bad stomach

Dear TUG: I had cervical cancer at 45. That was 13 years ago. I had a 5 centimeter tumor that could not be removed. The cancer had not spread to my nodes. So I only had radiation-first a series of external treatments and then I had three out-patient treatments of internal radiation-(the machine that looks like a lot of snakes that sends radioactive seeds near the tumor)-horrible and very painful. I was told that I would never know for sure if the cancer came back because of the scarring and burning that the radiation did to me. The radiation caused a lot of diarrhea for many months. I had to be careful about what I ate. If I drank alcohol of any kind or ate a meal that was too large I was in trouble. I ate lots of bananas and plenty of miso soup and small meals. Your ovaries have been both exposed to radiation and chemo so will not function any more so you will not or should not have any more periods and may even start going through menopause and have hot flashes. You can take an antidiarrhea medication once a day to help control your bowels. What is your prognosis? Isn't it awful still having the part that had cancer-it seems better if we knew it was gone once and for all. I am having spotting and pain and all my doctor can tell me is they don't know if the cancer is back unless they put me in the hospital and do some biopsies of my cervix and uterus. After you have the kind of radiation I had your pap smears always come back positive. Since my tissue is so damaged it is real easy to make a fissure(small tear) and then I would have to have my cervix, colon and bladder removed so I have opted to wait and see if the cancer shows up somewhere else. It is so frustrating and scary. I am so sorry you are going through this. It is so hard and your life will never be the same. See a good therapist just for you and perhaps a cancer group. But a lot of woman with cervical cancer had the hysterectomy so they don't understand exactly what you are going through. Ask lots of questions, read alot, and find out as much as you can to alleviate your fears. My heart goes out to you. MIMI from Ca.

1jml said:

Hi there, its been about 4 months since I completed my treatment and I am having the same problems with my bowels. It seems as though I am always in the bathroom. It often occurs when I am no where near a bathroom and I feel as though I am going to have an accident. So far, so good. I am trying to start back with exercise and unfortunatley, I can't get too far without having to return home. Apparently exercise stirs up the digestive system which in turn, seems to activate the bowel! Go figure. Its just another side effect that we have to learn to live with.... I just thought I would write to let you know you are not alone.

I had such a problem with this until I was sent to a specialist. This Dr. told me to take a certain OTC thing that really helped me. Tell your Oncologist that you want to see a specialist.

Pilgrim

I was also acheduled for a rad. hyst. until the dr. discovered my cancer had also spread to my lymphnodes. I completly relate to your out of control bowels, i have since developed short bowel syndrome and will have these problems for the rest of my life- I was diagnose at 24. I am on numerous meds. that occassionally help and a diet that has been a life saver. Let me know if you would like any of this information, I would love to share it with you if it would help!