Sexual issues for colorectal cancer survivors

tommycat
tommycat Member Posts: 790 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Good links for more information too.

http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/research_news/2012/10/sexual_issues_for_cancer_survivors

Comments

  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
    Thx T:)
    Hey T...

    I noticed that when you paste this link into the browser...it adds some text after the last word 'survivor' in the link. As a result, I got one of those 404 Not Found errors.

    So, I backspaced back the words out back to survivors...and got the link.

    I read and tapped into several segments of the interview...it's interesting...wish I had known these things 8-years ago when I got started...wouldn't have mattered, but it sure would have gone a long way in alleviating the anxieties and wondering what's wrong with you.

    My doctors then were mum on the word of anything to do with treatment and what came afterwards...info like this at the very beginning would have been helpful to someone new, who has no idea what's coming.

    None of the information he presented was really news for me on this topic, but it's good for new folks getting started...gives them a head up on what they might could expect.

    Both sexes really take a beating when radiation is performed, followed by the rectal resection...it takes time to recover, if you recover...those nerves are a highway of intertwined string that lap over one another and alot of damage happens down there.

    It seems that rectal and anal cancer have the issues, due to the proximity of those nerves to the anal area....colon resect folks seem to be spared the radiation.

    While surgery might present issues in and of itself, the combination of radiation and surgery is a 1-2 punch...for those of us that are fortunate to regain some stability, we are fortunate...as there are many who are not.

    What I found particulary interesting over the sex part, is how urination is also affected...and that's an issue that I have interest in from all of the after-shocks of treatment.

    Thanks for posting it:)

    -c
  • Minnesotagirl
    Minnesotagirl Member Posts: 141
    #3
    Sundanceh said:

    Thx T:)
    Hey T...

    I noticed that when you paste this link into the browser...it adds some text after the last word 'survivor' in the link. As a result, I got one of those 404 Not Found errors.

    So, I backspaced back the words out back to survivors...and got the link.

    I read and tapped into several segments of the interview...it's interesting...wish I had known these things 8-years ago when I got started...wouldn't have mattered, but it sure would have gone a long way in alleviating the anxieties and wondering what's wrong with you.

    My doctors then were mum on the word of anything to do with treatment and what came afterwards...info like this at the very beginning would have been helpful to someone new, who has no idea what's coming.

    None of the information he presented was really news for me on this topic, but it's good for new folks getting started...gives them a head up on what they might could expect.

    Both sexes really take a beating when radiation is performed, followed by the rectal resection...it takes time to recover, if you recover...those nerves are a highway of intertwined string that lap over one another and alot of damage happens down there.

    It seems that rectal and anal cancer have the issues, due to the proximity of those nerves to the anal area....colon resect folks seem to be spared the radiation.

    While surgery might present issues in and of itself, the combination of radiation and surgery is a 1-2 punch...for those of us that are fortunate to regain some stability, we are fortunate...as there are many who are not.

    What I found particulary interesting over the sex part, is how urination is also affected...and that's an issue that I have interest in from all of the after-shocks of treatment.

    Thanks for posting it:)

    -c

    Very valuable information
    Thanks so much Tommycat ~ very interesting and valuable information that I wish I would have been told about my Oncologist or Radiation Dr...oh well, I hope this will help someone else with asking questions before it happens rather than cleaning up issues when everyone is so surprised that it does happen. Thanks again.

    "Minnesotagirl"
  • pete43lost_at_sea
    pete43lost_at_sea Member Posts: 3,900 Member
    #4
    Minnesotagirl said:

    Very valuable information
    Thanks so much Tommycat ~ very interesting and valuable information that I wish I would have been told about my Oncologist or Radiation Dr...oh well, I hope this will help someone else with asking questions before it happens rather than cleaning up issues when everyone is so surprised that it does happen. Thanks again.

    "Minnesotagirl"

    thanks tommy
    some days are diamonds and some days are gold, then some days actully do suck. its a really important subject that you have posted about.

    hugs,
    Pete
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #5
    Yup Been There
    They never told me that radiation would shrink my vaginal opening, which they should have shared that info. It was over a year of dilation before my husband and I were intimate again. Thank God he was patient with me :)

    Kim
  • ron50
    ron50 Member Posts: 1,723 Member
    #6
    It's just something else
    That I lost to cancer. I just avoid relationships . That way I don't miss it. Surviving survival ain't easy.Ron.
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #7
    ron50 said:

    It's just something else
    That I lost to cancer. I just avoid relationships . That way I don't miss it. Surviving survival ain't easy.Ron.

    Sorry
    Ron you have had it so hard and you've been through so much. I'm sorry that you being cancer free has cost everything you loved so dearly. I'm glad that you are still on this board though. You are such an inspiration to everyone here. You were one of the first people on this board when joining years ago made a difference in my life. You have gone through so much but still inspire others. That is true compassion my friend.

    Kim
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #8
    pain
    Since I didn't have radiation or chemo, my main problem has been the chronic pain I've had since my surgery. That abdominal pain sort of puts a cloud over all kinds of activities!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #9
    sex and cancer
    About the only sexual issue I've encountered is that I think it must be illegal here in Utah.

    Kidding aside, when I'm hooked up to the pump for 48 hours I just can't imagine that any woman would want to even consider being interested with that thing hanging off of me.
  • mukamom
    mukamom Member Posts: 402
    #10
    Doc_Hawk said:

    sex and cancer
    About the only sexual issue I've encountered is that I think it must be illegal here in Utah.

    Kidding aside, when I'm hooked up to the pump for 48 hours I just can't imagine that any woman would want to even consider being interested with that thing hanging off of me.

    Doc_Hawk, when Robert
    had his ileostomy, it was of some concern about a blowout, and the thought of a bag of poo hanging RIGHT THERE...but you know what? When things were right, and the deed could be done..I forgot all about it and he did too.

    (That was the raciest thing I have ever wrote!)
    Angela
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #11
    Doc_Hawk said:

    sex and cancer
    About the only sexual issue I've encountered is that I think it must be illegal here in Utah.

    Kidding aside, when I'm hooked up to the pump for 48 hours I just can't imagine that any woman would want to even consider being interested with that thing hanging off of me.

    .

    .
  • dmj101
    dmj101 Member Posts: 527 Member
    #12
    Doc_Hawk said:

    sex and cancer
    About the only sexual issue I've encountered is that I think it must be illegal here in Utah.

    Kidding aside, when I'm hooked up to the pump for 48 hours I just can't imagine that any woman would want to even consider being interested with that thing hanging off of me.

    it doesn't have to hang.. if
    it doesn't have to hang.. if you know what you are doing..
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    #13
    dmj101 said:

    it doesn't have to hang.. if
    it doesn't have to hang.. if you know what you are doing..

    oh yeah
    I know it can just sit on the floor, but I haven't been able to find my gravity boots since the move. And it does obviously tend to bounce around a lot when we're on the trampoline. But even still, that tube sticking out of the chest just isn't very attractive. And yeah, I'm very glad I don't have to worry about a bag!
  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    #14
    S@x...what's that? I have
    S@x...what's that? I have had abdominal pain off and on since September. I think my DH is afraid of hurting me. Right now I am just too tired to worry about it. Maybe when I am done with chemo things will get back to normal.

    Alex
  • Lovekitties
    Lovekitties Member Posts: 3,364 Member
    #15
    Doc_Hawk said:

    oh yeah
    I know it can just sit on the floor, but I haven't been able to find my gravity boots since the move. And it does obviously tend to bounce around a lot when we're on the trampoline. But even still, that tube sticking out of the chest just isn't very attractive. And yeah, I'm very glad I don't have to worry about a bag!

    LOL
    Oh Doc, you are a trip!

    Just to be serious for a moment...there are "garments" available for both men and women who have ostomies to make those intimate moments a bit easier. Just hit the web sites for ostomy fashions.

    Now, about that trampoline? LOL

    Hugs,

    Marie who loves kitties
  • Deena11
    Deena11 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #16
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Yup Been There
    They never told me that radiation would shrink my vaginal opening, which they should have shared that info. It was over a year of dilation before my husband and I were intimate again. Thank God he was patient with me :)

    Kim

    Me too
    Hi Annabelle. I didn't have radiation but had chemo for 7 months. I didn't realize that my vaginal opening would shrink but it sure did. I had to be put on Estrogen for a few weeks to restore elasticity. It finally worked but took a lot of time and patience. My boyfriend was patient too.
  • Deena11
    Deena11 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #17
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Yup Been There
    They never told me that radiation would shrink my vaginal opening, which they should have shared that info. It was over a year of dilation before my husband and I were intimate again. Thank God he was patient with me :)

    Kim

    Me too
    Hi Annabelle. I didn't have radiation but had chemo for 7 months. I didn't realize that my vaginal opening would shrink but it sure did. I had to be put on Estrogen for a few weeks to restore elasticity. It finally worked but took a lot of time and patience. My boyfriend was patient too.
  • Deena11
    Deena11 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #18
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Yup Been There
    They never told me that radiation would shrink my vaginal opening, which they should have shared that info. It was over a year of dilation before my husband and I were intimate again. Thank God he was patient with me :)

    Kim

    Me too
    Hi Annabelle. I didn't have radiation but had chemo for 7 months. I didn't realize that my vaginal opening would shrink but it sure did. I had to be put on Estrogen for a few weeks to restore elasticity. It finally worked but took a lot of time and patience. My boyfriend was patient too.
  • Deena11
    Deena11 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #19
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Yup Been There
    They never told me that radiation would shrink my vaginal opening, which they should have shared that info. It was over a year of dilation before my husband and I were intimate again. Thank God he was patient with me :)

    Kim

    Me too
    Hi Annabelle. I didn't have radiation but had chemo for 7 months. I didn't realize that my vaginal opening would shrink but it sure did. I had to be put on Estrogen for a few weeks to restore elasticity. It finally worked but took a lot of time and patience. My boyfriend was patient too.
  • Deena11
    Deena11 Member Posts: 199 Member
    #20
    Deena11 said:

    Me too
    Hi Annabelle. I didn't have radiation but had chemo for 7 months. I didn't realize that my vaginal opening would shrink but it sure did. I had to be put on Estrogen for a few weeks to restore elasticity. It finally worked but took a lot of time and patience. My boyfriend was patient too.

    Oops...sorry abut the multiple postings
    Technical Problems!

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