New Poz - scared of anal cancer - help?

[SteveS]

Hi - still very hard to believe I am here typing this..I tested positive about 2 weeks ago...but honestly - what has me more concerned is that they also found anal warts from HPV (not sure which strain) and I have had the "symptoms" people talk about with anal cancer...itching, etc. I am actually much more freaked out about the possibility of anal cancer than the HIV, just because it seems as though treatment with HIV has come so far...Can ANYONE give advice / knowledge in this area? I have to find a doctor in the NYC who knows what s/he is doing in the field of possible anal cancer, because the one I am dealing with seems far too unconcerned about it..."can't schedule you for an anoscopy for a few weeks because we are booked up", etc...At this point, any advice would be very appreciated.

[SteveS]

By the way - one other thing that was unusual if anyone can speak to this - i know for a fact that i tested positive very early, because I had a neg test 6 months ago. i actually think i was got infected about 4 weeks before testing positive. thing is - my numbers seem unusual. my CD4(that's T-cells, right? the good ones?) were high - like about 1000, and my viral load, which they told me would be in the millions or at least hundreds of thousands because it was a new infection, was only 400. They seemed to think these numbers were unusual. Again - it is a new infection, which is why they thought the numbers would be high. Any thoughts on that?

[Miss Philicia]

When I lived in NYC I saw Dr. Stephen Goldstone for high resolution anoscopies -- he's very good: 420 W 23rd St., New York, NY 10011 Phone:(212) 242-6500

If you just have anal warts then I'd not be worrying about cancer. I'm not clear why you're making that huge mental leap.

[SteveS]

Oh my goodness - someone replied that quick. Thank you. I could almost cry - forgive me for being emotional - but this is a very emotional time for me. I have had perfect health - perfect - up until now - and now all of this....

I guess I am making the "leap" because everyone on the web it says that anal insertive sex makes anal cancer 17 times more likely, and then, if you are HIV poz, that doubles or triples, and, again, i have the "symptoms" they list (itchy anus, thinning stool, blood). I do have a history of hemerroids and also these symptoms could be a lot of other things like reacting to the stress of the HIV diagnosis, the fact that I have radically changed my diet the last two weeks, etc. But i am freaking out. I recognize that but at the same time.... I will look into this Doc immediately.

[Anqueetas]

Get yourself treated for anal wart and have an anal PAP smear every year. THen you will have a lot less chance of something goes wrong down there undiagnosed. Early treatment for anal cancer is very effective so don't ve to concern about it, just get yourself check out regularly.

Successful HIV treatment also significantly lessen the chance of having anal cancer

Now you know what to do.