Starting oral chemo and radiation treatment this week for rectal cancer.

Robvaner3
Robvaner3 Member Posts: 5
in Anal Cancer #1

Good afternoon everyone,

 

i am 47 years old and was diagnosed with rectal cancer July of this year. I am all set to start my oral chemo and radiation therapy this week. I am nervous especially about the pain from radiation therapy. I was addicted to pain medication and have been clean since 2011 so of course I am worried that I will have to be on pain medicatin again. I would appreciate some advice since this is all new to me. 

Comments

  • Wellzen
    Wellzen Member Posts: 42
    edited September 2017 #2
    Welcome Robvaner3. I did not

    Welcome Robvaner3. I did not use painkillers just lots of Tylenol,  Aquaphor and ice packs. Good luck with your treatments 

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #3
    Robvaner3

    I think Wellzen pretty darn tough. I couldn't make it without pain killers. My oncologist was horrified with how much ibuprofen and Tylenol I had been taking and said I couldn't take them at all. I think you should tell your oncologist about your past trouble with addiction. They have dealt with it before I'm sure. Just because you have had problems abusing the pain meds in the past doesn't mean you don't deserve to be as comfortable as possible during this. You can do a few things to avoid problems- only get a week of pain meds at a time. If you live with someone be "accountable" to them for the meds you take. Write down what you take, how much, and if it helped or not. Ask yourself if you are taking the pain meds for the pain or because they make you feel better( there were times I asked myself that question!). My doctor gave me a taper schedule that was very humane after treatment. I wish you the best of luck in your treatment.

  • Wisteria83
    Wisteria83 Member Posts: 160
    #4
    Non-Medical Treatments for Cancer Pain

    I found this on this site...maybe you'll find something here that will help you?

    https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/pain/non-medical-treatments-for-cancer-pain.html

    I guess you can either copy and paste the link above, or look through the site to find Managing Cancer Related Side Effects.

    There WILL be pain...you are only human.  Pain is different for everyone.  Personally, I have a low pain threshold, and that's just the way I'm made.  How we experience pain is very personal and there is nothing wrong with us if we don't handle pain easily.  It took me a long time to accept that about myself.  

    I wish you well on this journey...It's ok to admit that it hurts.  No one will think any less of you...and you should not feel embarrassed.  Talk to your doctors.  Be honest with them about your history.  They will work with you.  You are certainly not the first person who has had an addiction and then had to go through painful cancer treatments.

  • Robvaner3
    Robvaner3 Member Posts: 5
    #5
    Thanks for all of the

    Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone! Tomorrow is my first day of chemo and radiation. I really like my team of doctors and they seem to be understanding of my concerns. So the journey begins!

  • Pat42
    Pat42 Member Posts: 23
    #6
    RobVaner3

    My wife finished the treatment on March 30.  It was tough, she's 54.  She was in pretty good shape otherwise before her diagnosis. She's doing great now, fingers crossed.

    On the pain medication, from reading all the stories here, there are many variations on how people react to the treatment.  But here is how her situation played out, just for another data point for you.

    She wasn't even bothered by the burning skin till week 4.  So half way through with no effects other than severe drymouth, some tiredness, some loss of appetite, mild skin tingling, and some low blood counts from the Xeloda (oral chemo).  Week 4 was uncomfortable, but still no pain medication.  Week 5 and 6 were pretty bad, she said worse than delivering a child, but everytime she went to the bathroom.  Nothing to look forward to, for sure, I don't want to sugar coat it.  They prescribed her percocet, up to three per dose, three times a day. She has always been very anti-medication unless its absolutely needed.  I finally convinced her near the end of week 5 that it was absolutely needed, she needed to try it. She said it just took the edge off, didn't really eliminate the pain.  The pain wasn't all the time, just when she was going to the bathroom, so that was something.  And she found after just two or three days that it seemed to be causing constipation, which actually made things worse (docs said take stool softener and percocet together, she didn't want to try and get the balance right).  Stopped taking percocet, and just loaded up on ibuprofen (AFTER getting the ok from the docs). Still didn't get rid of the pain by any means, but she stuck with that for the rest of the time.

    Two things in your favor (unless your picture is misleading).  Several times during her treatment the docs said that men usually faired much better due to tougher skin, and well, different parts that weren't getting hit by the beams (urination is not as bad for men, particularly). Also, you're seven years younger than my wife. Younger is better for tolerating the treatment.

    Make that three things.  This treatment will probably cure you, at least according to the percentages.  I know from an experience I had with cancer as well that it's hard to see it this way while you're in the moment, but in a sense you are pretty lucky that you found it early, and that the treatment success rate is very good.  You are going to be very uncomfortable for 3-4 weeks, no doubt.  The important thing is to see the treatment through if at all possible with no long gaps.  If you need the pain meds, definitely take them if they will keep you from missing a treatment day.  Like Wisteria83 said, keep the docs informed about how you're doing and your concerns about addiction.  I've got a brother-in-law who became addicted during his leukemia treatment, so I know your concerns are justified, but first thing is to definitely get through the treatment - save your life FIRST, then address the meds if you have a problem. 

    Oh! THE #1 thing that my wife said made the pain better was the peri spray water bottles while you're going to the bathroom.  She bought a six pack on amazon and had a couple ready to go in every bathroom. Others have found help from creams, sitz baths, etc.  Hopefully you'll get some relief from some of these techniques.

    You can do this! 

    Pat

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    edited September 2017 #7
    Robvaner3

    I'm so sorry you have gotten this diagnosis, but glad you have found this site for support and information.  I am approaching 9 years of surviving anal cancer, diagnosed in June 2008, and finished treatment of 6 weeks of chemo/radiation in September that year.  I did not take my pain meds as prescribed and I suffered more pain than necessary.  I just didn't want to feel like a zombie.  If I was going through that again, I would do things differently and take the pain meds as prescribed.  All that said, I can understand your concerns about taking the meds, given your history.  Talk to your doctors about this and tell them why you are fearful of taking pain meds.  Mollymaude has given some good suggestions.  There surely is some way to limit your pain without putting you at risk of another addiction. 

    As you begin your treatment, please know that you can come here any time to ask questions, seek advice, or vent.  This is a great group of people who truly care for one another.  You can get through this.  I send my best wishes for your successful treatment.

  • Wellzen
    Wellzen Member Posts: 42
    #8
    Robvaner3  I hope all goes

    Robvaner3  I hope all goes well for.you

  • Robvaner3
    Robvaner3 Member Posts: 5
    #9
    Day 2

    Second day of oral chemo and radiation therapy. So far so good. Thankful for great health insurance and being retired. Battling cancer will be my full time job!

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #10
    Robvaner3 said:

    Day 2

    Second day of oral chemo and radiation therapy. So far so good. Thankful for great health insurance and being retired. Battling cancer will be my full time job!

    Rob

    You can do this! 

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    #11
    Rob

    It's good to hear you focus on what you are grateful for and the positives. That outlook goes a long way towards getting through this. 

  • Mcroc
    Mcroc Member Posts: 3
    #12
    Pain meds not always needed

    i had anal cancer and I am 72. Most of my chemo was oral, but I had two IV chemo doses.  My first pain was soreness in the back crack, elimination was a bit painful but tolerable, that likely started about week 2 or 3.  First weeks food just lost it’s savor, and everything smelled bad. After about 3rd week BMs were very painful but my tumor was right on top of my sphinter muscle, since yours is higher, it might not be that bad for you.  Everyone is different.  Radiation burn did not become really bad until the very end.  I am only a week out, and it is so much better already.  I never took pain meds which amazed my doctor since my cancer protruded into the vaginal wall, which he thought might be the case, and he wanted to verify with an exam.  They about had to peel me off the ceiling, so it isn’t that I have a high tolerance for pain exactly.  I really didn’t want to be constipated so I was glad meds were not needed.

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