Shannon's Profile

Type of Cancer: Anal Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Squamous cell carcinoma

Diagnosis Date: March 31, 2019

Stage of Cancer: Stage 3A

Tumor Size: over 6.1

Lymph Node Involvement: Yes

Radiation: Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy: Fluorouracil (5-FU), Mitomycin

What I Hate Most About Cancer: How it scares me

What I Have Learned From Cancer: How important life and family are

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help: Keep me positive. Keep me going.

Metastasized? Where?: No

Gift Friends or Family Could Give You: Soft blanket, cards

Cancer Center: Siteman St Louis MO

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer: Drink lots of water and Gatorade

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer: Rest, pray and exercise

End of Treatment Date: June 17, 2019

Has the Cancer Come Back?: No

Anal Cancer symptoms: Changes in bowels, narrowing of stools and maroon blood in stool.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 5/7/19 through 5/11/19 and 6/10/19 through 6/14/19. Mouth sores fatigue skin irritation from PICC line.

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: 5/6/19. Skin irritation similar to a bad sunburn in the groin, pubic area, anal and skin on the inside of butt cheeks also on butt crack. I have fatigue. Some hair thinning. I did not lose all of my hair but it is definitely a lot thinner. In the last week of my treatment especially my BM’s got increasingly painful. Even three weeks post last treatment I still have painful bowel movements.