Treatment
So I start my treatment for anal cancer Stage T2 N1a. I am just wondering what to expect with chemo/radiation therapy? I have chemo/radiation for two cycles, for five days straight. I will be using the pump. (Had my port place in late February.) Anyone have any thoughts regarding the anal pain, will it ever go away?
Comments
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Hello Lopenjr.
I am currently being treated for Stage 2 as well. Finished 28 radiation treatments in April which was a little tough. I recommend anyone getting this many treatments to go on online and buy a bidet that you put on top of your toilet, it saved me a lot of pain from the blistering while cleaning up. The blistering and pain went away 2 weeks after the last session.
I am now on 7 hours of chemo on Monday then the pump for 2 days. Dealing with diarrhea after the treatments but getting that under control. Metamucil has helped a lot by clumping it all together. Refrain from taking too much anti-diarrhea medication, anymore than 4mg caused me constipation so just one tablet the day after then back to the Metamucil.
I hope this helps, please feel free to contact me on your journey.
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Hi Indianamatt,
Thank you so much for the information. Upon your request, I just had a bidet added to my toilet. It does help, but the pain of "going" to the restroom is awful. This Wednesday will be three weeks of healing, but it seems (healing) to be going a little slower for me. Boils seems to be an issue, have you experienced this? Energy levels are low and legs (calves) feel numb and tinglingly. I am going to my regular M.D. and talk to him about these concerns. I have also connected to my radiologist and oncologist about these concerns too.
June 16th is when I find out if I need more treatment. Which will consist of two cycles of chemo (wearing my medicine ball for a whole week via my port) and radiation for 30ish days of daily radiation.
Thank you Indianamatt, for your recommendations and helpful tips.
I wish you a speedy recovery too. How is your treatment going?
Enrique
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I am currently 5 years post treatment. I was stage 3b.
I purchased a bidet as well during my treatment & it was an improvement to having to wipe. The worst part is just the pain of having to go. Like shitting shards of glass!!
The healing process seemed to take forever as well! It takes time, but it will soon pass & life does get back to normal.
Good luck to you.
Wendy
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Thank you, Wendy.
Yes, going to the restroom itself is a dreadful thought and even worse experience. Yes, the bidet has been a great help. I also feel that sometimes after going to the restroom the water stings a bit from stretching out my tiny little hole.
Wendy, did you feel like as you were healing that your legs has no strength or that you didn't have the energy to do anything but sleep?
I am so happy that you are at your five year mark! Awesome.
Thank you, Wendy.
Enrique
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I slept a LOT! When I started my treatment, I was walking 3 to 5 miles a day. I continued this until I just couldn't. From that point on, I was in bed, on the toilet, or in the bathtub. And usually crying as the pain was unbearable. I didn't want to eat because I knew it would cause me to have to use the bathroom. 💩
I healed. I'm a survivor. I'm living and enjoying life as best I can. I hope I NEVER have to go through anything like that again. 😊
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The chemo is kinda rough. I am monitoring everything I eat, the times and any anti-diarrhea pills. 4 mg is too much and gives me constipation so I am at 2 mg which sometimes works by slowing down the colon contractions. Since chemo is such a toxic treatment, it is taking me a lot of notes to get into a reasonable coping situation. I have noticed after the 1st week is over, things do get better except the diarrhea then it starts all over with the next infusion, 6 more to go. Regarding the best cream, my doctor prescribed some SSD which is 1% liver sulfadiazine cream. After applying, the pain goes away for a few hours within 10 minutes.
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I have a questionI have a question my wife is just starting chemo radiation she has one week of chemo 29 sessions of radiation and week 5 is another session of chemo I see a lot of people on here have a lot of pain when they're going to the bathroom has a doctor prescribed any of them anything for the pain and if so what or anything that you can tell me that might help her I would be so thankful for I'm just kind of wondering what to expect thank you all and God bless you all you are a all Warriors
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Hello billyproffitt07,
I was prescribed a cream called SSD 1% silver Sulfadiazine. After applying it will take about 5 minutes to work but is the only thing that helped me. I also highly recommend a bidet you place on your stool top, it saved me from the pain of wiping. My pain began around week 3. After the radiation I healed within 2 weeks. I will say a prayer for her. Just remind her that it it will end and be behind her before she knows it.
Matt…
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Hi Billyproffitt07,
So I was given an anal ointment that had lidocaine .5% which helps the anal muscles. Is your wife's pain all over too? Chemo and radiation really kicked my butt (no pun intended) which I had pain around my pelvic area and stopped me from walking and loss of energy. Also, they gave me miraLax to soften my stool so it wouldn't hurt going to the restroom. I hope this helps.
Enrique
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So my port looks similar to this (not my actual picture) my scar is a little smaller, but still looks the same. This is where your doctor will have the infusion center place the chemo for you to carry around either for a three days or five days. I carried my medicine ball for five days. Taking a shower was a pain, but not actually painful, but you are told that you cannot get your medicine ball, or the area, wet.
As for the medicine ball, mine looked like this (see below). To be honest, my first chemo was not that bad, it was my second round of chemo that really did me in with side-effects.
I also went through chemo/radiation (of course everyone is different) but every time I go through I seem to take longer to recuperate. For me, chemo stayed in my system for five days after, got side-effects were manageable. It was the radiation that really cut me down to size: fatigue, loss of appetite, radiation burns, etc. caused the most pain and discomfort.
The day you start your therapy, I go in for my PET and MRI to determine my next chemo/radiation treatment.
Always feel free to reach out while going through your treatment — you are not alone. I fell into a severe depression due to the pain and mental anguish, that I do not want anyone else to experience that part of their treatment.
Enrique
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