Did your anal cancer affect vaginal opening

lge · December 2023

This question is for females I was recently diagnosed with anal cancer when I met with 2nd group Dr for 2nd opinion I mention that the vaginal opening is itching as much as anus, is this common for anal cancer? He referred me to gynecologist to be checked.

b3strong · December 2023

Treatment resulted in vaginal stenosis for me and for many women, hence the recommendation for dilator use. (I used a dilator and got a rejuvenation treatment called Thermiva which greatly helped.) But the vaginal itchiness you spoke of is not a vivid memory of my treatment side effects (11 years ago). It's important to keep the area clean so with every bathroom visit I used a spray bottle with distilled water (as I don't have a bidet). And I kept my whole groin area exposed to air as much as possible. It's not impossible to get a yeast infection during all this madness so that could be your cause for itchiness, too. But, before using vagisil or some other cream, be sure to ask your radiation doctor if that cream has to be wiped off (?) before radiation...Perhaps using it the last day of radiation for the week (FR) so that it can stay on thru the weekend before the next irradiation...

AnnieRB · December 2023

I had vaginal itchiness after treatment, but not before. It cleared up quickly. Expose the entire area to air as much as possible. Use NO creams right before radiation. They can make the radiation burns worse. Be sure to wipe them off prior to radiation.

Heather0880 · January 2

I did not have any vaginal itchiness before starting my treatment, maybe it’s due to something else going on because of the what the cancers effects

eihtak · January 6

I did have vaginal itching at the time of diagnosis (that’s been almost 12 years ago now) I think my itchiness was likely related to yeast/warts/ or just a breakdown in peri area health at the time.

Once treatment started, the combination of chemo/radiation just traded one discomfort for another.

I spent a lot of time in the shower (get a hand held shower head) and as said by another, open air if able.

Over a decade later, minor details are a blur now but know that there will be an end to all this for you too!

Be well,

katheryn

redgar · January 7

I didn’t have vaginal itching, however, be aware your vagina will be affected. In my case a membrane actually grew across the opening. At 70 I was a virgin again!!:) My gynecologist easily and painlessly cut it out, but I was told it might come back. I also had stenosis of both my vagina and my rectum. It’s been close to 2 years since the end of my treatment and I still experience burning when I urinate. It feels almost like I have a UTI, but it isn’t. It’s something similar to that (basically cystitis) which was caused by the radiation. I live with that and proctitis which causes my stool to never be “normal”, sometimes I have periods of severe diarrhea that last for weeks and then gradually it stops. And then months later, the diarrhea reoccurs. If you do some research on the long term effects of radiation you’ll find that for years and years afterwards you can have reactions. It’s as if the radiation lives in your system and occasionally rears its head. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

I have realized that my colon will never return to its previous self. So I consider it my new normal. Your itching will probably pass….if that’s the worse side effect you have..consider yourself lucky! Best wishes, hang in.

navylynn · March 2

I did /do have itching in both areas. I start treatment this Monday, March 4th. The vaginal area is being pressed against by the mass. Which is on the outside, also squishing the anal area. I'm scared and expecting the worst of everything. I do have a good supportive family and church family. I am too embarrassed to even say what kind of cancer I have. Anyway, anymore helpful hints to get through this would be appreciated. I did hear about L-Glosamine, no lotions on areas to be radiated, ice chips. Did I mention I am so scared and I don't want my 3 yr old granddaughter to be scared of me. Sorry I'm rattling on. Oh, I also have RA and in 2020 had cancer in both lungs. I can do this, I can do this

dssdesi · March 10

You can do this!👍👌

pem · March 14

Oh yes, I was itchy at both areas. Was worse at night. I had a specialist look at the vulva and opening to see any abnormalities and found nothing other than dry skin. Possible due to ageing. They even did a biopsy of my cervix and was all good. I was stage 3b anal cancer though. Spread to my lymph node. I found after treatment and healing, I was still itchy until I found a cream on line that I used for about 2 weeks and itch went away. I use only randomly now when feel a slight tickle to keep it at bay. I also found that resisting the itch helped too. I would distract myself and feeling would go away. After treatment my skin is very sensitive and can rub layer off easily. Like get a rash or rug burn feeling. Then that creates itching. So I’m very careful in both areas to not create any friction and been itch free for years.

JTK60 · December 1

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1711262#Comment_1711262

I know this is a year later and not sure if you keep up with this blog but I am one year and 3 months post and still have a closed vagina (no sex). Dialators have opened it a litlle bit but not much. did the Thermiva treatment you got take care of something to this extent? Were either of you able to have sex again after treatment?

AnnieRB · December 5

I am a year and 1-month past radiation/chemo treatments. I had extensive itching immediately at the end of treatment in both the vaginal area and the anal area. The radiation burns caused this for me and as the areas healed, the itching subsided. Vagina was tight and sex was painful for several months. I used vaginal dilators and am mostly back to normal. It takes time to restretch the skin back after treatments. My Dr. said that area had the consistency of a ballon with regard to flexibility before radiation and after treatments, he said it was more like a lead pipe. Continue to use vaginal dilators, it takes time.

JTK60 · December 5

@AnnieRB Thank you so much for that information, it is nice to know you are not the only one. I will keep at it especially after what you said about the balloon and the pipe lol.

I have used coconut oil suppositories at night that have helped it seems along with the dilator's but I did have one night of hemorrhaging after using them which I was told is also normal by my gynecological oncologist.

I wish they had been more clear with me and said that if I did not use the dilator's or have sex during the radiation treatment that this would happen.

It seems the more I talk about it the more people find out about this after the treatment instead of before or during.

Thank you again for the response!

Did your anal cancer affect vaginal opening

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