Hello again, update

OMG 1012
OMG 1012 Member Posts: 61
in Anal Cancer #1
HI everyone, I wanted to stop by and THANK YOU for all you kindness and informational posts. (they have proven to be a godsend to me) some of you may remember me, I just wanted to ck back in to let you all know how I am doing since you all had/have been so kind to me when I was diagnosed. I found you all back in Oct when I was diagnosed after a "hemmy" operation. VERY healthy and no symptoms at all. I was diagnosed as inSitu. which meant they can treat you several different ways. BUT my Dr's decided not to take any chances and treat me with the chemo/radiation, or as if I was stage T1 N0 M0 Things have actually been much better than I thought they would be. (BUT I am not done yet) I had my 2nd round of chemo unhooked yesterday :) "Merry Christmas to me" I have 7 more radTX to go, and with the way the holidays fall, I am having a much needed break right now. I will get 4 TX next week Wed to Sat and the final 3 the following week Wed to Fri.
I would like to wish you all a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON. and thank you again for all your posts and encouragaing words. I CAN DO THIS.
the hardest issue I am having is urination OMG that burns! anyone have any luck with anything other than the squirt bottle?

XO L
(new screen name)

Comments

  • geneviasue
    geneviasue Member Posts: 89
    #2
    Some thoughts
    Omg,
    I guess the pee sting is the worst part of treatments at your point. My dr prescribed me a UTI medicine (similar to AZO). It numbs the urinary tract area and reduced the sting for me. For me, the sting was primarily caused by the urine flowing over the skin in the immediate area. Try this, it really helped me. I used a disposable solo cup like you would do when giving a urine sample. It keeps the urine off your skin. Just pour it out when you're done.
    Make sure, absolutely make sure that you are clean before each remaining treatment. No ointments or creams on your skin. Sitz baths with Epsom salt 3 or 4 times a day have really helped (helping) me with swelling.
    I'll keep you in my prayers. You seem to be doing a great job handling everything. So proud of you!!

    God bless you
    Gigi
  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #3
    Omg
    Hi. It sounds like you are doing really well. I did use the squirt bottle. Another little trick that helped me most of the time is not to sit, but to sort of crouch over toilet and aim straight down so the urine doesn't touch the skin.

    Happy Holidays to you! I am glad that you are almost finished ! Hang in there!
  • OMG 1012
    OMG 1012 Member Posts: 61
    #4
    Marynb said:

    Omg
    Hi. It sounds like you are doing really well. I did use the squirt bottle. Another little trick that helped me most of the time is not to sit, but to sort of crouch over toilet and aim straight down so the urine doesn't touch the skin.

    Happy Holidays to you! I am glad that you are almost finished ! Hang in there!

    Thanx
    TY Mary,
    for your support
    everyday is one step closer.
    XO L
  • Dog Girl
    Dog Girl Member Posts: 100
    #5
    Painful peeing
    I realize you can't probably jump into the shower each time you need to urinate but if you can pee in the shower and have plain water to dilute it that worked for me. If you have a hand held shower spray, put it on soft spray and lukewarm water and aim it at your pubic bone and let the water run down your parts. It took a while for me to be able to pee in the shower and now it's hard not to do so! :) Since I wore gowns and went commando, I did actually jump in the shower and did this trick most of the time I needed to go. I just pulled my gown up and using the hand held meant I only had to get my bottom area wet. I could dry off my legs, feet, and rump, and then pat dry the burned areas. Then all I had to do was drop down my gown. Of course I was staying home at this point. I had pretty bad burns; it was by far my worst side effect. Good luck with the remainder of your txs and may 2013 only bring you good news about your health.
  • OMG 1012
    OMG 1012 Member Posts: 61
    #6
    geneviasue said:

    Some thoughts
    Omg,
    I guess the pee sting is the worst part of treatments at your point. My dr prescribed me a UTI medicine (similar to AZO). It numbs the urinary tract area and reduced the sting for me. For me, the sting was primarily caused by the urine flowing over the skin in the immediate area. Try this, it really helped me. I used a disposable solo cup like you would do when giving a urine sample. It keeps the urine off your skin. Just pour it out when you're done.
    Make sure, absolutely make sure that you are clean before each remaining treatment. No ointments or creams on your skin. Sitz baths with Epsom salt 3 or 4 times a day have really helped (helping) me with swelling.
    I'll keep you in my prayers. You seem to be doing a great job handling everything. So proud of you!!

    God bless you
    Gigi

    Thanks Gigi
    Dr prescribed UTI medicine like you mentioned but pharmacy closed before I could get there, will have to pick it up tomorrow. I will DEFINATLY try your solo cup idea--it is brillant. My female area is so swollen and sore NOT at all what I expected, that hurts more than butt area! I have the soak that I pour onto a cloth and place ontop of my area for 15 min or so a few x a day, I put that mixture in the fridge until needed and it is nice and cool when I apply it, giving some relief. I hope everyday continues to give you relief ---
    XO L

    edited to add---TY TY TY TY the "Red Solo Cup" is a miracle worker!
  • geneviasue
    geneviasue Member Posts: 89
    #7
    Dog Girl said:

    Painful peeing
    I realize you can't probably jump into the shower each time you need to urinate but if you can pee in the shower and have plain water to dilute it that worked for me. If you have a hand held shower spray, put it on soft spray and lukewarm water and aim it at your pubic bone and let the water run down your parts. It took a while for me to be able to pee in the shower and now it's hard not to do so! :) Since I wore gowns and went commando, I did actually jump in the shower and did this trick most of the time I needed to go. I just pulled my gown up and using the hand held meant I only had to get my bottom area wet. I could dry off my legs, feet, and rump, and then pat dry the burned areas. Then all I had to do was drop down my gown. Of course I was staying home at this point. I had pretty bad burns; it was by far my worst side effect. Good luck with the remainder of your txs and may 2013 only bring you good news about your health.

    Did that too Dog girl
    I loved the commando gown wardrobe. I was squat in the tub and rinse with my hand held. The peri bottles didn't work for me. I couldn't get them aimed right while seated on the toilet. Being in the tub gave me all kinds of angles.

    Gigi
  • qv62
    qv62 Member Posts: 434 Member
    #8
    in situ
    OMG 1012 sorry to hear you have to go through this, I will keep good thoughts for you, I have also been diagnosed in situ and have had several recurrences and multiple surgeries but never treatment, I am facing yet another surgery and just wondering what your doctors take on the surgical option might have been since they opted for treatment, I hope you are feeling better soon
  • OMG 1012
    OMG 1012 Member Posts: 61
    #9
    qv62 said:

    in situ
    OMG 1012 sorry to hear you have to go through this, I will keep good thoughts for you, I have also been diagnosed in situ and have had several recurrences and multiple surgeries but never treatment, I am facing yet another surgery and just wondering what your doctors take on the surgical option might have been since they opted for treatment, I hope you are feeling better soon

    Hi qv
    I had surgery back in Oct to remove a "hemmorhoid".
    the pathology report on that came back and they classified me as in situ
    Tis I went to 4 different Dr's and they all told me I had several choices.
    I asked them all what they would recommend if it was their spouse, child or parent
    and they all said they would go with the treatment.
    SO---I opted for get this cancer off of me! and I dont want it to come back!
    and I dont want to end up with a bag, if at all possible
    They told me the best way to do that and spare me a lot of future anxiety was to do the
    treatment.
    I also had a PET scan and a CT scan and they did not show up at all
    (Dr said it was nearly impossible that it was in my nodes)
    so we decided on the 2 rounds of chemo
    week 1 and week 5
    and 30 Rad TX to the anal area only
    I had chemo unhooked on Friday :)
    this past week I had TX Mon-Thurs, the way the holidays fell, this worked out well for me to have a short break
    NO TX Fri to Wed
    I have 7 more RAD TX to go. Wed to Sat next week and Wed to Fri the following week

    I am doing well,
    I have continued to work but only 6 hrs a day (great job)
    I do have some time accumulated and I am thinking I may need that soon LOL
    This is doable--I keep telling myself, look at all the surviviors on here!
    We are blessed to have a cure!~
    God Bless and I hope you have a Healthy New Year
    XO L
  • OMG 1012
    OMG 1012 Member Posts: 61
    #10
    Dog Girl said:

    Painful peeing
    I realize you can't probably jump into the shower each time you need to urinate but if you can pee in the shower and have plain water to dilute it that worked for me. If you have a hand held shower spray, put it on soft spray and lukewarm water and aim it at your pubic bone and let the water run down your parts. It took a while for me to be able to pee in the shower and now it's hard not to do so! :) Since I wore gowns and went commando, I did actually jump in the shower and did this trick most of the time I needed to go. I just pulled my gown up and using the hand held meant I only had to get my bottom area wet. I could dry off my legs, feet, and rump, and then pat dry the burned areas. Then all I had to do was drop down my gown. Of course I was staying home at this point. I had pretty bad burns; it was by far my worst side effect. Good luck with the remainder of your txs and may 2013 only bring you good news about your health.

    Thanks--
    I like your idea, I will try that when i am home--so far the solo cup has been working well.
    I am waiting for the pharmacy to open and i am heading down for the script that is supposed
    to help with painful urination. Sure hope if kicks in by tomorrow
    YES the worse side affect thus far is the urination issue--
    the burns on my rear are pretty bad too but nothing as bad as trying to urinate.
    Thank you for the well wishes
    and I hope you have a Happy Healthy Holiday and New Year
    XO L

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