Post radiation/Chemo side effects

Nohela64

Hello everyone.  My husband finished chemo and radiation treatments for T2N0M0 anal cancer August 2014.  About 2 months after, he began having strange symptoms.  Rash to his entire body,with edema to his lower extremities and his radiated pelvic and anal areas.  And he had a wound, which was from his tumor, how we discovered the cancer.  This wound shrunk to about 1cm by the time he finished treatment, and it had began to grow within 2 months as well.  Our local docs could not explain these thing so I took him to a larger facility where all of his follow up tests and then some were performed.  All have been negative for CA.  However his wound remains.  The specialist believes the wound is radiation damage.  So, he is in his third week of HBOT and the wound seems to be responding somewhat, however his entire perianal area seems to fill up with fluid and then leaks almost in cycles.  And he now has some strange infection or something which has appeared on several fingers of one hand, for which he is being treated with antibiotics.  Anyone out there have any strange side effects?  It's very difficult to research.

eihtak

Nohela64.....

Hi and welcome....

Radiation is a wicked thing and continues to raise concerns for a long time after initial treatment. I would think that if the wound was there before treatment, yet not the actual tumor itself it was made worse by the radiation thus the reason for starting to grow.

What chemo was he given during treatment? Although it seems there has been enough time since being treated, there is a recommendation to avoid HBOT if using "cisplatin"......a drug that some doctors use rather than mitomycin with 5FU. I am no doctor but came across this a while back when checking into HBOT myself.

 

 

 

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy

 

 

 

http://www.ontariohbot.ca/contraindication

The following drugs have the tendency to become toxic at high pressure:

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) – A chemotherapeutic drug.

Cisplatin – Also a chemotherapeutic drug.

Disulfiram (Antabuse) – Used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon) – Suppresses bacterial infections in burn wounds

I agree with you it is difficult to research some of the side effects of this treatment and our doctors seem as unaware as ourselves at times.......this is a great place for help and hopefully someone will have some useful info for you.

I will have you and yourhusband in my thoughts and prayers for healing.

katheryn

 

 

 

 

eihtak

eihtak said:

Nohela64.....

Hi and welcome....

Radiation is a wicked thing and continues to raise concerns for a long time after initial treatment. I would think that if the wound was there before treatment, yet not the actual tumor itself it was made worse by the radiation thus the reason for starting to grow.

What chemo was he given during treatment? Although it seems there has been enough time since being treated, there is a recommendation to avoid HBOT if using "cisplatin"......a drug that some doctors use rather than mitomycin with 5FU. I am no doctor but came across this a while back when checking into HBOT myself.

 

 

 

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy

 

 

 

http://www.ontariohbot.ca/contraindication

The following drugs have the tendency to become toxic at high pressure:

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) – A chemotherapeutic drug.

Cisplatin – Also a chemotherapeutic drug.

Disulfiram (Antabuse) – Used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon) – Suppresses bacterial infections in burn wounds

I agree with you it is difficult to research some of the side effects of this treatment and our doctors seem as unaware as ourselves at times.......this is a great place for help and hopefully someone will have some useful info for you.

I will have you and yourhusband in my thoughts and prayers for healing.

katheryn

 

 

 

 

Ugh.....

Sorry about the crazy lay-out of my last post.....I always goof up when copying/paste

Nohela64

eihtak said:

Ugh.....

Sorry about the crazy lay-out of my last post.....I always goof up when copying/paste

Thanks for the info.

Hi again.  He had 5FU and Mitomycin-C.  The initial wound was the tumor itself growing.  He had what initially was thought to be an anal fissure from constipation. The fissure grew and after being debrided by a wound doc for a month, he sent us to a surgeon who took one look and was suspicious for CA.  Tumor was 5cm, therefore inoperable.  Tumor is gone, however wound healing is complicated by the rad.  With the rashes and new possible infection, we are concerned if this is due to the side effects of rad as well.  Can't find much info about weird bodily reactions post rad.

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

Nohela64 said:

Thanks for the info.

Hi again.  He had 5FU and Mitomycin-C.  The initial wound was the tumor itself growing.  He had what initially was thought to be an anal fissure from constipation. The fissure grew and after being debrided by a wound doc for a month, he sent us to a surgeon who took one look and was suspicious for CA.  Tumor was 5cm, therefore inoperable.  Tumor is gone, however wound healing is complicated by the rad.  With the rashes and new possible infection, we are concerned if this is due to the side effects of rad as well.  Can't find much info about weird bodily reactions post rad.

Radiation GOOD; radiation BAD.

As good as radiation is at zapping those cancer cells into history, the lingering effects on the innocent, previously healthy, cells can be nasty. One of the nasty effects is a chronic inflamation and dysplasia and difficulty with healing. I was initially diagnosed with a big fissure (from diarrhea) but when I went for the repair, once I was unconscious and he could really examine me, it was immediately obvious to the colo-rectal surgeon what I truly had. Fortunately, I didn't have anyone poking at me for a month before diagnosis. Healing of those zapped tissues may take a while. I hope your sweety isn't in pain.

The anal canal is not a very well perfused area to begin with and when the internal anal sphincter muscle spasms, the tissues can get downright hypoxic - not good at all for healing. Is your husband on any medication to relax that sphincter? I have to insert Nefedipine ointment every day. If he's on such a med, make sure he inserts it high enough in order to have it contact the internal shpincter area. (I don't have an open wounds except for fissures and chronic inflammation. Ouchful indeed!) Also, he's probably been told to keep up with the sitz baths 2 or 3 x day. Make sure he does. Not only will the warm water clean the area and increase circulation, but it will keep that inner sphincter relaxed, too. He can also sit on a heating pad set on low for in between. The warmth inself can relieve pain. http://id.medicine.ucsf.edu/analcancerinfo/diagnosis/anatomy.html

I assume that you've spoken with the radiation oncologist as well as the colo-rectal doctor.

Radiation can also cause lymphedema. I haven't had that, but other forum members have. Maybe one will come by to offer some insight.

All the very best to you both.

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

eihtak said:

Nohela64.....

Hi and welcome....

Radiation is a wicked thing and continues to raise concerns for a long time after initial treatment. I would think that if the wound was there before treatment, yet not the actual tumor itself it was made worse by the radiation thus the reason for starting to grow.

What chemo was he given during treatment? Although it seems there has been enough time since being treated, there is a recommendation to avoid HBOT if using "cisplatin"......a drug that some doctors use rather than mitomycin with 5FU. I am no doctor but came across this a while back when checking into HBOT myself.

 

 

 

http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/manualhealingandphysicaltouch/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy

 

 

 

http://www.ontariohbot.ca/contraindication

The following drugs have the tendency to become toxic at high pressure:

Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) – A chemotherapeutic drug.

Cisplatin – Also a chemotherapeutic drug.

Disulfiram (Antabuse) – Used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon) – Suppresses bacterial infections in burn wounds

I agree with you it is difficult to research some of the side effects of this treatment and our doctors seem as unaware as ourselves at times.......this is a great place for help and hopefully someone will have some useful info for you.

I will have you and yourhusband in my thoughts and prayers for healing.

katheryn

 

 

 

 

How-to request.

Hello, Ms eihtak:

HOW do you insert a clickable hot link? I asked a moderator once and she would only say that some forum members know how to do it, but would not share that knowledge with me. 

Computer language impaired, Ouchy

eihtak

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

How-to request.

Hello, Ms eihtak:

HOW do you insert a clickable hot link? I asked a moderator once and she would only say that some forum members know how to do it, but would not share that knowledge with me. 

Computer language impaired, Ouchy

Ouch....

Hi, unfortunately my tech skills are what I call basic at best and most often hit and miss. I usually just copy and paste, and sometimes it works so that others can click on sometimes it doesn't.

I have a blank "Word" page where I keep useful links that I come across related to cancer/treatment/recovery and some of them just highlight when I transfer them yet others don't. ???????

Next time my son stops by I'll have to learn. Wish I could be of more help.

katheryn

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

eihtak said:

Ouch....

Hi, unfortunately my tech skills are what I call basic at best and most often hit and miss. I usually just copy and paste, and sometimes it works so that others can click on sometimes it doesn't.

I have a blank "Word" page where I keep useful links that I come across related to cancer/treatment/recovery and some of them just highlight when I transfer them yet others don't. ???????

Next time my son stops by I'll have to learn. Wish I could be of more help.

katheryn

Ah, well........

Sweet mystery of life I've yet to find thee....

mp327

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

Ah, well........

Sweet mystery of life I've yet to find thee....

Inserting links

Click on the 15th. icon above (the one after the two curly arrows and try inserting a link that way.

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

mp327 said:

Inserting links

Click on the 15th. icon above (the one after the two curly arrows and try inserting a link that way.

Trying....

http://www.bing.com/ - Manatees!

(The icon is grayed out. It must not like me.)

mp327

Nohela64

I'm very sorry to hear of your husband's post-treatment issues, but aside from this, I hope he is doing well..  I hope the antibiotics will help.

Martha

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch

Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

Radiation GOOD; radiation BAD.

As good as radiation is at zapping those cancer cells into history, the lingering effects on the innocent, previously healthy, cells can be nasty. One of the nasty effects is a chronic inflamation and dysplasia and difficulty with healing. I was initially diagnosed with a big fissure (from diarrhea) but when I went for the repair, once I was unconscious and he could really examine me, it was immediately obvious to the colo-rectal surgeon what I truly had. Fortunately, I didn't have anyone poking at me for a month before diagnosis. Healing of those zapped tissues may take a while. I hope your sweety isn't in pain.

The anal canal is not a very well perfused area to begin with and when the internal anal sphincter muscle spasms, the tissues can get downright hypoxic - not good at all for healing. Is your husband on any medication to relax that sphincter? I have to insert Nefedipine ointment every day. If he's on such a med, make sure he inserts it high enough in order to have it contact the internal shpincter area. (I don't have an open wounds except for fissures and chronic inflammation. Ouchful indeed!) Also, he's probably been told to keep up with the sitz baths 2 or 3 x day. Make sure he does. Not only will the warm water clean the area and increase circulation, but it will keep that inner sphincter relaxed, too. He can also sit on a heating pad set on low for in between. The warmth inself can relieve pain. http://id.medicine.ucsf.edu/analcancerinfo/diagnosis/anatomy.html

I assume that you've spoken with the radiation oncologist as well as the colo-rectal doctor.

Radiation can also cause lymphedema. I haven't had that, but other forum members have. Maybe one will come by to offer some insight.

All the very best to you both.

Wrong word used.

I'm sorry - I should have said: ". . .the tissues can get downright ISCHEMIC - not good at all for healing"