Cyst or something on the inside of my left buttock next to my butthole

rogerdlama48@gmail.com
rogerdlama48@gmail.com Member Posts: 11 Member

I am disabled Vietnam veteran exposed to agent orange.I had a Gleason score 9 for aggressive prostate cancer and I had surgery March six at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base Hospital and Lt colonel urologist Dr Shaw did open surgery and removed my prostate gland and pelvic lymph nodes and I had blood clots and fluid in my lungs and difficulty in the recovery and I was moved ten days later to the Dayton VA Medical Center hospital and was discharged May fifth at my request because I felt that I could be able to take care of myself.

I started radiation therapy day after memorial day because I still had cancer in the connecting tissue of my bladder and I finished my radiation therapy Monday.

I found a lump on the inside of my left buttock right next to my butthole and I don't know if it's a cyst or tumor of some type and I have to call my VA outpatient clinic tomorrow morning to try to see when I can get it checked out .

I should try to drive to the closest VA Medical Center hospital in Chillicothe Ohio and go to the emergency room and see if I can get someone to inspect it.

I never received a colonoscopy and I am 68 years old disabled Vietnam veteran.

I was scheduled twice years ago for colonoscopy but I couldn't make the appointments.

I just noticed it two days ago and it seems to be about the size of the end of my little finger and I didn't notice it IF it was smaller and got bigger.

I only know it has been this size and don't know if it's going to get bigger.

Not sure if it could be prostate cancer that has spread or what it is.

My painful and burning urination problems seems little better since I finished the radiation therapy for the prostate cancer in the connecting tissue of my bladder just this past Monday and today is Thursday. So I guess I felt it was there since Tuesday night. 

Don't know whether I will be freaking out about this OR what but I don't know when I can get the VA to check it out.

Comments

  • LindaBaehr
    LindaBaehr Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2017 #2
    Scans?

    Have you had any scans?  I can't believe they didn't do a colonoscopy!

  • Mollymaude
    Mollymaude Member Posts: 431 Member
    Roger

    Maybe the easiest thing to do is call the radiation doctor or the oncologist and have them take a look. Since you just finished radiation for the prostate cancer it may be related to that- maybe you had some skin breakdown and got a little abscess or something. 

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    Roger

    I agree--contact your radiation oncologist or medical oncologist and get it checked out.

  • Wisteria83
    Wisteria83 Member Posts: 160
    edited July 2017 #5
    VA

    First, I'd like to thank you for your service.  Too many of our Vietnam Vets have gone decades with recognition or quality health care.  I'm sorry that you need to depend on the VA for your healthcare needs.  I have a son who was seriously injured while in the USMC, and after being discharged is now dependent on healthcare from the VA.  It is sub-par, but it's all he's got.  The only plus side, is that the VA will pay for his accupuncture which is truly helping him now with his residual pain.  I also have a sister who not only works at a VA, but she is also a patient there.  The stories she tells me break my heart.  It sounds like you have gone to hell and back and I'm really sorry for that.

    I agree with the previous posters that you should contact your oncologist/radiation Dr.  That "cyst" must be looked at ASAP, and not when they get around to getting you an appointment.  Perhaps that Dr. can help to expedite things.  I'd give them just a few days, and if it ends up being a long while for you to get an appointment, you should go to the ER, so at least you can get some answers as to what it might be.  You also need to push for a colonoscopy.  You are well past the time that you should have had a baseline colonoscopy.  After all you've been through, it will be a piece of cake.  Best of luck to you, and please keep us posted on your progress.  Hopefully, it's just something minor, like a cyst or hemorrhoid than can be dealt with easily.  Good luck!  

    ~Wis