Keeping the Silvadene on the Booty - What was your secret?

lowens
lowens Member Posts: 37
in Anal Cancer #1
To All Veteran Anal Cancer Survivors who have "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT"

I completed my 29th day of radiation and chemotherapy last Friday. I AM SO THANKFUL TREATMENT IS OVER AND I CAN FOCUS ON HEALING!

Last week my problem was how to keep Silvadene in place while the open wound areas are "weeping." I shower and cleanse a couple of times a day and take sitzbaths throughout the day as well. I was instructed by my radiation oncologist to begin using the Domeboro compresses to those areas to help dry them up. Okay, so I have been doing those but I suppose I need to just keep on keeping on with that as it won't prevent the weeping overnight - give it time. The areas are dry after letting the compresses sit for 15-30 minutes. I then apply a little Lidocaine if I feel the need but I do that only in the areas that are really bothering me at the time; I noticed my booty was feeling a bit numb too often and I didn't like that sensation. So, now it is time to apply the Silvadene AND here comes my concern (Somebody out there has had to have experienced this, too, right?). I cannot hold my booty cheeks apart for 6 hours before the next cleaning and application of meds; therefore, my cheeks/anal area that touches seems to melt the white ointment because after all, it is basically like a built in heater there especially since radiation. I understand I can pull my knees to my chest as I did when delivering my child 16 years ago; I also know I can lie on my stomach with my booty propped up. BUTT... for how long??? and how often? Someone please tell me this is "normal" and I will still heal. Any suggestions that got you through the rest of this pain in the ****?

Gotto find some humor in this somewhere...
Lisa

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Hi Lisa--
    Congrats on finishing treatment! That's wonderful. How thick are you applying the silvadiazine? I ask because I vaguely remember my rad nurse telling me to apply only a thin layer. Perhaps you are applying too much? I just don't know. Regardless, your skin WILL heal. That being said, this is obviously a place where it may take a little longer than, if for instance, it was on your arm. You can leave your arm alone, but the anal area is, as I often say, a "high traffic" area. One suggestion I would have is to go bottomless around the house as often as you can. I also found that lying on my back and propping my thighs up on a couple of pillows helped to air the area out. I hope someone else will chime in and give you some more suggestions. As I told someone else on this site not long ago, you may find just like I did that one day you wake up and you have turned the corner. That is my wish for you.
  • Missgrace
    Missgrace Member Posts: 43
    #3
    mp327 said:

    Hi Lisa--
    Congrats on finishing treatment! That's wonderful. How thick are you applying the silvadiazine? I ask because I vaguely remember my rad nurse telling me to apply only a thin layer. Perhaps you are applying too much? I just don't know. Regardless, your skin WILL heal. That being said, this is obviously a place where it may take a little longer than, if for instance, it was on your arm. You can leave your arm alone, but the anal area is, as I often say, a "high traffic" area. One suggestion I would have is to go bottomless around the house as often as you can. I also found that lying on my back and propping my thighs up on a couple of pillows helped to air the area out. I hope someone else will chime in and give you some more suggestions. As I told someone else on this site not long ago, you may find just like I did that one day you wake up and you have turned the corner. That is my wish for you.

    radiation burns
    I will begin treatment next week and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about the skin effects. Are the burns on the front and back? How large is the area? Also, I've read that some folks were radiated while in a face-down position, but I will be treated while lying face-up. Does anyone know how and why one position is favored over the other?
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #4
    Missgrace said:

    radiation burns
    I will begin treatment next week and was wondering if anyone could tell me more about the skin effects. Are the burns on the front and back? How large is the area? Also, I've read that some folks were radiated while in a face-down position, but I will be treated while lying face-up. Does anyone know how and why one position is favored over the other?

    Hi Missgrace--
    My burns were located on the inner part of my thighs and in the anal area. Yes, some people do receive their radiation lying face-down. I don't know if this has to do with the type of machine with which they are treated, location of the tumor, doctor's preference or what. Most people, however, are treated while on their backs in the "frog" position, with supported legs bent and spread, as I was. I once heard someone say that their doctor treated them while in the prone position (stomach) to minimize damage to their bladder. I don't know if there is any truth to that theory or not. I was advised to always have a full bladder for radiation treatment to minimize damage. That would be a good question to ask your doctor--do I need to have a full bladder? I remember always hopping off the machine as soon as I was done and bolting for the restroom!
  • Missgrace
    Missgrace Member Posts: 43
    #5
    mp327 said:

    Hi Missgrace--
    My burns were located on the inner part of my thighs and in the anal area. Yes, some people do receive their radiation lying face-down. I don't know if this has to do with the type of machine with which they are treated, location of the tumor, doctor's preference or what. Most people, however, are treated while on their backs in the "frog" position, with supported legs bent and spread, as I was. I once heard someone say that their doctor treated them while in the prone position (stomach) to minimize damage to their bladder. I don't know if there is any truth to that theory or not. I was advised to always have a full bladder for radiation treatment to minimize damage. That would be a good question to ask your doctor--do I need to have a full bladder? I remember always hopping off the machine as soon as I was done and bolting for the restroom!

    Thanks for the reply. I was
    Thanks for the reply. I was told to have a full bladder because it would push my intestines up out of the way and cause less damage.
  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #6
    mp327 said:

    Hi Missgrace--
    My burns were located on the inner part of my thighs and in the anal area. Yes, some people do receive their radiation lying face-down. I don't know if this has to do with the type of machine with which they are treated, location of the tumor, doctor's preference or what. Most people, however, are treated while on their backs in the "frog" position, with supported legs bent and spread, as I was. I once heard someone say that their doctor treated them while in the prone position (stomach) to minimize damage to their bladder. I don't know if there is any truth to that theory or not. I was advised to always have a full bladder for radiation treatment to minimize damage. That would be a good question to ask your doctor--do I need to have a full bladder? I remember always hopping off the machine as soon as I was done and bolting for the restroom!

    Lying Position
    I was laid out completely horizontal with my feet strapped in a foor harness. I guess each doctor has different patient positions mabybe depending on the cancer location. My tumor was in my anal verge.
    Mike
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    #7
    mxperry220 said:

    Lying Position
    I was laid out completely horizontal with my feet strapped in a foor harness. I guess each doctor has different patient positions mabybe depending on the cancer location. My tumor was in my anal verge.
    Mike

    My first five weeks of
    My first five weeks of radiation were administered with me lying on my back in a pre-formed cast (and I already had the three tattoo marks). The sixth week was butt up in the air - how (not) dignified. :) The last week was called a 'boost'.
  • Missgrace
    Missgrace Member Posts: 43
    #8
    RoseC said:

    My first five weeks of
    My first five weeks of radiation were administered with me lying on my back in a pre-formed cast (and I already had the three tattoo marks). The sixth week was butt up in the air - how (not) dignified. :) The last week was called a 'boost'.

    Dignity
    Haha, Rose, what's "dignity?" That flew out the window along with modesty. At first, I was mortified, but I just don't care anymore.

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