Complications Post Cancer Treatment..More Common According To Surgeons..

Ottawamarc1234
Ottawamarc1234 Member Posts: 148 Member

Am not the only one out there according to colecteral Surgeons that has 'beaten Cancer' for the time being only to be left 'in a mess' from the Radiation Treatments. Like a trade off.  45 days of Chemoradion for misery of anal ulceration and radiation inflammation a year after treatments...

 

Have come to accept my fate now like so many others.. Colostomy in hopes of 'healing the painful ulcer'. 

 

Hyperbaric Treatments another option if Colostomy alone doesn't heal the ulcer. If no good there either...more surgery 

 

One problem just leads to another...no normalcy in life...just continuing pains....

Comments

  • pializ
    pializ Member Posts: 508 Member
    Ottawamarc1234

    Hi!

    i am so sorry that you continue to have significant issues post treatment. I remember my oncologist telling me that they recognised that they had come far in treating cancer and getting people to survive. However they also acknowledged that despite the success rates, they were slow to catch up on the impact that treatment has for cancer survivors. Hyperbaric treatment is being used successfully to alleviate some of the damage. is it possible that a colostomy could be temporary to allow the ulcer to heal? I guess it has had enough time to heal without further intervention, so at least they have a plan of action how to tackle the problem. 

    Take care and please keep us informed

    Kind regards

    Liz

     

     

  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    edited October 2019 #3
    Ottawamarc1234...

    Hi, 

    I am so sorry for your continued post treatment issues. I agree with pializ in that there have been some great strides in treating cancer, yet the slower pace on addressing the impact of treatment after the fact. Hopefully this too will see improvements soon.

    On a related note for you...I had ostomy surgery as part of my initial treatment over 8 years ago and though the original hope was for it to be temporary, the radiation damage was such that a successful reversal was doubtful. It has been permanent ever since and though there was a period of adjustment early on, I have been spared so many of the painful complications that are a complaint of many post treatment of anal cancer. I am active and with just a few minor diet adjustments live a full life with an easily managed ostomy. I will pray the same for you if this is in fact the route you take.

    katheryn

  • Ottawamarc1234
    Ottawamarc1234 Member Posts: 148 Member
    eihtak said:

    Ottawamarc1234...

    Hi, 

    I am so sorry for your continued post treatment issues. I agree with pializ in that there have been some great strides in treating cancer, yet the slower pace on addressing the impact of treatment after the fact. Hopefully this too will see improvements soon.

    On a related note for you...I had ostomy surgery as part of my initial treatment over 8 years ago and though the original hope was for it to be temporary, the radiation damage was such that a successful reversal was doubtful. It has been permanent ever since and though there was a period of adjustment early on, I have been spared so many of the painful complications that are a complaint of many post treatment of anal cancer. I am active and with just a few minor diet adjustments live a full life with an easily managed ostomy. I will pray the same for you if this is in fact the route you take.

    katheryn

    Yes..this is the route am

    Yes..this is the route am going. Tonight stinging pain in ulcer despites baths and pills. 

     

    Family Doc suggested 'bleach baths" but worried about "open wound(ulcer) and bleach.

  • 0626june
    0626june Member Posts: 73
    same for me

    I was just coming on here to bring up a similar question.  At first I thought it was hemerroids but this is completely different.  I'm 5 years post treatment. I appreciate the comment from eihtak about a colostomy as I have been considering that route. Stinging pain completely describes it. 

    That said, I always come back to: Yes, it's not fun.  But we're here.

    June

  • StillDancing
    StillDancing Member Posts: 9
    eihtak said:

    Ottawamarc1234...

    Hi, 

    I am so sorry for your continued post treatment issues. I agree with pializ in that there have been some great strides in treating cancer, yet the slower pace on addressing the impact of treatment after the fact. Hopefully this too will see improvements soon.

    On a related note for you...I had ostomy surgery as part of my initial treatment over 8 years ago and though the original hope was for it to be temporary, the radiation damage was such that a successful reversal was doubtful. It has been permanent ever since and though there was a period of adjustment early on, I have been spared so many of the painful complications that are a complaint of many post treatment of anal cancer. I am active and with just a few minor diet adjustments live a full life with an easily managed ostomy. I will pray the same for you if this is in fact the route you take.

    katheryn

    Ostomy

    I  am so sorry to hear about your post treatments:( I also had sotomy surgery 2 1/2 years ago  that will be permanent . My tumor was near my bottom and growing around the walls. I totally agree you will need a adjustment period and supplies have come along way. I have the two piece that clips on and I am always "DAISY FRESH". My doctor told me by having a permanent ostomy, in my case, will keep me alive. KEEP TALKING WITH YOUR DOCTORS. It's hard enough having cancer besides dealing with extra problems