I see light at the end of the tunnel

Hello everyone,

I haven't posted in a long while, but since I am almost at the end of treatment I thought I would drop a few lines to make some comments, and hear some "after treatment stories".

I am about to begin my sixth week of radiation and chemo therapies for recal cancer at Duke Raleigh Hospital.

I must admit that I am weary!!!  Big Time!   This has been a difficult journey to maneuver alone.  This been a cancer and me endeavor.  I have had some help along the way, primarily by my best friend who has been wonderful to see that I have what I need.

 

Side effects have become more intense as treatment progressed.  I was told recently, by my radiation treatment technicians, that my treatments has been coned down.   Was told another cone down would occur this week.

Radiation has clearly been the larger problem I have had to deal with.  It affects bowels and makes them unpredictable.This has been a constant issue from the beginning!

 

Well, after I am finished with these therapies, would someone please tell me about what I should expect.  I would be more than grateful.

Blessings and many thanks

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    RaleighMusicGuy

    It's good to hear from you.  You are headed into the last (and worst) week, as they focus those beams only on the tumor.  I'm glad you are getting support from your friend.  The diarrhea was a huge issue for me.  I look back now and think I should have just lived in the bathroom.  Mine continued for some time after treatment ended.  However, I believe it was partly my fault, as I was trying to go back to eating lots of fruits and veggies, which meant much more fiber intake than my damaged system could handle.  It took awhile to figure it all out, especially since I was not on this support site or any other, which would have been a huge help.  As far as my burns, they healed pretty quickly, although BM's were painful for awhile.  All in all, my recovery happened pretty quickly.  I bounced back from the fatigue in a couple of weeks.  My best advice is to just be patient with yourself, as it doesn't happen overnight, but you should soon feel much better.

    As for follow-up protocol, I urge you to register on the site www.NCCN.org (the National Comprehensive Cancer Network).  Once registered, you will have access to the most current follow-up guidelines so you can know how often your doctors should be seeing you and what type of exams, tests or scans you should be getting.

    Eat lots of protein--it's good for healing.  If you can, when treatment finishes up and you are not in pain, try to get a little exercise.  It will help with your energy level. 

    I wish you the best with the remainder of your treatment and your recovery.  Please keep us posted on how things are going for you.

    Martha

     

     

  • lp1964
    lp1964 Member Posts: 1,239 Member
    Dear Friend,

    I'm glad that you have weathered through the radiation and chemo.

    You mentioned that you have rectal cancer. This is important because the treatment for rectal cancer and anal cancer is different. Most anal cancers are squamous (skin) cancers that spread up the anus from the outside. In this case you are pretty much done. If you have rectal cancer which are adenocarcinonas (gland) that start in the inside of the rectum although can be close to the opening. In case of adenocarcinona you may need surgery to remove it. 

    So you need to talk to whoever disgnosed you and clarify what type of cancer you have. I hope this helps and certainly hope for the easier option.

    All the best,

    Laz

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    lp1964 said:

    Dear Friend,

    I'm glad that you have weathered through the radiation and chemo.

    You mentioned that you have rectal cancer. This is important because the treatment for rectal cancer and anal cancer is different. Most anal cancers are squamous (skin) cancers that spread up the anus from the outside. In this case you are pretty much done. If you have rectal cancer which are adenocarcinonas (gland) that start in the inside of the rectum although can be close to the opening. In case of adenocarcinona you may need surgery to remove it. 

    So you need to talk to whoever disgnosed you and clarify what type of cancer you have. I hope this helps and certainly hope for the easier option.

    All the best,

    Laz

    Cancer types and a prevention.

    lp1964 (Laz) is correct: anal cancer does not = rectal cancer. One big, basic difference that you may be now appreciating is that the anus has LOTS of easily riled-up nerve endings while from the rectum on northwards, there are few nerve endings. As Laz pointed out, the protocols are different for the two types. The NCCN site will spell out the protocol that you should expect to follow. The pathologist can also examine your specimen (they probably still have it) for the presence or absence of human papilloma virus (HPV) as the causative agent. It causes most of the anal cancers, but not the rectal cancers (unless you have an anal cancer the has spread upwards). The HPV vaccination is an important component in the eradication of HPV-mediated cancers (anal, perineal skin, penile, mouth, throat, and in women, vulvular, vaginal, and cervical). So, if you know of any kids, talk to their parents about getting them vaccinated!

  • RaleighMusicGuy
    RaleighMusicGuy Member Posts: 27
    lp1964 said:

    Dear Friend,

    I'm glad that you have weathered through the radiation and chemo.

    You mentioned that you have rectal cancer. This is important because the treatment for rectal cancer and anal cancer is different. Most anal cancers are squamous (skin) cancers that spread up the anus from the outside. In this case you are pretty much done. If you have rectal cancer which are adenocarcinonas (gland) that start in the inside of the rectum although can be close to the opening. In case of adenocarcinona you may need surgery to remove it. 

    So you need to talk to whoever disgnosed you and clarify what type of cancer you have. I hope this helps and certainly hope for the easier option.

    All the best,

    Laz

    Las

    Thank you for the information.  I was told that the cancer was squamous cell.  Still hanging in here anxiously awaiting the time that I feel a positive change in my recovery.

    Blessings,

    Michael