Dianne58 - Dianne's Update  I haven't posted for awhile.  Last November, 2017, after I completed my Proton Radiation treatment, I returned to MDAnderson for a PET scan and they found no evidence of disease but, did see a small  nodule in my left lung.  Dr. Eng put me on another 2 months of Lite chemo, 5Fu and I returned in Feb. 2018 for another PET scan.  The 2/18 scan showed the same nodule but no change.  To be on the safe side, Dr. Eng, …More…

Mary - GP visit for hip pain  I saw a GP this morning and he confirmed that I have osteo-arthritis and, in his words, will likely need a hip replacement operation at some stage, but that this will be put off for as long as possible. He will refer me to the musculo-skeletal clinical to see a physio. Both of my sisters and my son (41) have osteo-arthritis.  No suggestion that this hip pain is worse because of the chemo-radiation treatment. But I asked him to write to …More…
Type: Anal Cancer

Mary - PPALM study   The randomised controlled trial I am in is described here https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02230800 PPALM stands for Palm Oil and Pentoxifylline Against Late Morbidity (PPALM) It is designed to treat Long-term Adverse Effects of Radiotherapy for Pelvic Cancer The researchers say: Side effects are common after treatment with radiotherapy for tumours in the pelvis and can affect the way the bowel and urinary system work as well as causing sexual difficulties, skin damage and bone problems. Problems in the bowel, bladder, sexual organs and skin mostly result from thickening of …More…
Type: Anal Cancer

Mary - Hello  Hi   I'm new to this group and finding my way. Thank you for the warm welcome and help to get started. I treatment for anal cancer was completed about 32 months ago. I've been shocked by the impact it has had. First, during treatment when the burning was beyond what I expected. Fortunately for me, I was put in touch with another woman of similar age who was about 3-4 weeks ahead of me in receiving treatment for the same cancer. …More…
Type: Anal Cancer

Neal - Trilogy (Plus) Of Poems - For A Smile And Chuckle   If your attention span is short, that is okay. You can take this in small doses. If you like longer posts, you are in luck at this very moment. This post, has three humorous (to me, keeping in mind not everyone has my sense of humor of finds humor in the things I do, which is just fine, and I always put the caveat, that I never mean to offend anyone with anything I write) ... three humorous and three …More…
Type: Pancreas Cancer

Rose - Acute Radiation Proctitus   Has anyone been treated with this. I finished treatments on April 5, 2017. I still having many issues with bowel movements.  Bleeding and painful stool. Dr started treating me for Radiation Proctitus last month. I have spasms and mucus discharge as well we abdomen pain. He said it was rare but could happen. Just wondering if anyone else has had these problems one year post treatments  …More…
Type: Anal Cancer

Neal - Please See new member (Patricia) 's Request   Just in case you did not see her message, anyone who can help a new member, Patricia, with her hemicolectomy questions please do so as her anxiety level is off the wall Thanks. I don't know if all those who need to see her message actually see it or not especially as she just joined the site so that's why I'm putting this out there. …More…
Type: Pancreas Cancer

Patricia - New diagnosis  I've recently been diagnosed with an 'invasive adenocarcinoma, moderately diffused' on my cecum. Surgery (hemicolectomy) is scheduled for next Wednesday. Has anyone experienced this? What can I expect? Not sure about the need for chemo as of yet. Need to wait for pathology from surgery. Getting very anxious! …More…
Type: Colon and Rectal Cancer

Danell - Chemo is a Go!  Busy week here.  I passed my chemo education with flying colors and was thrilled many of my favorite nurses are still working there.  They assure me TCH will have fewer side effects than RCHOP.  Fingers crossed that isn't just a white lie to get me back in the infusion chair. MUGA results were interesting.  I'm now at 65% I was 75% in 2010.  So I'll have to ask Dr. if that is from the 6 rounds of Adrimycin ( I know that …More…
Type: Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Jennifer - Procedure update  Yesterday went well, my surgeon Dr M said all went well and there was nothing unexpected.  He said this is a fixable problem, it's just a matter of getting the diagnosis exactly right so that the treatment can be matched.  After surgery I had some pain, nausea, chills, and high blood pressure, but by 9:30 or so, they decided I could go.  Just getting to a familiar couch made all the difference in the world.  Thanks to my cousin, we …More…
Type: Lung Cancer