question about radiation burns

dgreen
dgreen Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
my 41 yr old husband was diagnosed with rectal cancer, and has had 11 chemo/radiation tx's, severe burning and pain in rectum, any suggestions for pain relief besides pain medication? thank you

Comments

  • Kaye2003
    Kaye2003 Member Posts: 86
    My husband's doctor gave him a Rx for Calmoseptine Ointment. It really helped him.
    God Bless
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    Aquaphor...over the counter!
    AND (of all things) cornstarch to keep the area dry...pat, don't rub!
    (These are for the outside...)
    Inside pain...heating pad, on the tummy....
    Warm baths...I would sit in hot water for HOURS each day...
    Also know that as he gets more treatments behind (sorry) him, the pain will subside...I woke up one morning and said "HEY, where did the pain go???" I was able to manage after that with tylenol only...(vicodin was great, but it made me goofy...more than usual).
    Hugs, kathi
  • cherriann
    cherriann Member Posts: 155 Member
    i also had severe burns. the warm baths are the best suggestion. my doctor gave me a steroid cream. the sitz bath on the toilet are great for cleaning up too because you dont want to wipe. ill be thinking of him and hope all goes well.
    cherri
  • JoyceCanada
    JoyceCanada Member Posts: 134
    cherriann said:

    i also had severe burns. the warm baths are the best suggestion. my doctor gave me a steroid cream. the sitz bath on the toilet are great for cleaning up too because you dont want to wipe. ill be thinking of him and hope all goes well.
    cherri

    I feel for your hubby - I've just finished 28 rounds of radiation with continuous chemo and I experienced the sore butt. I had diarrhea that almost drove me crazy!!

    I found the sitz bath really helped used a solution of burosol in the warm water. I also found that the new "toddler flusable wipes" were really good. Doc also prescribed a steroid based cream which helped a little bit.
    My butt was so bad that the radiation oncologist gave me a two week "vacation" at round 20. It really helped and I was able to complete the remaining 8 rounds with no problem.

    I'm currently on a 1 month chemo vacation, ready to start back at the "big stuff" on the 26th June.

    Still have issues with frequency of bathroom visits, however the butt has healed!!!
  • dgreen
    dgreen Member Posts: 2

    I feel for your hubby - I've just finished 28 rounds of radiation with continuous chemo and I experienced the sore butt. I had diarrhea that almost drove me crazy!!

    I found the sitz bath really helped used a solution of burosol in the warm water. I also found that the new "toddler flusable wipes" were really good. Doc also prescribed a steroid based cream which helped a little bit.
    My butt was so bad that the radiation oncologist gave me a two week "vacation" at round 20. It really helped and I was able to complete the remaining 8 rounds with no problem.

    I'm currently on a 1 month chemo vacation, ready to start back at the "big stuff" on the 26th June.

    Still have issues with frequency of bathroom visits, however the butt has healed!!!

    thanks for all the advise, we appreciate all the help we can get. doing some better today, doctors are holding one week of chemo and cont radiation. gave medrol dosepak, and chged pain meds, he also has chrons which has acted up now, looks as though it may a tough next few weeks. thanks again.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member

    I feel for your hubby - I've just finished 28 rounds of radiation with continuous chemo and I experienced the sore butt. I had diarrhea that almost drove me crazy!!

    I found the sitz bath really helped used a solution of burosol in the warm water. I also found that the new "toddler flusable wipes" were really good. Doc also prescribed a steroid based cream which helped a little bit.
    My butt was so bad that the radiation oncologist gave me a two week "vacation" at round 20. It really helped and I was able to complete the remaining 8 rounds with no problem.

    I'm currently on a 1 month chemo vacation, ready to start back at the "big stuff" on the 26th June.

    Still have issues with frequency of bathroom visits, however the butt has healed!!!

    Believe it or not, Joyce, I just realized....
    I have 'normal' stool....I had, if you remember, both my rectum and sigmoid colon removed....figured I'd NEVER get back to solid stool...but here, 1 year and 1 month later, it's back!!!! (I'm soo proud!)
    Hugs, kathi