Difficult questions to ask)---

Lorikat
Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
Deep breath...here goes....when having radiation therapy, half way through, in with the blood and mucus we are expelling, are their pieces of the tumor that is dying? After treatments it seems so, and fresh blood as well. If there is someone not embarrassed, pls help me. Thnxs, Lori

Comments

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    Lorikat
    I really don't know, but my best guess would be yes. Because its like getting a severe sunburn and then layers of skin peels off. Now if I were you, I would ask my radiologist, as I am sure they will have an answer for you. Please ask anything you want and don't be embarrassed, because we have all gone through this and many people have seen us who are in the medical profession that do not give these questions a second thought. I wish you well Lori.
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    Hi Lori
    I don't know either, Lori - I can't remember seeing anything like that in the toilet but I honestly can't remember (it was 3 years ago). Sounds logical though that pieces of the tumor could be breaking off. Yeah! flush'em down that toilet!!! Out they go!!!

    Like Z said though, best to ask your radiologist. If he/she doesn't have a good answer, try asking the nurses - they're usually great at answering all kinds of questions.

    And as far as I know, there is no such thing as an embarrassing question here. :)
  • mxperry220
    mxperry220 Member Posts: 493 Member
    Mucus Discharge
    I had mucus discharge during and after treatments. I wore a sanitary pad for about one month after treatment because of mucus discharge.
  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    RoseC said:

    Hi Lori
    I don't know either, Lori - I can't remember seeing anything like that in the toilet but I honestly can't remember (it was 3 years ago). Sounds logical though that pieces of the tumor could be breaking off. Yeah! flush'em down that toilet!!! Out they go!!!

    Like Z said though, best to ask your radiologist. If he/she doesn't have a good answer, try asking the nurses - they're usually great at answering all kinds of questions.

    And as far as I know, there is no such thing as an embarrassing question here. :)

    I love that 3 years
    I love that 3 years ago....go girl...every survivor on this network helped me make the decision for treatment. We rock! Lori
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    Mucous discharge
    I experienced a lot of that while in treatment, so I asked my med onc one day what was causing it. His explanation--my lower intestinal tract was sloughing off the dead skin, caused by the radiation and along with that goes the tumor! So everytime that happens, just think of it in that way--that tumor is dying and melting away a little at a time.
  • 7243
    7243 Member Posts: 249 Member
    mucus and such
    Hello Lorikat ... I would assume the tumor is going with other normal tissue given the nature of how radiation therapy works; destroys the DNA of the cells and burns tissue, etc...and sloughs off. I agree with other survivors here, a discussion with your oncologist (s) would possibly serve you well. The more information each of us has, the better we understand the process and ultimately keeps us informed and decreases our anxiety. I had an excisional biopsy, which actually took most of the tumor as it was pretty small leaving positive mucosal margins. I do recall mucus during treatment as I, like many of us maybe, became "fixated on my stool" (and actually still am ... I look at it, figure out what is different, is there blood, is there mucus ... this probably sounds crazy to someone NOT in our circumstances, but perhaps normal to us!). Mucus stopped for a while, however kicked back in around the 6th month post treatment and continues here at 7 months. It is clear on days and rust colored other days. I actually met with my gastroenterologist yesterday to discuss this and ongoing pain, occasional blood in stool, mucus, etc. My oncologist, colo rectal surgeon and gastroenterologist believe I'm suffering from radiation proctitis. So I will continue taking an oral med, Colozal, and a suppository of the same anti-inflammatory to relieve symptoms and hope it goes away a bit. However, I can live with it ... radiation proctitis, both acute and chronic, is pretty common for those of us who have radiation to the anal area, the rectum, prostate and perhaps cervix...it's one of those things some of us will deal with as a long term side effect of pelvic radiation. Hang in there ...
  • z810840b
    z810840b Member Posts: 207 Member
    dont be embarrassed
    Ha..Never be embarrassed with us...We left that at the door when we got diagnosed.I have dropped my pants for various doctors too many times to count.Any way..I agree with the others..i am sure it was going down the toilet .The radiation incinerated it.Blasted it..Yay..It has been 3 years for me too..I do remember i needed a towel under me when I was in bed because of blood .I wore boxer shorts too..They were more comfortable.Also ,when i was in the radiation room ..it took about 22 seconds on each side...I would focus on the tumor..willing it to die..cursing it..You might try it.Good luck Lori...Hugs..alyse
  • RoseC
    RoseC Member Posts: 559
    Lorikat said:

    I love that 3 years
    I love that 3 years ago....go girl...every survivor on this network helped me make the decision for treatment. We rock! Lori

    Thanks LoriKat
    It's hard to believe it's been almost three years, yet it seems like yesterday sometimes. I finished treatment on Halloween 2008. Halloween! How fitting - All Frights Night, haha!

    I'll be having exams next month - I don't expect any surprises - everything's been fine (however I am losing a bit of weight, but with the summer being so hot we haven't been eating as much) - fingers are crossed.
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    mp327 said:

    Mucous discharge
    I experienced a lot of that while in treatment, so I asked my med onc one day what was causing it. His explanation--my lower intestinal tract was sloughing off the dead skin, caused by the radiation and along with that goes the tumor! So everytime that happens, just think of it in that way--that tumor is dying and melting away a little at a time.

    What SHE said . . .
    Martha's doctor's response and my doc's were the same. By the way, NOTHING is embarrassing to us at this point. We will give you candid feedback on ANYthing you throw out there!