Farrah Fawcett Battles Anal Cancer
Friday October 13, 2006
When Farrah Fawcett announced she had cancer last week, it was not released as to what type of cancer she is battling. However, recent reports suggest that Fawcett, 59, is battling a rare type of anal cancer.
CBS News reports that Fawcett will go through 5 weeks of chemotherapy, and began treatment earlier this week.
What You Need to Know About Anal Cancer
Anal cancer is rare form of cancer in the U.S., and affects about 4500 people each year. Itis expected that about 600 people will die of the disease this year. The good news is that anal cancer normally responds well to treatment and can be cured.
Anal cancer affects more women than men, and occurs most often is people over 35.
Suggested Reading:
What is Anal Cancer?
Risk Factors for Anal Cancer
Anal Cancer Symptoms
Anal Cancer Prevention
CBS News reports that Fawcett will go through 5 weeks of chemotherapy, and began treatment earlier this week.
What You Need to Know About Anal Cancer
Anal cancer is rare form of cancer in the U.S., and affects about 4500 people each year. Itis expected that about 600 people will die of the disease this year. The good news is that anal cancer normally responds well to treatment and can be cured.
Anal cancer affects more women than men, and occurs most often is people over 35.
Suggested Reading:
Comments
hello,
a message to ms. farrah fawcett…
hang in there ms. farrah u have to believe in the power of prayer because God is on ur side…just let him know ur with him …i’m also praying
for u too ms. farrah….take alot of vitamin c……ur trublufan-friend, cheri
Dear Ms. Fawcett,I’m 49 yrs. old and I just wanted to let you know that I myself was diagnoised the with same cancer in 2004 and I want to tell you that i’m here today to say God Bless you.you will pull through this. i was treated at Roswell Cancer Institute and my tumor was as large as a golf ball..today there’s no sign of any tumor,and i was blessed not to have any surgery.. i went through extensive raditation and chemo. try to keep your eating habbits as normal as possible,rest..I wish I was able to speak with you,but I do want to say with God’s strength and your positive attitude,you will pull though this rough spot in your life..Thinking of you..lillian Niagara Falls,N.Y.
Farrah, I also had anal cancer 2002 at 51. I had chemo and radiation. I know your going through hell right now, but your as beautiful and strong on the inside as you are on the outside. Just know you have the prayers and love of thousands of fans and cancer survivors.
Carol
I am a 12 year survivor of stage 3 anal cancer. It came as a shock as I was a healthy and athletic woman in my 40’s. The chemo and radiation treatments were grueling but I was determined to win my battle. My best advice is to find a survivor with the same cancer that can help you through what is happening during your treatment and the side effects. It was the most grueling fight of my life. Surround yourself with positive thoughts and don’t read anything negative. There are many of us out here that have survived. You’re in my prayers.
Hang in there,Farrah-I have just finished treatment for the same cancer.I have gone thru the 5 weeks of living in the bathroom,unable to eat anything,lost my hair.Very debilitating treatment.At the same time I had double by-pass heart surgery.After Severe dehydration I was dmitted to hospital for 18 days. Just want you to know that it DOES get better. My 2nd biopsy was CLEAR.Tumor made “Massive Regression” and to consider it “CURED”.The treatment is rough,but it does work.My radiation will still be working thru the 1st of the year.I pray for you every day,my February friend.My b’day is 2-4-47 !! Dorothy Hendrickson (Streamwood,IL)
MS. FAWCETT, UNLIKE THE ABOVE CONCERNED FANS, I’VE NEVER HAD YOUR CONDITION. CLOSEST WAS SKIN CANCER. MY FAMILY AND I WERE VISITING AND YOU JUST CAME TO MIND AND WONDERED HOW YOU WERE DOING. I HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AND ON SCHEDULE. ANY CONDITION LIKE THIS IS BRUTAL AS I’VE HAD OTHERS BUT WE AS HUMANS ARE RESILLENT IF WE DON’T GIVE UP!
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU & MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH A SPEEDY RECOVERY!
I am a 43 year old female and was diagnosed with Stage IIIB anal cancer on 9/11/07. The treatments were brutual, but I am praying everyday that what I went through will save my life. The entire ordeal has been the most devastating thing I have had to deal with yet in my life. I live a very good life, thought I was in great health…and out of nowhere comes cancer. I had no warning signs, but my cancer could have been detected a few years ago if my OB/GYN would have performed rectal exams along with my Gynological exams. I encourage women of all ages to request these exams. I was told I had no risk factors and was not of the age of 50, but to the shock of many I was diagnosed at 43. Just as important are self breast exams and mammograms. My sister is a seven year survivor of breast cancer and is alive today because of a self breast exam that detected agressive breast cancer at the age of 37…. As women we are becoming those stricten with devastating diseases at younger and younger ages.
Dear Farrah
You are such an inspiration and to those of us who have the same disease. I was diagnosed with anal cancer and progressed into VIN 3. I had numerous surgeries with the excision and laser. However, laser treatment just didn’t work in my case. (partial vulvetomy). I was never given chemotherapy. After years of 1 to 2 surgeries a year I am now without the disease but I never miss my examinations. I haven’t had a surgery since 2001 or 2002. Wishing you well and keep up the fight.
Dear Farrah, I am a year post treatment for anal cancer and would like to wish you a speedy recovery. I am still very tired but take things easy and on a day to day basis. Not thought about work yet but know that I want to get back to normal. Am due a scan soon to see my progress. Hope to see you back on our screens and well again. Good luck and lots of love.
Dear Farah, This is to you and all who read it: In Mar 2008 my anus, rectum, and a partial of the back of the vaginal wall were removed. A muscle was “stripped” starting from 3 ribs up from the bottom of rib cage, folded and attached to back wall of vagina. 6 weeks later, new woman. Pathologies are clear, no lymphs removed, nerve ending clear, white blood count slightly low normal. Before surgery I had 25 10min each sessesions of radiation; 7 mo later 13 sessions of chem. I’m 5′6″ 127 lbs. Thin to begin with, lose weight easily, so this was my main concern as cachexia is what kills a lg. percentage of cancer patients. I lost 10 lbs., dr’s said no weight gain for 4-6 mo. I have already gained 3.5. What I want to say here is:
1- get ready for these treatments if you can’t avoid them. Go on a proper diet (lots of fresh, organic fruits/vegies, clean water, no meat), do a 5 day REAL cleanse (I suggest Dr. Richard Schulze), and remember that you are preparing to drive your car (body) across the sahara (radiation) and through the mud (chemo). You would clean all the filters and fluids 1st. Do the same for your body. I DID!
I must tell you it wasn’t that hard to take.
I never threw up and ate 5 sm. meals a day (fixed by my angel of a husband). I also went to an accupunturist, took 2 types of Chineese Herbs and 1 salve for the anus.
Folks, prepare BEFORE you do this and it won’t be as bad.
Dear Ms. Fawcett–
I want to wish you the very best in your fight against anal cancer. On June 18th., 2007, I learned I had stage I anal cancer. I was in shock, as a female at age 54, I am a runner and weight lifter and felt I was in the best shape of my life. My internist told me I had a “bleeding hemorrhoid,” but also urged me to get that colonoscopy that I had kept putting off. For all of you out there who may read this–get the colonoscopy–it’s no big deal. What has been a big deal if the 6 weeks of chemo and radiation that I began on July 28th. I am now 4 weeks post my last radiation treatment and am healing very nicely. But I can assure all of you, grueling is definitely an accurate description of the treatment–it was hell–but I made it through. I go for another scan on 10/13 to see how my tumor has responded to the therapy–I am hoping for the best. Ms. Fawcett–please don’t give up on this fight, and should you ever choose to, please become a voice for this rare and devastating disease. It doesn’t get the attention it deserves–just ask the 5000+ people who will find out this year that they have it! May God Bless. Martha Pease, Cumming, GA.
I also am a 8 years survivor of anal cancer. The treatments were an absolute nightmare. I had 3rd degree burns, front and back, from the chemo/radiation combination. It took me 5 years to recover the internal and external damage. My husband has left me, filed for divorce, due to my cancer and what it had done to me. And I quote his words, “I did my duty, I had been faithful more than any other man would have been faithful”. We didn’t ask for this, I don’t think anyone asks for cancer. Just keep yourself as upbeat as possible, pray and pray for a speedy recovery and that it will never return to your vessel again. Keep God loving people in your life and dump out the trash. You need positive, praying people in your life. Some days will be good, some will be bad…and the ones that don’t want to respect you or love you didn’t have God in the hearts in the first place to be with you.
Ms. Farrah,
I’ll say prays for you everyday,hopefully God will hear all the prays and make you well again.I alway watched your shows.We’re the same age,Mr.O’Neal God will reward you one day for the love you have for Ms.Farrah.I pray that the reward will make her well again.
Salvatore Pasta
Baltimore,md.
Doesn’t anal cancer mostly only affect people if they have anal sex?
Deviant actions deserve horrible and painful consequences.
Shana,
Your comment was cruel,uneducated and uncalled for. Why not do a little research and find out before you refer to this disease as Deviant. People with anal cancer don’t get it from having anal sex.
I pray for Farrah’s full recovery. God is bigger than we are. There are just some things we can’t handle. Don’t give up praying.
Dear ms Farrah,
I just want you to know that God knows what you are going through.He knew this would happen long before you were born,therefore keep your trust in him ok.
Shana is very ignorant.
Ra_Harakate and Annie, whether you like it or not ANAL SEX IS A RISK FACTOR in becoming diseased with Anal Cancer! You two need to do your reaserch. I am not saying that Farrah Fawcett engaged in anal sex with her husband Ryan O’neal, but that anal sex is not natural to the body. The body did not evolve to enagage in anal sex, and the sperm (live haploid cells) in anal lining can cause havoc to a person’s health.
According to this very website, anal sex is a risk factor for anal cancer. I’ve always fantasised about rumpy-pumpy with Farrah, so there you go.
If it was that big of a risk factor, then every gay male on the PLANET would have anal cancer!! Yet, it remains a fairly rare cancer and more women than men seem to be afflicted. There must be other factors that come into play because anal sex alone does not explain it.
R.I.P. beautiful Farrah.
I am a 58 year old woman recently diagnosed with anal cancer. Just to let the uneducated know, I have never had anal sex and have had one sexual partner in my lifetime, my husband of 37 years. Anyone can get anal cancer. I hope you do not ever have to go through this. I start chemo & radiation Monday. RIP, Farrah, my prayers are with you.
Anal Sex Is High Risk Factor In WOMEN That Can Lead To Complications Its Just Not Designed For
Sexual Pleasure. Im Not Sayin She Got Anal Cancer From Anal Sex, But The Risk Factor Is Higher If You Have.
Its Just Not Hygienec. Mens anal is totaly different from a womans.
But no one has really answered if she was involved in group sex or lots of kinky stuff. You know she was in that hollywood swingers crowd and everyone wanted a piece.
I am eighteen months post aggressive chemo and radiation treatment for anal cancer, how long does it take a body to fully recoup from this? I believe the stuff is still being expelled by my body, unfortunately because of the location the skin erupts with swelling and soreness, I use silvadine cream as it seems to be the only thing that alleviates and helps heal…..I am just starting to come back to my senses it seems like I lost them about 4-6 weeks into treatment and don’t remember a lot about what went on during that time period…..can anyone guess ta mate it for me…
Everyone that commented about anal sex and anal cancer need their head examined. I am 6 months post treatment for stage 2 anal cancer. I am 45 and have never had anal sex. Anal cancer is caused from HPV through migration of cells from the cervix. I was diagnosed with HPV from a papsmear 19 years ago and they froze my cells off my cervix. I have been HPV negative ever since so when I asked the doctor about how someone gets Anal Cancer, he said from HPV. I said that I never had Anal Sex and he laughed and said “no no that’s not what happens. The cells migrate to various other parts of the body from the cervix and cause Anal, throat, mouth, head, neck, and vuvlar cancer. So for all you idiots who apparently have no education AND have never had to go through anything as HELLISH as Anal Cancer treatment, read up on things before you spout off.
By the way, this cancer is highly treatable when caught in early stages. Don’t ignore symptoms.
Ellen