{"id":2882,"date":"2017-12-08T18:50:13","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T18:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.cancerhopenetwork.org\/?p=2882"},"modified":"2023-11-16T11:37:43","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T16:37:43","slug":"one-butt-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cancerhopenetwork.org\/blog\/one-butt-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"One butt at a time: Providing support, creating sisterhood for women with anal cancer.","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

In June 2004, 47-year old Claudia Makowski was diagnosed with Stage 3B anal cancer. She had lost her mother and sister to cancer, but no one in her family had a history colon or rectal cancer. In fact, anal cancer was rarely diagnosed in those days. \u201cMy team of doctors had to research to find the proper protocol for me, as it was a very rare cancer in those days,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI was one of two people in my state that year to have this type of cancer. The other was a man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Claudia had a port installed, underwent multiple surgeries, received chemotherapy and radiation and faced a host of side effects. She learned to eat again, regained her balance and learned to walk again. She grew accustomed to the chemo-induced tinnitus she now faces \u2013 and jumped fully into her role as an advocate and champion for patients facing anal cancer.
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\u201cHaving cancer is hard, finding help shouldn\u2019t be.\u201d She founded Anal Cancer Chat, a closed Facebook group that offers community and support for women who have gone through\/are about to start treatment. Today, the group boasts more than 200 member \u201csisters,\u201d who hail from around the world. They\u2019ve begun expanding to offer groups for men, clinical trial participants, and for \u201csisters\u201d at the end stages of their fights. Through it all, her work has one focus:\u00a0 \u201cto create a safe, non-judgmental place to offer as well as receive support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Claudia has decades of experience discussing one of the least-discussed, highly stigmatized cancers. She and her team have built on their personal experiences, compiling a wealth of information that they share with patients facing an anal cancer fight. Their suggestions are as wide-ranging and practical as they are personal, including:<\/p>\n