tremendously.
I will get through this and the treatment has not been as horrible as I had in my head going into this. I think these last 2 weeks will really start to affect me both mentally and physically,but i am almost complete.
Dr. today said it looked like it was caught at a stage 2.

[rwsaunders]

Good karma and a bunch of dancing bananas headed your way. :banana::banana::banana:

[Dude]

Good on you, glad to hear things aren’t as bad as expected. Chin up and kick its a$$.

[dddd]

Thanks for the update, and what sounds like good news to me.

I can't offer much advice, but as to how cycling might cause such a malady, I would think that dehydration would most likely have something to do with that, the same sort of dehydration that has always kept me somewhat paranoid about the possibility of constipation following longer rides in hot weather.

Good luck, and I hope that the rest of your treatment goes by as well as it has been going.

[Hawker]

Thoughts and prayers for a complete healing Skiezo. All the best!!

[marciero]

Thanks for sharing, and your encouraging of others to get checked. I am long overdue for colonoscopy. And best wishes dealing with this. You seem to have the all important positive attitude.

Regarding the cycling being a possible cause, I would be willing to bet that there is no scientific evidence to support that.

[oldpotatoe]

Very good news on a long and difficult recovery..for you and sometimes those around you..you have a great support group, karma and good vibes do travel.

ANOTHER great point is to Get the EXAM!! Do it early(particularly with family history) and do it often...

[colker]

You are strong! Good news. You are winning this one.

[CNY rider]

I am almost through week 4 of a 6 week chemo/radiation regiment. So far so good. Oral chemo twice a day and get my second chemo infusion next week.
I have been feeling good for the most part. Just starting to get the radiation burn to the affected area. Being active has been my saving grace imho.
Hikes with the doodle a few times a week and still riding 2/3 time a week but just 12 to 15 mile at a slower pace. I think today may have been my last ride till I am all healed up on my back side. Today was a bit uncomfortable with the rad burn becoming more prevalent to the treatment area.
Wife is not keen on me riding due to my WBC down to 2.1 and platelets really dropping over the past week. Staying active and a great support group helped me tremendously.
I will get through this and the treatment has not been as horrible as I had in my head going into this. I think these last 2 weeks will really start to affect me both mentally and physically,but i am almost complete.
Dr. today said it looked like it was caught at a stage 2.

Keep trucking.
Remember the worst of it is the last 2 weeks of therapy [I]plus[I] the two weeks following that.
It can be tough to keep morale high when the therapy is over and yet you feel worse than you did while on it.
It's important for both you and your support team to know that. Often times support drops off because therapy is over......people don't realize you need them more than ever at that point.

[cash05458]

Great to hear it's going ok...and sounds like you have a great support system...I bet staying active has helped in so many ways and not just physical...best of luck for the final few weeks...sounds like you got this!

[buddybikes]

Good luck!

Glad I got my 10 year screening done with few weeks ago, about 8 mos over due.

[jimcav]

In an otherwise weary week of depressing news and the prospect of gray, rainy weather making planned trail runs and rides unlikely, it is great to hear you are well into treatment, still active, and have a good prognosis. Hoping you have some great Holiday hikes and/or rides!
jim

[Chris]

Hang in there. You’re in my thoughts.