itching and stinging? Worried and need support ... help!

7243
7243 Member Posts: 249 Member
edited September 2011 in Anal Cancer #1
Hey folks ... do you or did you still get some itching and stinging in your anus even around the 7 - 8 month point post treatment? I worry because it is in the area of the original biopsy/ulcer. I believe this ulcer/biopsy area was still not healed when I had radiation and chemo and is having a hard time healing as it was stinging and itching right after treatment too. I need encouragement. 3 month and 6 month follow up with PET and CT, exam under anesthesia in May and DRE in August all "normal" ... not even inflammation. "radiation proctitis" is what they think is going on but it feels stingy and itchy esp after BMs in morning .... to be clear this is inside my anus not the outside skin ...sound normal or similar to you? Is it normal for this area to still be healing at 8 months ... thoughts?? Lots of mucus but no visible blood other than a speck now and then.

I still have 2 - 3 bms a morning ... do you? Seems to itch and burn in there at that time and sometimes during the day.

I woke up anxious .... please help me calm down. xo

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Stinging and itching
    This sounds like irritation/inflammation to me, especially since you mentioned that it happens after BM's. I believe that our anal areas continue to be super-sensitive, even years out from treatment. Think of it as severely burned skin on the outside of your body--some damage is irreversible. Since all of your scans and follow-ups have been negative, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Easier said than done, I know, but I really think this is all normal.
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #3
    mp327 said:

    Stinging and itching
    This sounds like irritation/inflammation to me, especially since you mentioned that it happens after BM's. I believe that our anal areas continue to be super-sensitive, even years out from treatment. Think of it as severely burned skin on the outside of your body--some damage is irreversible. Since all of your scans and follow-ups have been negative, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Easier said than done, I know, but I really think this is all normal.

    7243
    Hello, I know I still get itchy sometimes as soon as a week ago, I had been very itchy, after completing tx on 6-30-09. A daily bath would help to keep the area clean as a whistle. Don't try to itch or rub, just pat the area. The skin doesn't need to be irritated anymore than it has been. Furthermore, this area is always damp and that makes it take longer to heal. One day at a time it will get better, but baths I believe are the best relief. I wish you well. Lori
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #4
    Yes!
    I STILL get stinging at the original biopsy site, almost three years out. It's internal, just like yours. No itching now, just stinging, but I remember having TONS of itching both after the biopsy, and during and after treatment. My colo-rectal surgeon said that particular area may always be sensitive and irritable.
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #5
    Burning and itching
    I am 8 months post and have mild burning and itching from time to time but I just think of it as a reminder that still have a very special ****. :) If it is really painful, of course, tell your doctor.

    I have found that the number of bowel movements I have during the course of the day has everything to do with the food I consume. When I eat a lot . . .or eat something high in fat, I poop more than once a day. And high fat, greasy food just does not agree with me in any way, shape or form anymore. So I eat buffalo burgers, baked fries, etc. And everything in moderation. Controlling the bm's also controls any burning I may have.

    Don't worry. I think what you are feeling is very normal.

    Blessings to you!!!

    Angela

    (Lori is so right. Baths and keeping your bottom super clean controls the itching.
  • shirlann54
    shirlann54 Member Posts: 162
    #6
    I have itching burning too
    I have that too sometimes .Its been 8 months post treatment.If i have about 3 or more bms back to back i get like that .I take wipes or soft tissues ever were i go and desitin .Because when go and use plublic restrooms there tolet paper will rub you raw .And i have had that happen a few times.Thats when i need my desitin. With your PET and CT comeing back clean your your ok .Do something you really injoy and get out as much as you can.And that will help take that anxious feeling away.Good luck
  • z810840b
    z810840b Member Posts: 207 Member
    #7
    itching and burning
    i am over 3 years NED and still have occasional itching and often still have burning.My new normal...alyse
  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow Member Posts: 600 Member
    #8
    z810840b said:

    itching and burning
    i am over 3 years NED and still have occasional itching and often still have burning.My new normal...alyse

    Pain
    I was at a comedy show the other night, I was hit by a sharp pain deeeep inside my butte, I screamed. No one but my husband noticed. I am 10 months out and get crazy stabbing pains inside my butte, and in my groin occasionally, they can really take me by surprise. Someone said it is a healing pain, I am going to go with that. All my tests have been clear. I am still tired, occasionally I have a day That I feel really good. It gives me hope as they are becoming more frequent.

    I hope your pains and itching ease soon. I never had any itching but I know a lot of the others have.

    Take care of yourself.
  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #9
    z said:

    7243
    Hello, I know I still get itchy sometimes as soon as a week ago, I had been very itchy, after completing tx on 6-30-09. A daily bath would help to keep the area clean as a whistle. Don't try to itch or rub, just pat the area. The skin doesn't need to be irritated anymore than it has been. Furthermore, this area is always damp and that makes it take longer to heal. One day at a time it will get better, but baths I believe are the best relief. I wish you well. Lori

    Yes, sitz baths and baby
    Yes, sitz baths and baby wipes are my friends. I have to watch what I eat, but if I eat something a little spicy I suffer at the end...
  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #10
    I have at LEAST 2-3 bms a
    I have at LEAST 2-3 bms a day. Sometimes I wonder if I should put a tv in the bathroom... and if I eat something spicy it burns. Have you tried a warm sitz bath (even though it's on the inside maybe it will calm things down) with some baking soda? Sometimes it burns on the outside so I've tried Aveeno diaper rash cream.
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #11
    AZANNIE said:

    I have at LEAST 2-3 bms a
    I have at LEAST 2-3 bms a day. Sometimes I wonder if I should put a tv in the bathroom... and if I eat something spicy it burns. Have you tried a warm sitz bath (even though it's on the inside maybe it will calm things down) with some baking soda? Sometimes it burns on the outside so I've tried Aveeno diaper rash cream.

    Spicey foods
    Pre diagnosis I fixed spicy food every night. But starting out, my first conversation with the nutritionist she broke the bad news to me that those days are probably behind me forever. She told me that anal cancer patients won't be successful eating spicey foods without suffering consequences on a long term basis. The radiation treatments change us.
  • 7243
    7243 Member Posts: 249 Member
    #12
    Thank you
    Thank you all for your support. I started on an anti inflammatory suppository and hope this encourages healing or somthing.

    I do hope its healing in there and not a problem. I get anxious and think that there is dysplasia at the least or residual disease. I haven't had a biopsy so I don't have a clean pathology to go by. I sometimes wonder if the area was so small they missed it with the radiation or because there was open ulcer in there that the cancer cells, although only microscopic, didn't get killed. Given I had only microscopic disease left in there the radiation oncologist felt a "boost" was not necessary. So no radiation boost.

    Some days I don't worry and some days I do .... I just want it gone!

    xoxo
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    #13
    sandysp said:

    Spicey foods
    Pre diagnosis I fixed spicy food every night. But starting out, my first conversation with the nutritionist she broke the bad news to me that those days are probably behind me forever. She told me that anal cancer patients won't be successful eating spicey foods without suffering consequences on a long term basis. The radiation treatments change us.

    Spicy food? No problem for me.
    Sandy ~ Maybe I am one of the few, but spicy food, in moderation, has had absolutely no negative consequences for me at all and I hopefully won't. My diet consists primarily of lowfat meat and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. And I'm crazy about hot salsa and pico de gallo. From what I have experienced, radiation treatments haven't changed how my body tolerates food. Just encouraging everyone to keep an open mind and find out for yourself what works for you and what doesn't.

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