newly diagnosed squamous cell anal cancer

I wish you all the very best as you continue getting closer to the finish line.  It sounds like you are doing pretty well--that's great!  I hope you are feeling well enough to enjoy Thanksgiving!

Actually, following a round of chemo, you may feel worse for several days.  There is a term, Nadir, that is used for the lowest point for blood cell counts during a chemo cycle, which for anal cancer is typically 28 days.  Most people have chemo days 1 through 4, then again on days 29 through 32.  Day 14 would logically be Nadir during round 1.  If I am reading your above posts correctly, your first day of treatment was Nov. 15th., so you have not yet reached the point of Nadir.  Your immune system may be compromised, so avoiding the family gathering is probably a wise plan. 

of yourself during your treatments. Please don't be afraid to ask your nurse and doctors for help. I felt the same way about not wanting to bother anyone especially my family. I was so wrong. People love us and want to help. We have to tell them how we are. 

I stayed away from people during my treatments. its flu season so all of us need to stay away from crowds. 

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for being here. I love this site. It's a comfort.

This is my first posting, and first time I've reached out to others hoping for insight/support.  My mother recently completed her 4th week of radiation therapy for a Stage 1 anal carcinoma.  The radiation has run concurrent with Mitomycin administrated day one, and then treatment with Xeloda (on weeks days/concurrent with radiation).  The first two weeks of her treatment went well, but after four weeks, things are feeling pretty scary for her.  She has severe diarrhea, which does not seem to be helped with anything the doctors are prescribing.  The most recent prescription was for Opium Tincture, which the doctors promised would help the unrelenting runs to the bathroom, and incontinence, but it has not helped.  She is also experiencing the expected symptoms of burning/rawness/pain, and has also been prescribed Diladad to help with the pain.  She is scared that she is not going to be able to finish the final two weeks of treatment.  As a concerned caretaker, I'm really not sure how to comfort/support her, or if there are things I should be doing that I'm not doing.

If anyone has experienced this acute type of diarrhea during treatment, and can provide any suggestions or guidance, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sending positive thoughts and wishes for strength and healing.

Thank you!

whit_ganz said:

Thank you for feedback/suggestions

This is my first posting, and first time I've reached out to others hoping for insight/support.  My mother recently completed her 4th week of radiation therapy for a Stage 1 anal carcinoma.  The radiation has run concurrent with Mitomycin administrated day one, and then treatment with Xeloda (on weeks days/concurrent with radiation).  The first two weeks of her treatment went well, but after four weeks, things are feeling pretty scary for her.  She has severe diarrhea, which does not seem to be helped with anything the doctors are prescribing.  The most recent prescription was for Opium Tincture, which the doctors promised would help the unrelenting runs to the bathroom, and incontinence, but it has not helped.  She is also experiencing the expected symptoms of burning/rawness/pain, and has also been prescribed Diladad to help with the pain.  She is scared that she is not going to be able to finish the final two weeks of treatment.  As a concerned caretaker, I'm really not sure how to comfort/support her, or if there are things I should be doing that I'm not doing.

If anyone has experienced this acute type of diarrhea during treatment, and can provide any suggestions or guidance, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sending positive thoughts and wishes for strength and healing.

Thank you!

I'm saying prayers for your Mother. You're the best to look after her and be concerned. The BRAT diet is the only thing I can think of that might help. I know I ate a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken noodle soup. I had bad diaherra and radation is very painful. Continue to tell her dr's what she is experiencing I hope they will find a solution to help her. I also used baby wipes. Another thing that seemed to help was saltine crackers, but that might cause constipation as well. I know it is a trying time, but it will get better. My prayers will continue. Please let us know how your Mother is doing. 

whit_ganz said:

Thank you for feedback/suggestions

This is my first posting, and first time I've reached out to others hoping for insight/support.  My mother recently completed her 4th week of radiation therapy for a Stage 1 anal carcinoma.  The radiation has run concurrent with Mitomycin administrated day one, and then treatment with Xeloda (on weeks days/concurrent with radiation).  The first two weeks of her treatment went well, but after four weeks, things are feeling pretty scary for her.  She has severe diarrhea, which does not seem to be helped with anything the doctors are prescribing.  The most recent prescription was for Opium Tincture, which the doctors promised would help the unrelenting runs to the bathroom, and incontinence, but it has not helped.  She is also experiencing the expected symptoms of burning/rawness/pain, and has also been prescribed Diladad to help with the pain.  She is scared that she is not going to be able to finish the final two weeks of treatment.  As a concerned caretaker, I'm really not sure how to comfort/support her, or if there are things I should be doing that I'm not doing.

If anyone has experienced this acute type of diarrhea during treatment, and can provide any suggestions or guidance, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sending positive thoughts and wishes for strength and healing.

Thank you!

i had the extreme diarrhea after tincture of opium...did not work for me.....but one has to just hang in there.....i am 8 years post tx at md anderson....sorry she is going thru this but it is doable.....sephie

My doctor told me I "probably" wouldn't lose my hair, so I had high hopes that that wouldn't happen.  However, when I was midway in my first chemo cycle, I had gone down to my basement to get a little exercise on my treadmill, then do some floor exercises, trying to stay strong during treatment.  I did some abdominal crunches with my hands behind my head and when I was done and looked at my hands, they were covered with strands of my hair.  I was devastated.  The thought of losing all my hair was frightening to me because I also have a shunt under my skin on the right side of the back of my head, causing a bump (I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in 1993).  I thought not only would people know I had cancer and ask questions about that, but they would also ask me what that "bump" on my head was.  I wore a baseball cap whenever I went out in public, which didn't hide the fact that I probably had cancer, but it did hide the bump.  I lost hair in patches all over my head and my hair loss continued for about 3 months after my treatment ended, I presume until all the chemo drugs had finally been flushed out of my body.  I can understand how devastating it is to lose hair and be freaked out by it, as you put it.  Our hair is part of our identity and especially when we are going through cancer treatment and not feeling like ourselves, it's just one more thing that reminds us we have cancer.  I can understand your heartbreak.  

I used to be one of those women who washed their hair every day, but during treatment and when my hair loss began, I washed it only about twice a week.  I also used a shampoo that contained Biotin, which is supposed to help.  I'm not sure it did, but it might be worth a try for you.  Also, not blow drying your hair may help.

I wish you all the very best as you continue with treatment.   

I'm 43 and just finished my treatment Nov 15. (Mitomycin x2, Xeloda x 30 doses, radiation x 33) I will add that ITCHING (where you can't scratch) started on week 3 and on week 4 the pain during BM's hit its worse. The advise I got here was spot on. There were times that I couldn't make it 10 foot to the toilet so I bought some of the fancy depends. I'm a private person with regards to the bathroom so this cancer tried to break me down many of times. Stay strong and positive is the best advise I could give for the mental game. I worked full time unitl week 4 then went to half days for a few weeks. I still struggle with extreme shortness of breath with normal daily living but hoping that will change soon.

Good to see an update from you.  I'm sorry you have lost so much hair.  Unfortunately, this chemo can affect people differently.  I'm glad you are coping with it.  As for dry skin, you might try Corn Huskers Lotion.  I have lots of trouble with dry skin in winter and that usually helps.

I would definitely ask about other meds for nausea, including the patch.  If I remember correctly, I didn't have as much nausea the second round, so perhaps you won't either.  I hope not anyway.  Take care and keep moving forward--you will soon be past this!