how long until you felt better?

Hi,

I saw your other post wondering about this as well but will just respond here. Firstly, how he is feeling is pretty normal. It seems that just when you think you can't make it another day.....its done! By the end of my treatment (which now is 5 1/2 yrs ago) I was in such an awful state that I was admitted to a nursing home!! I had had some complications as well as a couple of UTI's and did not have much available help at home at the time.  If I remember correctly, healing came surprisingly quick after finishing the last radiation treatment. It seems that within just a couple of weeks the unbearable level of pain had subsided. That being said, these severe burns in such a tender area do require patience and time. Many people find relief from ointments such as aquafor. I did use this occasionally but found that for me the ease of Dermoplast (a spray available OTC) was easier to use. At this point for your dad, I would recommend waiting until done with radiation as it is essential to get all creams washed off between treatments so just easier to either do only on weekends or when done. Lots of fluids to help with hydration and foods high in protien are also suggested to speed with getting those skin cells to start generating again from the inside.

Try to give your dad something to look forward to later this month.....I was lucky as I had a new baby grandson for motivation. He is so close now and well into the final leg of this race....we are here to cheer him through the finish line!!

katheryn

CJ21 said:

Thanks so much for taking the

Thanks so much for taking the time to write this, Katheryn. I do really think that even hearing that as bad as it is right now is normal and that others have gotten through it and are living good lives. Going through this alongside my dad makes me think that mental health care should be an integral part of cancer care. So much of this is a mental game and it makes a big difference in staying in the fight.

Hi,

You read my mind, and I could not agree more! Mental health care should be discussed more as a part of cancer treatment and recovery. A year after my anal cancer treatment I was diagnosed with breast cancer! During my recovery process I was at a loss as to what to do on this emotional roller-coaster to help me from falling off! My son suggested that I go back to college (at the time 54yrs old) to help with finding my focus and an identity "more" than a cancer patient. I will graduate this December with a degree in Human Services. While I don't know that I will actually go back to work in any real capacity (I do a lot of volunteer work in my community, as well as spend much time with grandkids)...my focus in school was partially on the need for psychosocial oncology support. One of the oncology social workers with whom I did a brief internship was completely overbooked with the caseload of patients in need of services and admitted that she was only able to scratch the very surface with only a few. For some it is much a case of some level of PTSD, not only for the patient but the family and support people as well. A cancer diagnosis IS a traumatic event that while treated physically is not often addressed from an emotional perspective, or at least not enough. Eventually the body heals and everyone expects life to bounce back to as it was before, but for some people the emotional scars that remain, the fear of recurrance and the management of long term side effects, leave them in need of help. There are many many people that are resilient and ease back into their "new normal"......my guess is this awareness that you have will aid in that for your dad. He is lucky to have you.

Know that I will be thiking of him as he moves forward in health......

Be well,

katheryn

As best as I can remember given it has been almost 5 years since my diagnosis.

Within 1 month I felt so much better because my burns had healed. Had to taper off medications to manage withdrawl symptoms. I was still tired and my digestion was very sensitive, especailly to any fiber.

Within 4-6 months I had much more energy and was feeling high on life after surviving treatments. Still had issues with diarrhea if I didn't carefully watch what I ate. Also struggled with hot flashes and other menopause symptoms -which shouldn't be a problem for your father!

After 12 months I was feeling almost back to my pre-diagnosis state, but my hip flexibility has remained tight and yoga is a challenge. Can hike for hours without problems. Mood more stable.

4.75 years post treatment: Life is good, mostly ordinary. I try to practice active gratitude each day.

I went through the usual treatments for anal cancer and finished about 3 months ago, but now I am having trouble with breathlessness and a fast heart rate.  My oncologist suggested that I am just out of shape but I went to another physician and he did a series of tests, EKG, chest xray and several blood tests.  All appear to be normal but he said if things get worse to call him.  Things are getting worse and I'm worried so I am going to see him today.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had these side effects and if so, what helped?

technicolor said:

fast heart rate and breathless

I went through the usual treatments for anal cancer and finished about 3 months ago, but now I am having trouble with breathlessness and a fast heart rate.  My oncologist suggested that I am just out of shape but I went to another physician and he did a series of tests, EKG, chest xray and several blood tests.  All appear to be normal but he said if things get worse to call him.  Things are getting worse and I'm worried so I am going to see him today.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had these side effects and if so, what helped?

are you taking an anti depressant?  I took Celexa and it caused this ... had to stop it! anxiety and stress can cause these symptoms ... are you managing your emotional needs?  Meditation, prayer, counseling, group meetings.  These are just thoughts ... if you've ruled out physical heart issues, perhaps it's your emotional heart needing tender loving care?  You've been through a very tough struggle ... Bellruth Naperstek has great guided imagery for cancer recovery, mindfulness stress reduction classes at a local "center for life", or your church ... depending on your beliefs?  These are just thoughts ... best to you as you heal!!

I have had some heart rate issues in the past.  The first time I noticed it was when I was going through treatment, when I noticed my heart racing and shortness of breath.  My doctor felt it was due to my low red blood count.  He put me on an iron supplement.  However, that constipated me, which became impossible for me to tolerate because of the painful BM's resulting from the radiation burns. 

A few years later, my internist was concerned about an irregular heart rate and some abnormal findings on an EKG.  I had to wear a 24-hour Holter monitor, which showed my heart going back and forth from tachycardia (fast) to bradycardia (slow).  Since that time, no abnormalities have been found and nothing further was done.

I would ask about how your red blood count may be causing this issue for you.  I wish you all the very best as you and your doctors try to find out the cause. 

technicolor said:

mp327

Yes my doctor and I talked about my red blood count but he said mine was not that low so he thought it wouldn't be the cause.

I hope to know more after I see the heart specialist.  It sounds like you did have the same thing as I.  

I did research Fluorouracil and mitomycin C and found that breathlessness can be an occasional side effect and damage to the heart muscle can be a rare side effect.  I printed this up and will take it with me when I see a physician.  

Thank you for sharing and please be well.

I hope the heart specialist can find the cause of your issues and that it's nothing serious.  Please keep us posted.  Best wishes to you!

Missgrace said:

For me, it took several years

For me, it took several years and I am still tired a lot but I think maybe it's just old age.

Same here still napping six years out.  But I am able to string a series of good days together now since the five year mark.