The Results Are In...

Type of Cancer: Anal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the anus

Diagnosis Date: February 5, 2010

Stage of Cancer: Stage 4

Tumor Size: 2.1 - 3.0 cm

Grade of Tumor: Grade 3

Lymph Node Involvement: No

Radiation: Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy: Cisplatin (Platinol, Platinol-AQ), Fluorouracil (5-FU), Mitomycin

Fundraising Goal: As much as possible

Money Raised: Proceeds from my published blog donated monthly

What I Hate Most About Cancer: It is a thief

What I Have Learned From Cancer: You have to live every day of your life and stay positive :)

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help: Donate $$ to the anal cancer foundation. Raising awareness saves lives!

Cancer Drugs Positives & Negatives: Is there anything good about poison?

Metastasized? Where?: Bone, lung recurrence 9/20/2012

Cancer Center: Cancer Center of Kansas, MD Anderson

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer: Bland diet, sitz baths, take your drugs...nobody gets extra credit for suffering.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer: Talk, talk, talk to somebody. I chose to write.

End of Treatment Date: April 20, 2010

NED Date: September 20, 2010

Anal Cancer symptoms: Rectal bleeding, itching, sciatic pain. (thought my hemorhoid was acting up)

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: Laminectomy and tumor removal of the metestatic sacral tumor. This was done microscopically (with a small spoon). Nov 2012 Wedge resection right lower lobe via thoracotomy.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 2 rounds, 96 hours each week 1 and week 5 during radiation of 5-FU. Mytomycin-C first round only. Hairloss, nausea, vomiting, 30 pounds of weight loss. Recurrence 2013- 4 rounds of Cisplatin with 46 hours of 5-FU with each round.

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 7 weeks, 7 sites. I suffered severe burns to the groin/perineum (hyper response) Hospitalized for 2 weeks blood tranfusion, pain control and burn care. 2013- 2 weeks intensified beam radiation right lung hilar node region

Fundraising Description: My blog has been published and proceeds go to The HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation. http://tinyurl.com/72bjjfp