What Happens After Treatment for Anal Cancer
During and after treatment for your anal cancer you may be able to hasten your recovery and improve your quality of life by taking an active role. Learn about the benefits and disadvantages of each of your treatment options, and ask questions of your cancer care team if there is anything you do not understand. Learn about and look out for side effects of treatment, and report these promptly to your cancer care team so that they can take steps to minimize them and shorten their duration.
Your body is as unique as your personality and your fingerprints. Although understanding your cancer’s stage and learning about the effectiveness of your treatment options can help predict what health problems you may face, no one can say precisely how you will respond to cancer or its treatment.
You may have special strengths such as a history of excellent nutrition and physical activity, a strong family support system, or a deep faith, and these strengths may make a difference in how you respond to cancer. In fact, behavioral scientists have recently found that some people who took advantage of a social support system, such as a cancer support group, survived with a better quality of life. There are also experienced professionals in mental health services, social work services and pastoral services who may assist you in coping with your illness.
You can help in your own recovery from cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices. If you use tobacco, stop now. Quitting will improve your overall health and the full return of the sense of smell may help you enjoy a healthy diet during recovery. If you use alcohol, limit how much you drink. Have no more than 1 or 2 drinks per day. Good nutrition can help you get better after treatment. Eat a nutritious and balanced diet, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods. Ask your cancer care team if you could benefit from a special diet - they may have specific recommendations for people who have had radiation therapy or a colostomy.
If you are being treated for cancer, be aware of the battle that is going on in your body. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy add to the fatigue caused by the disease itself. Give your body all the rest it needs so that you will feel better as time goes on, and ask your doctor if and when an exercise program may be right for you.
Surgery and radiation therapy may sometimes affect the way you feel about your body, and may lead to specific physical problems that affect sexuality. Your cancer care team can help with these concerns, so don’t hesitate to discuss them.
A cancer diagnosis and its treatment are major life challenges that impact you and everyone who cares for you. Before you get to the point where you feel overwhelmed, consider attending a counseling session or meeting of a local support group. If you need individual assistance in other ways, contact your hospital’s social service department or the American Cancer Society for help in contacting counselors or other services.
Follow-up Care: For years after treatment ends, regular follow-up exams will be very important for you. Your health care team will explain what tests you need and how often they should be done. The most important tests will involve biopsies of your anal area to make sure the tumor has disappeared. This may occur over several months so don’t be discouraged if early biopsies still show cancer. You may need blood tests as well as x-rays, CT scans, and other imaging studies to detect recurrence, metastasis, or a new tumor. Make a special effort to keep all appointments with your cancer care team and follow their instructions carefully. Report any new or recurring symptoms to your doctor right away.
For patients with colostomies: Few permanent colostomies are needed now in the treatment of anal cancer. If you have a colostomy, follow-up is an important concern. You may feel worried or isolated from normal activities. An enterostomal therapist (a health care professional trained to help people with their colostomies) can teach you about the care of your colostomy. Ask the American Cancer Society about programs offering information and support in your area. For more information about your colostomy care, please contact the United Ostomy Association, Inc.