Painful mucus passing

Kraut
Kraut Member Posts: 22
in Anal Cancer #1
Hi all you warriors,
My husband finished his last tx Nov.2nd. Seems anytime he sits on the toilet he passes a mucus slug that burns incredibly bad, would this be normal? Today he also had his 1st bowel movement in 4 days, said the stool did not burn. That slug seems like acid. He is now only taking a pain pill at night so he can get some rest, if he doesn't he has to get up to urinate 10x a night. His diet is still good as we are not eating any acidic or spicy foods. I feel so helpless to see my guy after 47 years in such pain. Healing in his groin and anal area is progressing nicely, most of the pain now is confined to the anus. Fatigue is totally knocking the wind out of his sails. He has taken time off from work since the end of tx, unfortunately tomorrow he has to go back to work. Sure hope his immune system starts rebuilding quickly, he meets with lots of people being in sales.

I am a bit concerned about his scheduled appointment with the surgeon as it is only 6 weeks after tx, can't imagine having an anoscope or DRE so soon after tx. The national guidelines suggest at least 8-12 weeks. Have any of you had the exam so close after tx was completed?

Comments

  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #2
    Normal
    I had mucus discharge for several months after treatment but no burning. I did not have any blisters on my anus as a result of the radiation. The radiation doctor said I had extra healthy skin tissue. I had a DRE by my colorectal surgeon about one month after my last treatment and yes it hurt! I am 3 years 10 months post treatment.
    Mike
  • Namaste93
    Namaste93 Member Posts: 4
    #3
    Kraut - I'm sorry for your
    Kraut - I'm sorry for your husband's diagnosis and for what you're going through. I don't have any information to add about treatment as I haven't started mine yet. But wanted to say that I've been a cancer patient before and a caregiver to a cancer patient and of the two, I'd rather be the patient. It is so difficult to witness the suffering of someone you love. And studies show that caregivers rate the quality of life of patients as being worse than the patients rate their own quality of life. Knowing that might help a bit. I hope you have support for yourself through all of this.
    Seinding many kind thoughts your way...
  • 7243
    7243 Member Posts: 249 Member
    #4
    Me too
    This mucus is pretty normal ... I had it as well. And gosh I hate to hear you aren't having BMs....get a stool softener going while on the narcotics! I found them quite helpful! Hang in there!
  • Kraut
    Kraut Member Posts: 22
    #5
    mxperry220 said:

    Normal
    I had mucus discharge for several months after treatment but no burning. I did not have any blisters on my anus as a result of the radiation. The radiation doctor said I had extra healthy skin tissue. I had a DRE by my colorectal surgeon about one month after my last treatment and yes it hurt! I am 3 years 10 months post treatment.
    Mike

    Thanks Mike for the reply.
    Thanks Mike for the reply. Congratulations on being almost 4 years NED. Hubby's butt did not blister, it was burned, he lost most all of his skin in his groin, on and around his anus right up to his tailbone. The genitalia is peeling now as if it had a sunburn. We will get through this, this group is awesome for helping.
  • Kraut
    Kraut Member Posts: 22
    #6
    7243 said:

    Me too
    This mucus is pretty normal ... I had it as well. And gosh I hate to hear you aren't having BMs....get a stool softener going while on the narcotics! I found them quite helpful! Hang in there!

    Hubby is taking stool
    Hubby is taking stool softener 3x daily, only taking 1 pain pill before he goes to bed. Today he had a pretty good anal bleed after he passed the mucus. How long does the mucus episode last? His bowels may regulate more as he gets to moving more. Fatigue had him in the grips to the point that he would take several lengthy naps per day. Yesterday and today we took a good 20 min. walk. Prior to his first diagnosis on Aug. 31st he was really an active guy going to the gym and all. This sure has been a life changing event, we shall prevail. Thanks for the hints, any and advice will help.
  • Kraut
    Kraut Member Posts: 22
    #7
    Namaste93 said:

    Kraut - I'm sorry for your
    Kraut - I'm sorry for your husband's diagnosis and for what you're going through. I don't have any information to add about treatment as I haven't started mine yet. But wanted to say that I've been a cancer patient before and a caregiver to a cancer patient and of the two, I'd rather be the patient. It is so difficult to witness the suffering of someone you love. And studies show that caregivers rate the quality of life of patients as being worse than the patients rate their own quality of life. Knowing that might help a bit. I hope you have support for yourself through all of this.
    Seinding many kind thoughts your way...

    Thanks for sharing those
    Thanks for sharing those thoughts. So sorry you are back to fighting cancer again, wishing you the best in your new fight. I am glad we found this group, the support will help me help hubby. I feel hubby is in good hands being treated at MDA, we will just have to muddle through the rough spots.
  • AZANNIE
    AZANNIE Member Posts: 445 Member
    #8
    Kraut
    I had an exam under anesthesia (outpatient - hospital) about 2 months after completing treatment.

    Ann
  • Dog Girl
    Dog Girl Member Posts: 100
    #9
    Mucus
    Kraut,

    Someone on this site (and I wish I could remember whom it was so I could pay proper homage and give credit where credit is due) coined the phrase "Whale snot" to describe the mucus discharge. Is his pain internal or right at the anal opening? I had internal burns, so I hurt with everything for a while. If it is external or close to being external, has your hubby tried the demablast spray? That has been recommended a few times now and evidently it is used after childbirth. I always found too that once I cleansed myself well, Aquaphore help me. Of course I was also on narcotics around the clock for 9 days during the worst of it too, but I did have bad burns. Whale snot can last a while and it becomes more intermittent.

    I didn't have a DRE or anoscope for a while after tx. They did a followup PET scan (which I understand they don't do anymore), but I think they spared me the DRE/scope because I had been burned so badly. Your husband has the right to tell his doctor that he doesn't think he can stand it if that is the case. If he asks ahead of time they may reschedule the appt. out a little bit. But I'm betting the dr. will still want blood work, etc... Just speak with the dr. (more likely leave a msg for the dr's nurse) and see what they say.
    Good luck and keep us posted on your hubby's progress.
  • 7243
    7243 Member Posts: 249 Member
    #10
    Kraut said:

    Hubby is taking stool
    Hubby is taking stool softener 3x daily, only taking 1 pain pill before he goes to bed. Today he had a pretty good anal bleed after he passed the mucus. How long does the mucus episode last? His bowels may regulate more as he gets to moving more. Fatigue had him in the grips to the point that he would take several lengthy naps per day. Yesterday and today we took a good 20 min. walk. Prior to his first diagnosis on Aug. 31st he was really an active guy going to the gym and all. This sure has been a life changing event, we shall prevail. Thanks for the hints, any and advice will help.

    Fatigue
    Hello again .... I was exhausted after treatment and it has taken quite some time to get strength and energy back. This is quiie normal although discouraging at times. Sounds like he's making great progress given walks at 20 mins! I'll bet ur doing all the right things like balanced diet, lots of water, vitamins, and exercise .... Increasing in length and intensity over time. And rest. This is the time to listen to our bodies and nap when needed! I had to really give myself permission to "vege out" as I was an active person before diagnosis and treatment too. Hang in there with the process...mucus is normal and bleeding is normal too, to a point. Trust ur judgement ... And call oncologist (rad or medical) if concerned. They are in this with you for the long haul over the next 5 yeas ... So do use their experience.

    I had PET - CT, DRE and anoscopy every 3 months for 18 months and now CT, DRE, and anoscopy every 4 months until 2 yeas and then we'll see from there. Your team will establish follow-up per Nccn guidelines and other evidence-based medicine and their experience. I hand my first DRE weeks after and first scans and scopes 3 months after treatment ended. Remember ... Radiation continues to work for 9 mo - to a year after .... Still killing abnormal and normal cells.....so mucus could, and did for me, continue .... Even 21 months after treatment.

    And as for me my world was rocked to the very core of who I am .... I'm still struggling to get back; emotionally, physically, spiritually, maritally ..... In everyway. Meditation and guided imagery has helped me. Be sure to take care if u too .... I did a support group for a time. There r groups for caregivers ... Just a thought. This has been two steps forward, one step back for two years ... Everyone's experience is different. Best wishes and I will think of you both! There is a huge loss in this process. It's good to be alive but I find I'm sad and cannot always be positive....love yourself and allow yourself to be where u are. Peace.

    I hope this is helpful in some way. Xo
  • horsepad
    horsepad Member Posts: 146 Member
    #11
    Dog Girl said:

    Mucus
    Kraut,

    Someone on this site (and I wish I could remember whom it was so I could pay proper homage and give credit where credit is due) coined the phrase "Whale snot" to describe the mucus discharge. Is his pain internal or right at the anal opening? I had internal burns, so I hurt with everything for a while. If it is external or close to being external, has your hubby tried the demablast spray? That has been recommended a few times now and evidently it is used after childbirth. I always found too that once I cleansed myself well, Aquaphore help me. Of course I was also on narcotics around the clock for 9 days during the worst of it too, but I did have bad burns. Whale snot can last a while and it becomes more intermittent.

    I didn't have a DRE or anoscope for a while after tx. They did a followup PET scan (which I understand they don't do anymore), but I think they spared me the DRE/scope because I had been burned so badly. Your husband has the right to tell his doctor that he doesn't think he can stand it if that is the case. If he asks ahead of time they may reschedule the appt. out a little bit. But I'm betting the dr. will still want blood work, etc... Just speak with the dr. (more likely leave a msg for the dr's nurse) and see what they say.
    Good luck and keep us posted on your hubby's progress.

    I did have a DRE one month
    I did have a DRE one month after I finished radiation. I knew it would hurt ALOT and told the doctor I was fearful of the severe pain before the exam. He felt it was absolutely necessary and I went through it and was glad I did because the tumor was gone! It only hurts for a few minutes. I had severe pain from bowl movements for a couple months after tx. I was told by oncologist he had never seen anyone as severly burned as me from radiation. I was on morphine for a month after tx which helped alot with pain. Doctor recommended I take a pain pill first thing in the morning just to lesson the pain of bowl movement. That did help alot. Also, sitz bath, and allowing air to reach burned area. I tried using a fan but the air movement caused pain on burns. Best wishes to your husband. It should get better in a few weeks.
  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 496 Member
    #12
    Kraut said:

    Hubby is taking stool
    Hubby is taking stool softener 3x daily, only taking 1 pain pill before he goes to bed. Today he had a pretty good anal bleed after he passed the mucus. How long does the mucus episode last? His bowels may regulate more as he gets to moving more. Fatigue had him in the grips to the point that he would take several lengthy naps per day. Yesterday and today we took a good 20 min. walk. Prior to his first diagnosis on Aug. 31st he was really an active guy going to the gym and all. This sure has been a life changing event, we shall prevail. Thanks for the hints, any and advice will help.

    Mucus
    Mucus discharge lasted for 2 years for me. As time progressed the mucus discharge became less. I have none now.
    Mike
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #13
    still have mucous
    please remember that we are all different. i am 3 years 4 months post tx. and still have mucous.. i still hurt with every BM even really soft ones every day on my left side of anus. not as bad as in the first year. i just know that the pain is coming. MD anderson says it is radiation damage. i still bleed almost every few days . mucous is acidic and will hurt. most people do not have this much pain after 3 years...also, I had a CT ( tube goes up anus) and a proctoscope 1 month and 4 days after released from tx. yes, it hurt. so we can stand it. I really hate this disease but i am so much better ... and am used to the pain but do not like it. hopefully he will not hurt like i did. sephie

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