Stage 3B Anal Cancer
My mom has been diagnosed with Stage 3B anal cancer, so I just wanted to see if there were any survivors out there who had conquered this stage of the disease. And if so, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking me through your experience. What was your course of treatment? Were you responsive? And so on and so forth.
If not, perhaps survivors of other stages could weigh in as well. What was the experience like for you? How did your body respond to chemo/radiation? At what week of treatment did you really start to notice the side effects? What were they? Did you continue to work, and if so, up until what point?
I want to be supportive of my mom, but I also want to encourage her to be strong, so knowing how others have been impacted would be greatly helpful in knowing the best way to react and respond.
Thank you so much for your insight, and best wishes to you all!
Comments
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concerneddaughter17
I am sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis. You are a good child and advocate for her, trying to learn as much as you can about this cancer and treatment. As for Stage 3B, there are many survivors who were diagnosed with 3B cancer. I am approaching my 8-year survival mark, but my tumor was on the fence between Stage 1 and 2. I can only respond to your questions based on my own experience. The treatment was 6 weeks (30 radiation treatments and 2 rounds of chemo). I experienced the following: mouth sores, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, severe diarrhea, bouts of slight nausea, and weakness/fatigue, 2nd. degree burns to the radiation area. I began to experience the nausea and fatigue just a day or two after the first round of chemo. Mouth sores and appetite issues followed in the next couple of weeks. Diarrhea was an issue pretty much from the beginning. My burns really increased during the last 2 weeks of treatment. I was not working at the time of treatment, so that was a non-issue for me.
Now that I've said all of that, please know that not everyone's experience is the same. Some people seem to have a much worse time than others. I believe my side effects would not have been as bad had I been on this support site or others where I could have gotten advice from others who had been through the same thing. My doctors and nurses were minimally helpful when it came to that--but they did get rid of my cancer! I am glad you have found this site, because you will get lots of advice here, based on first-hand experience. You need to let us know what side effects your Mom is experiencing as she goes through this treatment so that we can support you and offer suggestions on what worked for us.
A few tips I would offer up front for her would be: Stay well-hydrated (many people end up in the hospital for dehydration); Use anti-nausea meds at the first hint of nausea for most effectiveness; Eat protein for healing; When appetite diminishes, eat whatever tastes good; When tired, rest, rest, rest!
I wish your Mom all the best. It will not be a fun treatment, but it is highly effective and of short duration, as compared to treatment for other types of cancer. She will get through this, especially with your love and support.
Martha
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3B
Hello,
I was diagnosed with 3B in Oct 2013. My first scan after treatment showed no evidence of the disease. Over 2 1/2 years after treatment I am still cancer free. After the 2 year mark, the chance of recurrence drops way down but they will watch me until the 5 year mark.
I did not have surgery. I had the 5fu/mitomycin chemo which is pretty standard in addition to 6 weeks radiation therapy. Losing hair is depressing but it comes back quickly. Now I have the best hair I've ever had in my life. Did not have much trouble with chemo part except for platelets dropping in nadir. I only missed work because I teach and could not be exposed to so many germs at that time. My principal agreed that a mask would be weird and was very good about letting me take the time off with no fear of losing my job. Okay I was probably a little spacey too. Radiation started out no problem. I had a hard time believing that they were actually doing anything. After about 3 weeks I started getting burned crispy. It was incredibly painful until the end of treatment. My tongue did hurt from the chemo. My tongue hurt. My butt hurt. What they say about pain is true though--even the worse pain is quickly forgotten when it is over. Our bodies do that for us. I actually looked and felt much better about 10 days after radiation treatment.
This type of cancer can be quite responsive. I was in my late 50s at diagnosis but in pretty good shape being a former long distance runner. Well except for the cancer, ha! I think that being in shape helped. I have had an incredible 2 1/2 years since then! I've done so much! No matter what kind of hell your mom has to pass through it is worth it when you come out the other side. I know there are people on this board that have fought recurrences and second cancers, but they are so strong and never give up.
Recovery is lifelong. But every couple of months I realize that many of the effects of treatment get better in stages. Some things will probably be with me for life.
Daughters can really help! My daughter just kept telling me that she thought I was going to be okay and I hung onto that. She's a very positive person and I fed off of that energy. She never doubted that I would be okay.
I don't know when your mom is starting treatment but I will put her in my prayers. Feel free to stay in touch.
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Thank you so much for yourmp327 said:concerneddaughter17
I am sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis. You are a good child and advocate for her, trying to learn as much as you can about this cancer and treatment. As for Stage 3B, there are many survivors who were diagnosed with 3B cancer. I am approaching my 8-year survival mark, but my tumor was on the fence between Stage 1 and 2. I can only respond to your questions based on my own experience. The treatment was 6 weeks (30 radiation treatments and 2 rounds of chemo). I experienced the following: mouth sores, loss of appetite, weight loss, anemia, severe diarrhea, bouts of slight nausea, and weakness/fatigue, 2nd. degree burns to the radiation area. I began to experience the nausea and fatigue just a day or two after the first round of chemo. Mouth sores and appetite issues followed in the next couple of weeks. Diarrhea was an issue pretty much from the beginning. My burns really increased during the last 2 weeks of treatment. I was not working at the time of treatment, so that was a non-issue for me.
Now that I've said all of that, please know that not everyone's experience is the same. Some people seem to have a much worse time than others. I believe my side effects would not have been as bad had I been on this support site or others where I could have gotten advice from others who had been through the same thing. My doctors and nurses were minimally helpful when it came to that--but they did get rid of my cancer! I am glad you have found this site, because you will get lots of advice here, based on first-hand experience. You need to let us know what side effects your Mom is experiencing as she goes through this treatment so that we can support you and offer suggestions on what worked for us.
A few tips I would offer up front for her would be: Stay well-hydrated (many people end up in the hospital for dehydration); Use anti-nausea meds at the first hint of nausea for most effectiveness; Eat protein for healing; When appetite diminishes, eat whatever tastes good; When tired, rest, rest, rest!
I wish your Mom all the best. It will not be a fun treatment, but it is highly effective and of short duration, as compared to treatment for other types of cancer. She will get through this, especially with your love and support.
Martha
Thank you so much for your thorough reply and words of advice and encouragement!
My mom is on her 4th week of treatment and is experiencing nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pains, diarrhea, weight loss, and anal pain/burning. Her oncologist just prescribed some hydrocortisone cream for the anal and vaginal areas, which seems to be helping, but unfortunately, the nausea meds have not. She continues to vomit, in spite of them. She's also never taken to pain meds particularly well. Either they're not strong enough to make any kind of considerable difference, or they're too strong, and they make her sick. But her doctor just prescribed her Tramadol yesterday, so we'll see how she responds to that.
Any advice anyone could offer as to how to minimize the effect of any of those symptoms would be greatly appreciated!
Again, I truly value all of the support, and I wish you all the best as you move forward in your recovery!
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Thank you for your response!GoodDog2 said:3B
Hello,
I was diagnosed with 3B in Oct 2013. My first scan after treatment showed no evidence of the disease. Over 2 1/2 years after treatment I am still cancer free. After the 2 year mark, the chance of recurrence drops way down but they will watch me until the 5 year mark.
I did not have surgery. I had the 5fu/mitomycin chemo which is pretty standard in addition to 6 weeks radiation therapy. Losing hair is depressing but it comes back quickly. Now I have the best hair I've ever had in my life. Did not have much trouble with chemo part except for platelets dropping in nadir. I only missed work because I teach and could not be exposed to so many germs at that time. My principal agreed that a mask would be weird and was very good about letting me take the time off with no fear of losing my job. Okay I was probably a little spacey too. Radiation started out no problem. I had a hard time believing that they were actually doing anything. After about 3 weeks I started getting burned crispy. It was incredibly painful until the end of treatment. My tongue did hurt from the chemo. My tongue hurt. My butt hurt. What they say about pain is true though--even the worse pain is quickly forgotten when it is over. Our bodies do that for us. I actually looked and felt much better about 10 days after radiation treatment.
This type of cancer can be quite responsive. I was in my late 50s at diagnosis but in pretty good shape being a former long distance runner. Well except for the cancer, ha! I think that being in shape helped. I have had an incredible 2 1/2 years since then! I've done so much! No matter what kind of hell your mom has to pass through it is worth it when you come out the other side. I know there are people on this board that have fought recurrences and second cancers, but they are so strong and never give up.
Recovery is lifelong. But every couple of months I realize that many of the effects of treatment get better in stages. Some things will probably be with me for life.
Daughters can really help! My daughter just kept telling me that she thought I was going to be okay and I hung onto that. She's a very positive person and I fed off of that energy. She never doubted that I would be okay.
I don't know when your mom is starting treatment but I will put her in my prayers. Feel free to stay in touch.
Thank you for your response! So glad to hear about your recovery and your quality of life since treatment. Keep up the good work!
My mom is currently in her 4th week of treatment and experiencing a host of symptoms. Luckily, she has very proactive doctors who are helping her to tackle each one each step of the way. But of course, any additional anecdotal advice from people who have been there is always welcome.
When you say that recovery is lifelong, to which side effects, specifcally, are you referring? By this point, I'm well-versed in the short-term side effects associated with treatment, but I'm looking to learn more about potential long-term side effects, as well as the best ways to combat them. I've read up on vaginal stenosis and the use of dilator therapy, but I have not yet been apprised of other long-term effects. That being said, any insight you could provide would be invaluable.
Thank you again, and best of luck in your continued recovery!
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concerneddaughter17.....
Hi,
I am sorry that your mother (and yourself) have found the need for this place, yet glad you have sought the support from others like ourselves who have been there too.
I was dx with Stage 3b anal cancer about 5 1/2 years ago and underwent the standard chem/rad treatment. Due to size and placement of my tumor I also had colostomy surgery with the intent of reversal once healed from radiation. Unfortunately the radiation damage was severe and the ostomy became permanent, yet glad to say that 5 years later is 100% manageable and has not at all limited my normal active lifestyle!
The pain I experienced during treatment was "real" for me and I was put on a routine dose of oxycontin twice a day throughout. I used a spray called "Dermoplast" to get some relief. It is often purchased for pain relief after childbirth and being a spray was easy to apply to that tender burned skin. It was advised to me to not use much during the course of radiation except over the (weekend breaks) as it is also very important to get all products completely washed off before a dose of radiation to limit excess burning, and that can be difficult for some.
It became hard to even pivot or get seated in a chair comfortably until it was suggested to sit on a pillow with a satin (or slippery) cover as it made turning or swiveling much easier.
My appetite plumeted and I think I survived on yogurt and cheese sandwiches with an occasional egg or crackers....I did find that just eating a bite here and there but consistently throughout the day to always have a small amount in my stomach helped a lot with nausea.
As far as long term side effects, I suppose the vaginal stenosis is my greatest....I do not have anal concerns with bowel movements thanks to the ostomy! I did begin using dilators but not until almost a year post treatment as it was never mentioned to me earlier. What cancer and its treatment does to our bodies varies from person to person, but even more so, it seems to have a long term effect on what it does emotionally as well. I think this is sometimes forgotten as time passes and we appear healed on the outside. Although we also heal inside.....there is always a little something there that lingers in the back of our head. That being said.....for me, I have become stronger and more resilient when facing future challenges both small and large. I will pray the same for your mother.
Please keep us posted and continue to come here for help with any questions or concerns.
katheryn
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Long Term Effects.concerneddaughter17 said:Thank you for your response!
Thank you for your response! So glad to hear about your recovery and your quality of life since treatment. Keep up the good work!
My mom is currently in her 4th week of treatment and experiencing a host of symptoms. Luckily, she has very proactive doctors who are helping her to tackle each one each step of the way. But of course, any additional anecdotal advice from people who have been there is always welcome.
When you say that recovery is lifelong, to which side effects, specifcally, are you referring? By this point, I'm well-versed in the short-term side effects associated with treatment, but I'm looking to learn more about potential long-term side effects, as well as the best ways to combat them. I've read up on vaginal stenosis and the use of dilator therapy, but I have not yet been apprised of other long-term effects. That being said, any insight you could provide would be invaluable.
Thank you again, and best of luck in your continued recovery!
Everyone is different in recovery.
For me, I had radiation damage to the veins in anal rectal area, which caused bleeding after treatment. That seems to be tapering off. I think thats pretty common but of course very disturbing. My last flex sigmoidoscopy my doctor said it looked much better and I rarely have bleeding now. The human body is amazing in its capacity to heal.
It took a long time to get my bowels under control too.
Stiffness in hips from radiation. Could not even reach my toes or cross my legs. Persistent gentle yoga and lots of walking helps.
Energy took a long time to come back. They say that chemo gets out if your system but I think a lot of people would agree that the effects do not. I just let myself take a nap. I dont need to prove anything, I just let myself nap.
I seem to have regained my weight bearing strength, but am still having a hard time with endurance. Not sure if I'll ever get it all back. By that I mean cardio type endurance as opposed to daily energy.
All in all, not too bad. Those issues just mean I'm still here to feel them! Yay!
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Eloquenteihtak said:concerneddaughter17.....
Hi,
I am sorry that your mother (and yourself) have found the need for this place, yet glad you have sought the support from others like ourselves who have been there too.
I was dx with Stage 3b anal cancer about 5 1/2 years ago and underwent the standard chem/rad treatment. Due to size and placement of my tumor I also had colostomy surgery with the intent of reversal once healed from radiation. Unfortunately the radiation damage was severe and the ostomy became permanent, yet glad to say that 5 years later is 100% manageable and has not at all limited my normal active lifestyle!
The pain I experienced during treatment was "real" for me and I was put on a routine dose of oxycontin twice a day throughout. I used a spray called "Dermoplast" to get some relief. It is often purchased for pain relief after childbirth and being a spray was easy to apply to that tender burned skin. It was advised to me to not use much during the course of radiation except over the (weekend breaks) as it is also very important to get all products completely washed off before a dose of radiation to limit excess burning, and that can be difficult for some.
It became hard to even pivot or get seated in a chair comfortably until it was suggested to sit on a pillow with a satin (or slippery) cover as it made turning or swiveling much easier.
My appetite plumeted and I think I survived on yogurt and cheese sandwiches with an occasional egg or crackers....I did find that just eating a bite here and there but consistently throughout the day to always have a small amount in my stomach helped a lot with nausea.
As far as long term side effects, I suppose the vaginal stenosis is my greatest....I do not have anal concerns with bowel movements thanks to the ostomy! I did begin using dilators but not until almost a year post treatment as it was never mentioned to me earlier. What cancer and its treatment does to our bodies varies from person to person, but even more so, it seems to have a long term effect on what it does emotionally as well. I think this is sometimes forgotten as time passes and we appear healed on the outside. Although we also heal inside.....there is always a little something there that lingers in the back of our head. That being said.....for me, I have become stronger and more resilient when facing future challenges both small and large. I will pray the same for your mother.
Please keep us posted and continue to come here for help with any questions or concerns.
katheryn
Katheryn, your reply to this post is eloquent, informative, and from the heart. Thank you, from all of us who experienced and feel the same, but cannot put it into words as well as you. Aloha,
Pilikia.
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Pilikia55
I applaud you for asking all of these questions. You are being a great advocate for your mom. The side effects your mom is currently experiencing during treatment seem to be the most common ones a lot of us experienced. I hope the new pain med will help alleviate her pain. As for nausea, sometimes good old hard candy helps--I remember sucking on a lot of lemon drops.
Since I am almost 8 years out of treatment, long-term side effects have taken their toll on my body. I have osteoporosis and deal with a lot of hip and lower back pain. I currently see an osteoporosis specialist who is trying to help me. The most serious side effect I have dealt with post-treatment has been intestinal adhesions (scarring) from the radiation, which have caused me to have numerous episodes of blockages, one taking me to the ER with subsequent admission to the hospital. Keep in mind this does not happen to everyone. I have malabsorption issues, which means my body does not absorb nutrients or fat from my food. I have not gained back any of my weight since undergoing treatment in the summer of 2008. My intestines apparently suffered enough radiation damage that they have lost most of their ability to absorb. I also have chronic kidney disease now, diagnosed last October. However, whether or not it is a result of my treatment is unknown, but most likely.
Now that I've told you all of the bad stuff, let me reiterate that these things do not happen to everyone. On the flip side of this, I have continued to be a very active person and have a hard time believing that I have some of the above things going on inside my body. I have been a runner for many years and resumed that once I was recovered enough from treatment, running a full marathon in 2012. I could not do that now, as my hip and back pain has slowed me down, but I still get regular exercise. There is life after this treatment--that is the message. Please focus right now on getting your mom through her 6 weeks of treatment, then you two can focus on getting her strong and well again. It may take some time, but she will do it.
Martha
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concerned daughter
Everyone is different but most of us have had the same treatment & most of the same side affects. I was never naseaus. But the chemo made me lose my sense of taste so i only ate what sounded good. Sometimes that meant driving all the way across town for dinner! The doctors told me i wouldnt be able to sit, wouldnt be able to work (because i sit all day in an office job) but i never missed a day of work the entire process until a week after treatment ended. I went to get my chemo hooked up & my radiation during my lunch hour. The home health nurse even came to unhook my chemo bag at my work! but i caught a virus that was going around my work the week after treatment & ended up in the hospital for a week in isolation, with severe diahreah. Up til that point, i didnt even have that problem. My radiation doctor told me i was a poster child for radiation. BUT, or should i say BUTT, the burning in the anal area was horrible!! It was by far, the worst part of it. And it was almost unbearable about the 4th week. i would amost scream when i had a bowel movement but obviously couldnt do that at work! I would carry a bag with a good book & my soft baby butt wipes & my auquaphore into the bathroom & try to get interested in my book so i could kinda ignore the pain. It was just a head game, really. When i just had to pee, i raised my rear end high in the air, head almost between my knees, which would allow the pee to run AWAY from the anal area. Its an unorthodox position but trust me , it worked! And the extreme pain there didnt start to heal til about 10 days after radiation ended. Learn about dialators for your mom. I have been so blessed because i dont have any problem with my hips (in fact, my last bone density scan showed my hips have gotten BETTER!), no lasting fatigue, no problem with my sex life (altho it was 1 year to the day of my last treatment that my husband and i were able to have intercourse again & it was sooooo painful but 6 1/2 years after the last treatment, our sex life is normal, like it never happened). My hair did get thin and i wanted to shave it but my husband told me not to and I am glad i didnt because it grew back thicker than before (altho a few months later, it went back to its normal, fine, kinda thin hair). I dont say any of this to brag but i probably had 1000 people across the country praying for me, including a bunch of inmates because my husband and i do prison ministry in several prisons. I KNOW its the Lord and prayer that got me thru this. The first year after treatment, i wondered if there would ever be a day that I dont think about the cancer, but now i dont hardly ever think about it. My life has been so full since i recovered!!! Your mom will feel horrible for a while but once her body heals up afterward, life will go back to normal & one day, it will be like it never happened!!
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Pilikia55....Pilikia55 said:Eloquent
Katheryn, your reply to this post is eloquent, informative, and from the heart. Thank you, from all of us who experienced and feel the same, but cannot put it into words as well as you. Aloha,
Pilikia.
Thank you for your kind words. I think we all have varying experiences but just knowing that we have others out there who understand first hand, whether we ever speak to them or not, is a source of strength in emotional healing.
Be well.........
katheryn
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I am a stage 4 survivor. I
I am a stage 4 survivor. I have been cancer free 5 years. Drinking lots of water is important. I became dehydrated, low blood counts, potassium etc and was hospitalized. The worse part was the burns which became really bad after I finished radiation. I also had severe pain during bowel movements. I had a cathater for a few months because the burns were so bad I couldn't pee. I lost weight (I needed too so that was the good part). I lost some hair so I had it cut short. I had mouth sores from the chemo. Eating ice chips before and during chemo helped. I drank ensure all the time.
The best part of having cancer- I love life so much more, I am a happier, stronger person than I was before cancer (and I thought I was a happy/strong), I have a closer relationship with God. I too had alot of people praying for me (my mother and husband died suddenly during treatment), I was raising 2 granddaughters and my herion addict daughter was sent to prison. During all this God was with me and carrying me through the roughest waters. I have no side effects. Now-I have adopted my granddaughters, I run a 70 acre farm by myself, I volunteer for numerous organizations and am dating a wonderful man.
I consider myself a miracle and am full of gratitude to God, my doctors and my family/friends.
I will pray for your mom.
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I am so sorry that you had tohorsepad said:I am a stage 4 survivor. I
I am a stage 4 survivor. I have been cancer free 5 years. Drinking lots of water is important. I became dehydrated, low blood counts, potassium etc and was hospitalized. The worse part was the burns which became really bad after I finished radiation. I also had severe pain during bowel movements. I had a cathater for a few months because the burns were so bad I couldn't pee. I lost weight (I needed too so that was the good part). I lost some hair so I had it cut short. I had mouth sores from the chemo. Eating ice chips before and during chemo helped. I drank ensure all the time.
The best part of having cancer- I love life so much more, I am a happier, stronger person than I was before cancer (and I thought I was a happy/strong), I have a closer relationship with God. I too had alot of people praying for me (my mother and husband died suddenly during treatment), I was raising 2 granddaughters and my herion addict daughter was sent to prison. During all this God was with me and carrying me through the roughest waters. I have no side effects. Now-I have adopted my granddaughters, I run a 70 acre farm by myself, I volunteer for numerous organizations and am dating a wonderful man.
I consider myself a miracle and am full of gratitude to God, my doctors and my family/friends.
I will pray for your mom.
I am so sorry that you had to go through all of it, but I'm amazed by your strength and encouraged by your story. Thank you so much for sharing, and I hope that God continues to smile down on you. Xoxo.
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Thank you again for yourGoodDog2 said:Long Term Effects.
Everyone is different in recovery.
For me, I had radiation damage to the veins in anal rectal area, which caused bleeding after treatment. That seems to be tapering off. I think thats pretty common but of course very disturbing. My last flex sigmoidoscopy my doctor said it looked much better and I rarely have bleeding now. The human body is amazing in its capacity to heal.
It took a long time to get my bowels under control too.
Stiffness in hips from radiation. Could not even reach my toes or cross my legs. Persistent gentle yoga and lots of walking helps.
Energy took a long time to come back. They say that chemo gets out if your system but I think a lot of people would agree that the effects do not. I just let myself take a nap. I dont need to prove anything, I just let myself nap.
I seem to have regained my weight bearing strength, but am still having a hard time with endurance. Not sure if I'll ever get it all back. By that I mean cardio type endurance as opposed to daily energy.
All in all, not too bad. Those issues just mean I'm still here to feel them! Yay!
Thank you again for your insight!
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Thank you! This was immenselyeihtak said:concerneddaughter17.....
Hi,
I am sorry that your mother (and yourself) have found the need for this place, yet glad you have sought the support from others like ourselves who have been there too.
I was dx with Stage 3b anal cancer about 5 1/2 years ago and underwent the standard chem/rad treatment. Due to size and placement of my tumor I also had colostomy surgery with the intent of reversal once healed from radiation. Unfortunately the radiation damage was severe and the ostomy became permanent, yet glad to say that 5 years later is 100% manageable and has not at all limited my normal active lifestyle!
The pain I experienced during treatment was "real" for me and I was put on a routine dose of oxycontin twice a day throughout. I used a spray called "Dermoplast" to get some relief. It is often purchased for pain relief after childbirth and being a spray was easy to apply to that tender burned skin. It was advised to me to not use much during the course of radiation except over the (weekend breaks) as it is also very important to get all products completely washed off before a dose of radiation to limit excess burning, and that can be difficult for some.
It became hard to even pivot or get seated in a chair comfortably until it was suggested to sit on a pillow with a satin (or slippery) cover as it made turning or swiveling much easier.
My appetite plumeted and I think I survived on yogurt and cheese sandwiches with an occasional egg or crackers....I did find that just eating a bite here and there but consistently throughout the day to always have a small amount in my stomach helped a lot with nausea.
As far as long term side effects, I suppose the vaginal stenosis is my greatest....I do not have anal concerns with bowel movements thanks to the ostomy! I did begin using dilators but not until almost a year post treatment as it was never mentioned to me earlier. What cancer and its treatment does to our bodies varies from person to person, but even more so, it seems to have a long term effect on what it does emotionally as well. I think this is sometimes forgotten as time passes and we appear healed on the outside. Although we also heal inside.....there is always a little something there that lingers in the back of our head. That being said.....for me, I have become stronger and more resilient when facing future challenges both small and large. I will pray the same for your mother.
Please keep us posted and continue to come here for help with any questions or concerns.
katheryn
Thank you! This was immensely helpful!
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Hey, I'm 32 and couldn't evenmp327 said:Pilikia55
I applaud you for asking all of these questions. You are being a great advocate for your mom. The side effects your mom is currently experiencing during treatment seem to be the most common ones a lot of us experienced. I hope the new pain med will help alleviate her pain. As for nausea, sometimes good old hard candy helps--I remember sucking on a lot of lemon drops.
Since I am almost 8 years out of treatment, long-term side effects have taken their toll on my body. I have osteoporosis and deal with a lot of hip and lower back pain. I currently see an osteoporosis specialist who is trying to help me. The most serious side effect I have dealt with post-treatment has been intestinal adhesions (scarring) from the radiation, which have caused me to have numerous episodes of blockages, one taking me to the ER with subsequent admission to the hospital. Keep in mind this does not happen to everyone. I have malabsorption issues, which means my body does not absorb nutrients or fat from my food. I have not gained back any of my weight since undergoing treatment in the summer of 2008. My intestines apparently suffered enough radiation damage that they have lost most of their ability to absorb. I also have chronic kidney disease now, diagnosed last October. However, whether or not it is a result of my treatment is unknown, but most likely.
Now that I've told you all of the bad stuff, let me reiterate that these things do not happen to everyone. On the flip side of this, I have continued to be a very active person and have a hard time believing that I have some of the above things going on inside my body. I have been a runner for many years and resumed that once I was recovered enough from treatment, running a full marathon in 2012. I could not do that now, as my hip and back pain has slowed me down, but I still get regular exercise. There is life after this treatment--that is the message. Please focus right now on getting your mom through her 6 weeks of treatment, then you two can focus on getting her strong and well again. It may take some time, but she will do it.
Martha
Hey, I'm 32 and couldn't even run a half marathon, haha. So kudos to you! And best of luck as you continue on your road to recovery!
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You're a rockstar.jcorum said:concerned daughter
Everyone is different but most of us have had the same treatment & most of the same side affects. I was never naseaus. But the chemo made me lose my sense of taste so i only ate what sounded good. Sometimes that meant driving all the way across town for dinner! The doctors told me i wouldnt be able to sit, wouldnt be able to work (because i sit all day in an office job) but i never missed a day of work the entire process until a week after treatment ended. I went to get my chemo hooked up & my radiation during my lunch hour. The home health nurse even came to unhook my chemo bag at my work! but i caught a virus that was going around my work the week after treatment & ended up in the hospital for a week in isolation, with severe diahreah. Up til that point, i didnt even have that problem. My radiation doctor told me i was a poster child for radiation. BUT, or should i say BUTT, the burning in the anal area was horrible!! It was by far, the worst part of it. And it was almost unbearable about the 4th week. i would amost scream when i had a bowel movement but obviously couldnt do that at work! I would carry a bag with a good book & my soft baby butt wipes & my auquaphore into the bathroom & try to get interested in my book so i could kinda ignore the pain. It was just a head game, really. When i just had to pee, i raised my rear end high in the air, head almost between my knees, which would allow the pee to run AWAY from the anal area. Its an unorthodox position but trust me , it worked! And the extreme pain there didnt start to heal til about 10 days after radiation ended. Learn about dialators for your mom. I have been so blessed because i dont have any problem with my hips (in fact, my last bone density scan showed my hips have gotten BETTER!), no lasting fatigue, no problem with my sex life (altho it was 1 year to the day of my last treatment that my husband and i were able to have intercourse again & it was sooooo painful but 6 1/2 years after the last treatment, our sex life is normal, like it never happened). My hair did get thin and i wanted to shave it but my husband told me not to and I am glad i didnt because it grew back thicker than before (altho a few months later, it went back to its normal, fine, kinda thin hair). I dont say any of this to brag but i probably had 1000 people across the country praying for me, including a bunch of inmates because my husband and i do prison ministry in several prisons. I KNOW its the Lord and prayer that got me thru this. The first year after treatment, i wondered if there would ever be a day that I dont think about the cancer, but now i dont hardly ever think about it. My life has been so full since i recovered!!! Your mom will feel horrible for a while but once her body heals up afterward, life will go back to normal & one day, it will be like it never happened!!
You're a rockstar.
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Nausea
I was given Zofran to combat nausea and told take it, not wait for symptoms to happen. I did so and never had issues with this. I was told also given a script for Ativan and told that this would help with nausea if the Zofran did not.
I had discomfort but not extreme pain. So, I cannot help with that one.
Best wishes to your Mom.
This is a hard treatment but worth it in the end. I am 2 years 4 months post treatment doing well with clear scans.
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Thank you!TraceyUSA said:Nausea
I was given Zofran to combat nausea and told take it, not wait for symptoms to happen. I did so and never had issues with this. I was told also given a script for Ativan and told that this would help with nausea if the Zofran did not.
I had discomfort but not extreme pain. So, I cannot help with that one.
Best wishes to your Mom.
This is a hard treatment but worth it in the end. I am 2 years 4 months post treatment doing well with clear scans.
Thank you!
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Been there, done that
Also want to congratulate you on being your mother's advocate. You are a saint! Hopefully by now your mom is doing better. If not, hopefully she will be turning the corner soon. I agree with everybody's assessment that everybody is different. I had stage 3b, and have been in "remission" for about 2 years now. The radiation burns were the worst. I would lie on the bed with a fan blowing on my burns. It did help somewhat. Pure aloe lotion with no alcohol in it helped. I also used baby wipes and spent a lot of time in a cool shower and sometimes used those frozen gel packs. The chemo gave me nausea, but the Zofran and Compazine helped, but to this day if I hear the sounds from Candy Crush Saga, I get nauseated--had played it a lot during the chemo. My hair thinned, but came back "to normal" within a year and is still curly. Hoping your mother has a long life ahead of her. My whole outlook on life has changed. At the age of 65 bought a horse and am riding again--just light trail riding, but riding. But mostly I have put the whole chemo/radiation experience in a box in my mind and don't think about it--until a cancer ad comes on the TV!
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