Entitled 'Taking Care of You: Managing Side Effects From Treatment For Anal Cancer' on June 23, 2015 the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation held its first ever online educational event for the anal cancer community. We heard from a panel of thrivers (our word for survivors) and experts who work with thrivers.
The thrivers discussed their personal experiences managing side effects from treatment for anal cancer including diet, bowel movements, sexual functioning, anxiety and more and how they have personally learned to manage them. Their firsthand experiences brought invaluable information to viewers and provided insight for others in the community. We thank them for their huge contribution to the ongoing story of anal cancer thrivers!
Expert Panelists
Our three panelists consisted of a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor function, a dietitian who works with anal cancer thrivers, and the lead in a dive clinic where thrivers receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. These three panelists discussed the side effects often experienced as a result of anal cancer treatment and how to manage them using various interventions. Here are their titles and institutions: Allison Romero, PT, DPT (Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center), Eric Hexdall, RN, ACHRN, Clinical Director, Duke Dive Medicine (Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine and Environmental Physiology), Melanie Cardoso, RD, CSO, CDN, Outpatient Clinical Dietitian (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center). They also provided helpful links (see below) for thrivers to access the interventions they discussed.
After the panelists finished their discussions, we opened up the event to a live Q&A where thrivers were able to ask the panelists questions via our Google + page and e-mail and receive responses in real time. The video will remain on our YouTube channel indefinitely.
We will hold more online events in the future and would like to hear from YOU about what topics and experts you would like included. Please share your thoughts by emailing us at info@analcancerfoundation.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Important links mentioned in this video are as follows:
NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV
HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation Peer-to-Peer Support Program
Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center
