Anal Cancer Surgery

Question: How long can a person live with anal cancer? My father has anal tumor and it is cancerous, he is getting surgery soon and I just want to know how long would he live for? The tumor is very large. Please let me know because I really love my dad, he is only 46 years old :[

Answer: I am sorry you and your father have to experience this. It is a very hard thing to accept, believe or even imagine when someone has been diagnosed with cancer. No one can honestly tell you how much time a person with cancer has left to live. It of course depends on the tumor's grade, your fathers physical and mental health, age plays a part in it too (younger people tend to recover a bit better than older people). It also depends on how aggressive the tumor is. I have attached a link all about anal cancer and it may be able to answer a few of your question. My husband passed away a month ago from stage 4 brain cancer "GBM" which we fought for 2 yrs and 7 months. The doctors told him in the very beginning that he had no longer than 3 moths to live..'guaranteed' they told us. My husband never gave up and always had a positive attitude about everything....positive is healthy, negativity is not. Find a hospital and doctor that specializes in anal cancer, and it's important that you guys find a doctor who's main focus is on your dad and his willingness to beat this cancer. More than 85 percent of cancer specialist these days are only there for the paycheck now, instead of like before when they were medical physicians because they enjoyed helping people and loved there jobs. Find a good doctor for him & get second opinions. Good luck to you and your family....remember stay positive and help your father stay that way too. http://cancer.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=cancer&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cancer.org%2Fdocroot%2FCRI%2Fcontent%2FCRI_2_4_3X_How_is_Anal_Cancer_staged_47.asp%3Fsitearea%3D

Question: Help! I've been having anal pain and anal drainage since receiving an Ostomy during surgery for Colon Cancer. I started taking Lyrica a week ago and it seems to be helping with the pain. I am also using an electric heating pain on my seat cushion. Any other suggestions? Hydrocodine Bitartrate/Acetaminophen 7.5 mg/500 did not help.

Answer: I'm sorry to hear that. I had a the same thing in 1989 and it took a while for me to heal, too. Lyrica is great. Ask your doctor if you can take something like Oxycontin. It's stronger than the Hydrocodone and it's extended release will help you from having break-through pain. Or a Fentanyl patch. You wear it for 3 days then put on another one. There are many options out there for your pain. As far as the drainage....you need to talk to you doctor about that.

Question: Anal Wart/Biopsy Surgery? Has anyone gone through this and what was their pain like after? Had 3 warts burned off and a biopsy of a skin tag down there taken to check for anal cancer, all fine thankfully. 5 weeks later i'm still very very sore indeed. Am taking diclofenac and paracetemol and when i go to the toilet, afterwards it feels as though part of the ring is still a little bit open and then a few minutes later if flicks back inside which is rather painful. Anyone else had this? I'm told it could take 10 weeks to heal

Answer: I had warts on my hand years ago and had them frozen off - it was extremely painfull and took weeks to heal completely - I expect the pain of anal warts in excrutiating! Particularly, as everytime you go the loo it will aggravate that area. Keep taking the painkillers and see how you feel after the 10 weeks. Ensure that you do not strain to go to the loo as that could make it worse.

Question: What are the symptoms of terminal anal cancer? The grief process for family? My mother is dying of stage 4 anal cancer that has metastasized to her liver. She does not want any treatment, having undergone chemo and radiation and not enjoying the quality of her life from the treatment. She also did not want any surgery. I live in another state and am an only child. She states that she is experiencing more rectal bleeding and can now feel the liver tumor as a lump through her skin. She has been fatigued. She has lost much weight since she’s been diagnosed (December 2006). She is not even 60 years old, and she still works at her job. She will not return to the doctor’s and does not want hospice. When she told me her symptoms I got scared. Does anybody know anything about the progression of symptoms in this type of situation? Does anybody know about the grief process, too? I feel very confused, withdrawn, and in pain right now. I am only 27, and was not expecting this. I do see a counselor right now. My mom doesn't want me to come back to see her. She won't travel here, either. She lives out of hotels due to other trying circumstances. When I call the doctors she has seen, they can't give me much more information about the progression since she has not continued care with them. They only know up to September since they haven't been able to work with her. It makes it a real challenge. I do appreciate everyone's thoughts. Life feels pretty sore right now - lots of raw emotion.

Answer: Our hearts go out to you. It would be perfectly appropriate for you to call your mother's doctor to arrange a time when he or she can discuss the disease's progress with you over the phone. It's not too much to ask. If she has or had an oncologist (cancer specialist), that's the office to call, but if not, her regular doctor can give you some information. Grief has 5 recognized stages. 1-Denial-"this can't be happening to me", looking for the former spouse in familia places, or if it is death, setting the table for the person or acting as if they are still in living there. No crying. Not accepting or even acknowledging the loss. 2-Anger-"why me?", feelings of wanting to fight back or get even with spouse of divorce, for death, anger at the deceased, blaming them for leaving. 3-Bargaining-bargaining often takes place before the loss. Attempting to make deals with the spouse who is leaving, or attempting to make deals with God to stop or change the loss. Begging, wishing, praying for them to come back. 4-Depression-overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self pity, mourning loss of person as well as the hopes, dreams and plans for the future. Feeling lack of control, feeling numb. Perhaps feeling suicidal. 5-Acceptance-there is a difference between resignation and acceptance. You have to accept the loss, not just try to bear it quietly. Realization that it takes two to make or break a marriage. Realization that the person is gone (in death) that it is not their fault, they didn't leave you on purpose. (even in cases of suicide, often the deceased person, was not in their right frame of mind) Finding the good that can come out of the pain of loss, finding comfort and healing. Our goals turn toward personal growth. Stay with fond memories of person. Not everyone goes through all the stages, or goes through them at the same rate. There is no right or wrong way to grieve unless you are self-destructive. Do what you can to spend time with your mother, and accept her decision to control her own life and its end.

Question: for a 12 year old chronic anal fissure,is surgery necessary? and is there any chance that fissure can become cancer if not operated??plz reply asap.

Answer: This thing has been around for 12 years and your are asking if surgery is necessary????

Question: I am looking for a product called "butt ease" It is for anal cancer relief, can anyone help me? My mom has squamous cell carcinoma in the rectum. They want to do surgery, she wants to find other options, if anyone knows ANYTHING she can try, please contact me @ jjjkm123@sbcglobal.net Thanks, Jamie

Answer: Is it possible that you could be referring to "Butt Paste"? If so, do a Google search and you will find many online sites where it can be purchased. Also, I have occasionally seen it on durg/grocery store shelves. It was originally made for diaper rash, but apparently is now being used to ease all sorts of ailments "down there". I hope this helps. Good luck to your mom.

Question: what are the chances of survival for a person who is suffering from rectal cancer.? a girl is suffering from rectal cancer which was operated and a part of big intestine was removed which connects the anal part.as the presence of tumer in it which developed into cancer.Then after the surgery the chemotherapy and radiotherapy was done. the stage of cancer was third as told by the doctors.

Answer: Your question is not clear. In the first part you state it is rectal cancer then later you state the tumor was in the anus. A 3A rectal cancer has a 5-year survival rate of 79% and a 3C has a 50% survival rate. It is less than 20% for anal cancer.

Question: I have to undergo complex surgery for an anal fistula.? I developed an anal fistula last year as a result of a very deep abscess located outside my colon. To date I have had 3 operations. The problem is the fistula is running through or very near to my sphincter muscle. My consultant and surgeon has told me they cannot lay the fistula open like in normal circumstances as the risk of incontinence is too high. Three weeks ago I went through a procedure where they used a cutting seton, this is a fine tube feed through the fistula track and out my anus, tieing the ends together outside my body. As you can imagine this is very uncomfortable and painful especially when using the toilet. There is still a constant run of puss and I have to wear panty liners to save my underwear. Now my consultant has said my case is very complex and and he has referred me to a specialist. Where I have to go through another operation called an Endorectal Advancement Flap. What I gather is, this is similar to a skin graft. Has anyone any other information on this condition or procedure? Has anyone ever when through this procedure? Was it successful? What is the recovery period etc? I have also been reading this may develop into cancer is this true?

Answer: RHONDA M - Endorectal advancement flap is a procedure in which the internal opening of the fistula is identified and a flap of mucosal tissue is cut around the opening. The flap is lifted to expose the fistula, which is then cleaned and the internal opening is sewn shut. After cutting the end of the flap on which the internal opening was, the flap is pulled down over the sewn internal opening and sutured in place. The external opening is cleaned and sutured. Success rates are variable and high recurrence rates are directly related to previous attempts to correct the fistula. I am not aware of any valid reports of this developing into cancer.

Question: What should I do in my last stages of life? I have Anal Cancer and it has spread through my liver and through my Kidneys. I tried Chemo and surgery for years and years. Sometimes doctors would say that the Cancer is gone and it always comes back. In the past 2-3 months my health has gotten worse. I'm very sad that my family has to go through my fight. I don't want to hurt them anymore. What should my final farewell be?

Answer: I am so sorry that you have this terrible cancer. We are learning more about this deadly type of cancer as more people are speaking out about it. Farrah Fawcett just did a documentary on her own life about it since she has been battling it without much success for the past 2 years. Now for your question. I would suggest you talk this over with your family no matter how sad it might be. If there is no hope, then you all need to get together and face the fact that you might not have that much time left to be together. Since you are sick, what you want to do and what you can do must be taken into consideration. You might also have to get your doctor involved due to your health. You should all do something that makes you happy even if it's just simple things like sharing a day with each individual family member and enjoying each other. I'm really hoping you win your battle with cancer, but if not, then I suggest you get in touch with Hospice who can really help you and your family get through a very difficult time. My father died of stomach cancer, so I can relate to what your family is going through. We knew the end was coming. I just tried to be with him as much as possible during that time and talk about old fun times. He seemed to enjoy doing that. There was little else we could do because he was so sick. My heart goes out to you.

Question: Could u get precancerous cells on ur anus after having anal sex 1 time when u & ur partner have HPV? My partner and I have HPV and we had anal sex for the first time and now I am worried that I may get pre cancerous cells on my anus. I had developed pre cancerous cells on my cervix and had to have surgery to remove them. Is it possible to get these cell cancers after anal sex one time??? please help im extremely worried and stressed!

Answer: The answer is Yes! If you have high grade HPV than so does your partner, whatever hole he is putting it in has a higher risk of a secondary infection caused by HPV. HPV is with you for life, so stay calm, stay safe and dint stress out because that is the Number 1 reason for relapses of the HPV virus....

Question: What is the general time frame for cancer progression? I recently came back from the doctor, and although I do not believe I have cancer as I am young, I do not smoke, and I'm not a heavy drinker (although I have been in the past, but less than a years worth. College....), I wanted to know what the time frame for the stages of cancer were the stage 1, stage, 2, stage 3, etc etc. I've tried locating this information, but I get very vague information. In particular, I'd like to know it as I may have surgery to remove some things but it may be a month away. I don't want it to progress any further over the course of a month, thus I would love this information. I would absolutely appreciate any direction at this point as it's terrifying. NOTE: The cancer I may be referring to is either throat/ oral pharyngeal (Not sure, my throat is always hurting, but feels like there's something lodged in there constantly) AND quite possibly anal or rectal cancer. Thank you in advance =) It'd have to exist to some extent because statistics and numbers are constantly documented as far as prognoses go. I understand there's no set time-line, but I do know there is information on how fast certain demographics and people have developed. I also understand there are tons of different factors, but thanks all the same. =) Any answers are more than welcome. As I said, it's a scary time for me, especially someone who has never had any problems before.

Answer: you can't find such information because it doesn't exist. Some cancers are agressive and grow quickly, some aren't, there is no "general" time frame. Each human being is a unique individual and you cannot generalize uniqueness.

Question: Girlfriend has Cervical Cancer and Genital warts from HPV. What should I expect? Im assuming warts and cancer means low and high risk strands of the virus. She is going into surgery soon to have the cancer and warts removed, but I have had protected, unprotected, vaginal, and anal sex with her and she has also given me oral. I was not aware of the warts when we had sex so Im sure ive had some sort of direct contact. The first time we had sex was about 6 months ago, and I haven't noticed anything odd yet, but should I be expecting to develop warts and cancer in the future? Should I go to the doctor to get checked up even though there arent any tests for males? Please give me good news. I love this girl and will stay with her, but I love my manhood and Im terrified im going to have stuff growing out of it.

Answer: Hi, The Center for Disease Control has an excellent page that addresses HPV in men.--- http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-and-men.htm#vaccine This is not something you should take too "lightly" Because...HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. There are 40 different strand but 2 of them which can potentially turn into cancer in a woman. New tests/studies are being conducted to find the correlation between prostate cancers and HPV. It would seem according to the CDC there is high probability there is a connection between cancer in the genital area of a man and the virus called HPV. Realize...even if you do not show a "physical" venereal wart on your penis or surrounding area...this does not necessarily leave you in the clear...as you HAVE been exposed to the virus and now you may be a carrier of this STD. Which means you can give this to any woman you have sex with thereafter... Unfortunately there are no tests for men...YET. But, I would go to the doctor anyway...and share your concern and have him check for any tell tell signs. Last but not least...one does not have to be promiscous to get this STD. ( that is old school medical thinking). All it takes is sexual contact once with someone who is infected. The unfortunate thing about cervical cancers as a result of HPV ...is there are usually no symptoms. So..many women have absolutely no clue they may have been infected years earlier. Because there is no..."wart" no pain...in short, no nothing! They don't find out until its too late.---OR unless they are very good about keeping up with their gynocologist exams every year. Getting regular pap smears helps catch cancer in the early stages. Good Luck to you and your girl friend. Take care of each other. She will definitely need your support...she is probably going through so much right now. Cervical Cancer is no picnic. Be there for her... My best friend died of cervical cancer this past August as a result of the HPV virus.---- She was incredibly young. She was smart. She had so much to live for...

Question: I'm a man with a colostomy who wants to date other gay men, but how can I find anyone to love me? I'm 43 yr old gay male, and was diagnosed with anal cancer last year. As a result from surgery, my anus was removed, closed shut, and I now have a permanent colostomy. I'm handsome and I used to be able to meet guys quite regularly, but now that I have a colostomy bag, no one is interested in me sexually or even for dating anymore. On some recent first-time-meeting dates I've decided not to tell the new man about my colostomy. My strategy was for us to get better acquainted first. Unfortunately, (and this usually happens on dinner dates) my stoma lets out a loud gassy, passing wind-sound (pardon my blunt wording...but "fart" sound). Well, needless to say, the man will then make a terrified look, as he tries to imagine how a sound like that came from my front belly! I was even on a date where I once had a "bag blow-out" on the dance floor (those with colostomies will know the term very well). I'm happy to be alive, but I don't want to be alone the rest of my life. Any advice?

Answer: Be the colostomist with the mostist!

Question: Hemmroids and anal bleeding...? Could my hemmroids be why I'm bleeding? My DR mentioned surgery, but how are they going to know if I have hemmroids or a fissure is why I'm bleeding? I'm having a colonoscopy soon, and he said he'll know more after that. I had a colonoscopy years ago, but I refused surgery then. I hurt so badly now, and I've heard if you don't have the surgery you can develop colon cancer.

Answer: Hemorrhoids can cause rectal bleeding too. The hemorrhoid is a type of varicose vein that can occur from pushing too hard when we have a bowel movement. The hemorrhoid will look a certain way when they do the colonoscopy that will be different from the fissure which is a type of crack.

Question: Cyst or wart? Please help.? I think I may have some sort of anal cyst or wart? I have an appointment with my gyno in a month & I am scared to death! I am so afraid to even ask my doctor. My x boyfriend who I dated for 4 years was the only guy I had ever had sex with. He had parters before me. After about 2 years in the relationship I found out I had contracted the HPV virus - which he had no clue even what it was. After a year & a half I finally had a clear pap smear with minor surgeries & treatment... Somehow my x talked me into trying anal sex. I'm so embarressed! So ashamed. For about a year now I have had a tiny tiny white pimple-like bump right below my anus. I never noticed for so long because you never see that area... But now I know it is something. It doesn't hurt or anything it's just there. I am SURE it is because we had anal sex & he was a carrier of the HPV disease. Do gynocologists even treat something like this? I am on my parents' insurance so they will FLIP if I have to see another type of Doctor!! I could never live with myself if my mother knew I had anal sex... Please help!! What do I do about this?? Am I going to be told I have anal cancer or something when I see my Doctor??? Why is it that those who have sex with many partners don't contract a disease but then someone like me - the first guy, the first time I ever had sex I contracted HPV. It has been the most stressful, painful time in my life. I just want it all GONE so I can move on with my life.

Answer: dont worry so much! it looks like wart! remember - you can remove genital warts by surgery, freezing, laser, acid or cream but genital warts can reappear again and again because genital warts appears when your immune system is weak! HPV is the virus that causes genital warts. People can be infected with HPV and never show any symptoms. Others will develop genital warts. These warts can stay the same size, grow, or go away on their own. It largely depends on the infected person's immune system. A healthy immune system means your body may be able to suppress the virus and not show symptoms. Even after the warts go away, the person will always remain infected with HPV. That person can spread the virus even without showing symptoms. so you must build up your immune system because your body can get rid of genital warts by itself if your immune system will be strong! so eat more healthy food, more vitamins and more sport activities! (No smoking, no beer/ale, no booze, no drugs, no junk food, no fast food garbage, no sugary sweet soda's. Get on a good, balanced, healthy diet including plenty of boiled or steamed vegetables. Drink P L E N T Y O F W A T E R , fruit juices & fat free milk. Snack on lots of RAW fruit & veggies. Get up one hour early every morning & take a BRISK 30 minute walk - then - do the same thing again in the evening after dinner. Make sure you eat a good, balanced breakfast daily. You get your energy for the day from your breakfast meal. Get 8 hours sleep each night. Flip your mattress over so it will level out to give you a good night's rest. Slack off too much coffee & tea) also you should use herbal treatment! in that case Wartrol is a good (probably the best) product that gets rid of genital warts comparatively fast and makes you feel more confident knowing that they wont reappear again! It works by stimulating your immune system to fight the HPV virus that causes the warts. of course it is better if you use full course (5 months - if I remember correctly). It worked and still works for me! I do not know if any pharmacies carry Wartrol but I do know that you should purchase it directly from the manufacturer and read more about the product here http://www.wartrol.com/?aid=749165 good luck! Working in women's health + personal experience

Question: post partial thyroidectomy health issues? I'm a 39yo male who had a recent partial thyoidectomy with no cancer found. A few weeks after the surgery I began having "hot flashes", feeling tired all the time, and anal itching/burning which i'm not sure is a yeast infection or not. Do any of these symptoms sound related to thyroid issues following surgery? Should I get my thyroid levels checked?

Answer: symptoms of hypothyroidism can be very vague so it is possible that the thyroid tissue you have left isn't making enough hormone. you would probably benefit from having some blood work done to see if this is the case. if it is, Your doctor will most likely prescribe a thyroid hormone pill and that will usually take care of things.