Difficult questions to ask)---

Hi Lori
I don't know either, Lori - I can't remember seeing anything like that in the toilet but I honestly can't remember (it was 3 years ago). Sounds logical though that pieces of the tumor could be breaking off. Yeah! flush'em down that toilet!!! Out they go!!!

Like Z said though, best to ask your radiologist. If he/she doesn't have a good answer, try asking the nurses - they're usually great at answering all kinds of questions.

And as far as I know, there is no such thing as an embarrassing question here.

mucus and such
Hello Lorikat ... I would assume the tumor is going with other normal tissue given the nature of how radiation therapy works; destroys the DNA of the cells and burns tissue, etc...and sloughs off. I agree with other survivors here, a discussion with your oncologist (s) would possibly serve you well. The more information each of us has, the better we understand the process and ultimately keeps us informed and decreases our anxiety. I had an excisional biopsy, which actually took most of the tumor as it was pretty small leaving positive mucosal margins. I do recall mucus during treatment as I, like many of us maybe, became "fixated on my stool" (and actually still am ... I look at it, figure out what is different, is there blood, is there mucus ... this probably sounds crazy to someone NOT in our circumstances, but perhaps normal to us!). Mucus stopped for a while, however kicked back in around the 6th month post treatment and continues here at 7 months. It is clear on days and rust colored other days. I actually met with my gastroenterologist yesterday to discuss this and ongoing pain, occasional blood in stool, mucus, etc. My oncologist, colo rectal surgeon and gastroenterologist believe I'm suffering from radiation proctitis. So I will continue taking an oral med, Colozal, and a suppository of the same anti-inflammatory to relieve symptoms and hope it goes away a bit. However, I can live with it ... radiation proctitis, both acute and chronic, is pretty common for those of us who have radiation to the anal area, the rectum, prostate and perhaps cervix...it's one of those things some of us will deal with as a long term side effect of pelvic radiation. Hang in there ...

Lorikat said:

I love that 3 years
I love that 3 years ago....go girl...every survivor on this network helped me make the decision for treatment. We rock! Lori

Thanks LoriKat
It's hard to believe it's been almost three years, yet it seems like yesterday sometimes. I finished treatment on Halloween 2008. Halloween! How fitting - All Frights Night, haha!

I'll be having exams next month - I don't expect any surprises - everything's been fine (however I am losing a bit of weight, but with the summer being so hot we haven't been eating as much) - fingers are crossed.