mucous discharge

BeaRose
BeaRose Member Posts: 45
in Anal Cancer #1
I am 9 months post treatment for anal canal cancer. Can anyone tell me when and if the anal mucous discharge ends? I am sooo tired of having to wear a pad 24/7
«13

Comments

  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #2
    mucous
    i am 25 months post tx. i just had a huge discharge this am . i have one every month or so . it will slow down but not sure when it stops completely . sephie
  • BeaRose
    BeaRose Member Posts: 45
    #3
    sephie said:

    mucous
    i am 25 months post tx. i just had a huge discharge this am . i have one every month or so . it will slow down but not sure when it stops completely . sephie

    mucous
    Thank you so much for the light at the end of the tunnel. At least now I can hope. Other than the discharge I have few problems. I ended up with a fistula that I am having repaired in Sept. I also still have occasional bouts of controllable diarrhea. I guess that is not so bad for a tradeoff of being alive
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
    BeaRose said:

    mucous
    Thank you so much for the light at the end of the tunnel. At least now I can hope. Other than the discharge I have few problems. I ended up with a fistula that I am having repaired in Sept. I also still have occasional bouts of controllable diarrhea. I guess that is not so bad for a tradeoff of being alive

    Cranky bowels
    This is how I refer to my innards sometimes! I, on rare occasions, still have a bit of mucous, even after 3 years. Diarrhea hits me once in a great while, usually after eating too much salad or something my cranky bowels dislike. Hang in there, and like you say, these are things that can be dealt with because we are still alive!
  • janke
    janke Member Posts: 29
    #5
    mp327 said:

    Cranky bowels
    This is how I refer to my innards sometimes! I, on rare occasions, still have a bit of mucous, even after 3 years. Diarrhea hits me once in a great while, usually after eating too much salad or something my cranky bowels dislike. Hang in there, and like you say, these are things that can be dealt with because we are still alive!

    mucous discharge
    About 9 months post treatment. Huge issue with discharge. Absolutely no explanation to this issue. And all my doc's including GI specialist do not have any suggestions. All are of the same conclusion "quit complaining you are alive". Of course they state that much more diplomatically. I carry spare underware -EVERY WHERE I go. And I suggest we all invest in Hanes, Northern Toilet paper and Baby wipes stock. We should be rich in no time!
    But really the discharge makes my bottom quite sore due to all the dampness. I just can not keep that area completey dry. Doc's suggest powder or cornstarch. I keep that area very clean but it is still a problem. It's like a newborn baby's butt (from the radiation burns) so I have also tried a barrier like A&D ointment. For me personally nothing helps. My discharge is constant it seems like. If anyone has a suggestion please help.
    But as I will always end my post with .....we are still alive.

    And yet my best advise is never trust a Fart! ( Ok that was a bit crude but true)
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #6
    janke said:

    mucous discharge
    About 9 months post treatment. Huge issue with discharge. Absolutely no explanation to this issue. And all my doc's including GI specialist do not have any suggestions. All are of the same conclusion "quit complaining you are alive". Of course they state that much more diplomatically. I carry spare underware -EVERY WHERE I go. And I suggest we all invest in Hanes, Northern Toilet paper and Baby wipes stock. We should be rich in no time!
    But really the discharge makes my bottom quite sore due to all the dampness. I just can not keep that area completey dry. Doc's suggest powder or cornstarch. I keep that area very clean but it is still a problem. It's like a newborn baby's butt (from the radiation burns) so I have also tried a barrier like A&D ointment. For me personally nothing helps. My discharge is constant it seems like. If anyone has a suggestion please help.
    But as I will always end my post with .....we are still alive.

    And yet my best advise is never trust a Fart! ( Ok that was a bit crude but true)

    7 months post
    Funny you should bring this up. I haven't had much mucous at all after treatment. . .until today! What's up with that? :0 It accompanied gas. I didn't eat breakfast, so I couldn't attribute it to that. I did drink 3 beers last night which I never do. Hmmmm.
  • Memphis Mary 49
    Memphis Mary 49 Member Posts: 52
    #7
    Why am I not like everyone else??
    I am 3.5 weeks out from treatment. I have not seen any mucous - and I still have to take miralax every day (just one dose though instead of two) so I won't get "stopped up"! Has anyone ever heard of having this problem post radiation/chemo? Or, am I the only one? :(
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #8
    janke said:

    mucous discharge
    About 9 months post treatment. Huge issue with discharge. Absolutely no explanation to this issue. And all my doc's including GI specialist do not have any suggestions. All are of the same conclusion "quit complaining you are alive". Of course they state that much more diplomatically. I carry spare underware -EVERY WHERE I go. And I suggest we all invest in Hanes, Northern Toilet paper and Baby wipes stock. We should be rich in no time!
    But really the discharge makes my bottom quite sore due to all the dampness. I just can not keep that area completey dry. Doc's suggest powder or cornstarch. I keep that area very clean but it is still a problem. It's like a newborn baby's butt (from the radiation burns) so I have also tried a barrier like A&D ointment. For me personally nothing helps. My discharge is constant it seems like. If anyone has a suggestion please help.
    But as I will always end my post with .....we are still alive.

    And yet my best advise is never trust a Fart! ( Ok that was a bit crude but true)

    yes, never trust a fart!!!
    stated very well. I am post tx 25 months and still have discharge once or twice per month.after a BM or discharge, i always wash the area with baby wash or sometimes just warm water( I lean over under my tub faucet or use squirt bottle) and then use extra soft cloth(shammy cloth like they use to wash fine cars) to pat dry then hair dryer on cool. then I put a little aquaphor to help with soreness. i have just read on here about Balneol. i got some. perhaps that would help you after the discharge. sephie
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #9
    Memphis Mary 49 said:

    Why am I not like everyone else??
    I am 3.5 weeks out from treatment. I have not seen any mucous - and I still have to take miralax every day (just one dose though instead of two) so I won't get "stopped up"! Has anyone ever heard of having this problem post radiation/chemo? Or, am I the only one? :(

    I think the mucous started
    I think the mucous started around 6 months out with me. For a while (like 3 months) it was really bad - staining undergarments and uncontrollable. I did butt clenching exercises that I think helped resolve things - those and time. Kinda like kleigle exercises but focussed on the back end.

    Uncontrollable gas, too, has been an ongoing problem (and with the mucous, it can make for quite a lovely concert!). Conditions are much better now at almost 3 years out. Not completely though - I still get up out of a chair slowly till I know what the situation is. :)

    I still have issues with constipation, but not nearly as bad as prior to treatment. I take Colace and that seems to help a lot. I drink more fluids than I used to as well.
  • CRMan
    CRMan Member Posts: 9
    #10
    11 months post and still
    have alot of mucous discharge, at least 3 to 5 times a day and gas like there is no tomorrow. I almost have the times down that it happens so luckily at home or in my office with nobody around. Never before did I have any of this prior to treatment. Onocologist has no idea why it is still like it is so just dealing with it until he figures it out or it goes away.
  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #11
    janke said:

    mucous discharge
    About 9 months post treatment. Huge issue with discharge. Absolutely no explanation to this issue. And all my doc's including GI specialist do not have any suggestions. All are of the same conclusion "quit complaining you are alive". Of course they state that much more diplomatically. I carry spare underware -EVERY WHERE I go. And I suggest we all invest in Hanes, Northern Toilet paper and Baby wipes stock. We should be rich in no time!
    But really the discharge makes my bottom quite sore due to all the dampness. I just can not keep that area completey dry. Doc's suggest powder or cornstarch. I keep that area very clean but it is still a problem. It's like a newborn baby's butt (from the radiation burns) so I have also tried a barrier like A&D ointment. For me personally nothing helps. My discharge is constant it seems like. If anyone has a suggestion please help.
    But as I will always end my post with .....we are still alive.

    And yet my best advise is never trust a Fart! ( Ok that was a bit crude but true)

    I know That's Right!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I know what you meaing about passing gas. Make sure and never do it in public if at all possible because you are never certain that it is just gas.
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #12
    RoseC said:

    I think the mucous started
    I think the mucous started around 6 months out with me. For a while (like 3 months) it was really bad - staining undergarments and uncontrollable. I did butt clenching exercises that I think helped resolve things - those and time. Kinda like kleigle exercises but focussed on the back end.

    Uncontrollable gas, too, has been an ongoing problem (and with the mucous, it can make for quite a lovely concert!). Conditions are much better now at almost 3 years out. Not completely though - I still get up out of a chair slowly till I know what the situation is. :)

    I still have issues with constipation, but not nearly as bad as prior to treatment. I take Colace and that seems to help a lot. I drink more fluids than I used to as well.

    But . . .
    it sure makes yoga and Pilates class entertaining! 'Roll like a ball' takes on a whole new meaning!
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #13
    Memphis Mary 49 said:

    Why am I not like everyone else??
    I am 3.5 weeks out from treatment. I have not seen any mucous - and I still have to take miralax every day (just one dose though instead of two) so I won't get "stopped up"! Has anyone ever heard of having this problem post radiation/chemo? Or, am I the only one? :(

    Stopped up
    Are you still on pain meds or taking calcium? All of the hot flashes I've had since ending treatment has contributed to the constipation challenge for me. I drink TONS of water and green tea and take fish oil daily which has eliminated the constipation issue. Don't worry about the mucous!!!
  • BeaRose
    BeaRose Member Posts: 45
    #14
    CRMan said:

    11 months post and still
    have alot of mucous discharge, at least 3 to 5 times a day and gas like there is no tomorrow. I almost have the times down that it happens so luckily at home or in my office with nobody around. Never before did I have any of this prior to treatment. Onocologist has no idea why it is still like it is so just dealing with it until he figures it out or it goes away.

    Mine started a few weeks
    Mine started a few weeks after treatment stopped. I did some research it is mucositis and is caused by radiation and chemo induced inflammation of the digestive tract. mine is currently leaking from my bum and a fistula in the peritoneal area. I am having surgery on the 2 of Sept. to repair the fistula. As far as farts go there is no such thing as a safe one LOL. I found that wearing a thin sanitary pad usually does the trick, but since I leak goo 24/7 I must always have a pad on it sucks.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #15
    BeaRose said:

    Mine started a few weeks
    Mine started a few weeks after treatment stopped. I did some research it is mucositis and is caused by radiation and chemo induced inflammation of the digestive tract. mine is currently leaking from my bum and a fistula in the peritoneal area. I am having surgery on the 2 of Sept. to repair the fistula. As far as farts go there is no such thing as a safe one LOL. I found that wearing a thin sanitary pad usually does the trick, but since I leak goo 24/7 I must always have a pad on it sucks.

    Hi Bea Rose--
    I want to wish you the very best with your surgery on September 2nd. I hope all goes well and that you'll let us know how you're doing.
  • Memphis Mary 49
    Memphis Mary 49 Member Posts: 52
    #16
    Angela_K said:

    Stopped up
    Are you still on pain meds or taking calcium? All of the hot flashes I've had since ending treatment has contributed to the constipation challenge for me. I drink TONS of water and green tea and take fish oil daily which has eliminated the constipation issue. Don't worry about the mucous!!!

    No pain meds, yes calcium
    No, I am not on pain meds. I do take a calcium (600 mg only) once a day. I guess I could stop that. I will be more diligent with the fish oil too. As far as hot flashes, I was put on low dose hormone replacement for hot flashes prior to diagnosis. My GI doc 9who found my tumor) said my constipation was because I have a "very redundant colon" - so he wasn't surprised that just one dose of miralax was not enough. I just thought that I might even out and be more normal than constipated because of treatment. But, hey, with the miralax I at least get to go everyday now - which is a huge improvement!! :) Thanks for the sugesstions, Angela.
  • Memphis Mary 49
    Memphis Mary 49 Member Posts: 52
    #17
    BeaRose said:

    Mine started a few weeks
    Mine started a few weeks after treatment stopped. I did some research it is mucositis and is caused by radiation and chemo induced inflammation of the digestive tract. mine is currently leaking from my bum and a fistula in the peritoneal area. I am having surgery on the 2 of Sept. to repair the fistula. As far as farts go there is no such thing as a safe one LOL. I found that wearing a thin sanitary pad usually does the trick, but since I leak goo 24/7 I must always have a pad on it sucks.

    BeaRose
    Thanks for the fart advise! :) I will be on the lookout for the mucous. I hope all goes well with your surgery on the 2nd.
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #18
    Memphis Mary 49 said:

    No pain meds, yes calcium
    No, I am not on pain meds. I do take a calcium (600 mg only) once a day. I guess I could stop that. I will be more diligent with the fish oil too. As far as hot flashes, I was put on low dose hormone replacement for hot flashes prior to diagnosis. My GI doc 9who found my tumor) said my constipation was because I have a "very redundant colon" - so he wasn't surprised that just one dose of miralax was not enough. I just thought that I might even out and be more normal than constipated because of treatment. But, hey, with the miralax I at least get to go everyday now - which is a huge improvement!! :) Thanks for the sugesstions, Angela.

    About the constipation
    Hi Mary,

    You're only a few weeks out of treatment right? You may still even out after some time goes by. Things take quite a while to take effect. Your body's still going through adjustments and probably will be for several months. I had chronic constipation prior to treatment and it took, oh, I think about a year before things settled down. Now the constipation only comes when I eat things I know I shouldn't (like doughnuts - which I ate yesterday, doh!).

    My mom has a redundant colon - first time I had ever heard the term. I'll have to tell her your description about the sausage tubing - she'll love it, haha!
  • cap630
    cap630 Member Posts: 151 Member
    #19
    Memphis Mary 49 said:

    BeaRose
    Thanks for the fart advise! :) I will be on the lookout for the mucous. I hope all goes well with your surgery on the 2nd.

    Fart Advise
    Thank you for making me laugh. But how true it is. I carry a bag with extra underwear, pants, wipes, squirt bottle and my own toilet paper. I was at a convention at the beginning of treatment and out of 42 stalls- I go in to the one without toilet paper.
    ~Carol
  • BeaRose
    BeaRose Member Posts: 45
    #20
    cap630 said:

    Fart Advise
    Thank you for making me laugh. But how true it is. I carry a bag with extra underwear, pants, wipes, squirt bottle and my own toilet paper. I was at a convention at the beginning of treatment and out of 42 stalls- I go in to the one without toilet paper.
    ~Carol

    I have an extra change of
    I have an extra change of clothes in my locker at work in case of what I refer to as a blow out. If it's really bad I leave work and go home to shower off and change. I have had to do so 3 times since Feb. I am so fortunate to have a great place of employment. They have been wonderful from the get go. It seems to be getting better as time passes but I am still afraid to go too far from home. If the surgery repair goes well I will have only the back side to deal with, I guess that would be a 50% drop in incidences. LOL. Thank you to everyone for the well wishes. I am so glad to have people to talk to that know how it is.
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #21
    Hello...I'm a year post
    Hello...I'm a year post treatment - hit that milestone three days ago...and yes, every now and then I have this issue. I remember a few months post treatment when someone else mentioned they had this and another member called it 'whale snot' -- well, I experienced that a few months later and my comment then was "holy cow...it DOES look like whale snot!" -- happens to me now and then - not sure why,doesn't correlate to anything I've eaten or had to drink. Take care. marilyne

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