Cancer Survivors Network

Hi Skittles,

The burning started for me in about the 3rd week of rads and continued on until about 3 or 4 months after treatment. I'm still a little tender but very tolerable at 9 months out of treatment. I would use a sports bottle of water while using the bathroom. There are lotions and ointments you may use also. Ask your radiologist to refer some to you. Of course never use them before treatment, as it will make you burn more. I would take a bath go get zapped, come home take a pain med and apply the bag balm (used on cow utters). I was given a dialator after treatment was finished and didn't start using it until about a month after treatment to keep the vagina open. I would prefer using a man, but until I find one I have to use the dialator. Yes, this is a curable cancer. I wish you well. Lori

Personally, I hope never to have to do either of these again. And, Lord willing, you will never either. But there are survivors on this board who have done them again and I know we are resilient beings! You will beat it!

The radiation certainly has the longest impact on you - or it did for me. The only lingering side effect from chemo was my curly hair - and I wish that had stayed forever!
The chemo was bad for me really only briefly late each week - both times for mouth sores. Though, I have to say, the nausea is quite awful, too, but for me only a coup