Hi, my name is Lori C. I started experiencing anal pain in June of 2022. I went to my doctor for a referral to a gastroenterologist. The appointment was a few months away; I live in a small rural town.
By the time I was seen, I was in extreme pain. I had a colonoscopy done, and the doctor said it looked like a fissure. From there, I was sent to a colorectal surgeon in Nashville, 2 1/2 hours from my home. He did a finger exam and agreed that it felt like a fissure. I told him that I was in so much pain, it had to be more. He prescribed me an ointment and said he'd see me in 4 months.
A week later, I had sore lumps. They got me in for another exam, then I was scheduled for an endoscopy to get a better look. When I woke up, I was told I had a horseshoe abscess and another 2 abscesses drained, and 3 setons installed for drainage. They took biopsies. The pain eased up for about 24 hours and then became unbearable by the next week. I went to the ER.
After spending the day waiting, the ER doctor told my husband and me that he spoke to my surgeon. I had anal cancer, Stage 3. What can I say? I'm sure you all know how that doom overtakes you.
In March 2023, I saw my oncologist. The pain was unbearable by then, and I started pain meds. Six weeks of radiation, 2 weeks of chemo, the first week and the last. I felt some relief from the pain after the first day of chemo. After the second week of radiation, the burns started. I couldn't poop unless I was lying down. Then I couldn't stop pooping. The day of my last radiation, I was admitted to the hospital for diarrhea. I was there for 6 nights and had my final radiation that week. The PET scan showed the cancer is gone. I don't know how I would have done it all over again if it wasn't, or when, or if it returns.
I went back to work full-time but still have to use a standing desktop. The setons are still in, a year later. I'm incontinent; some of the time I can make it to the bathroom. I had a CT scan last week. I'm still cancer-free, but I have lumps again. I found a colorectal surgeon closer and have an appointment next week. I look forward to having a new, better relationship with my doctor. Still uncomfortable, still fearful, but I'm alive and love my life and my people much deeper. Life is so fragile.
