Hi I am nearly 3 weeks past my last treatment and most of the pain/discomfort has eased (anal cancer stage 3) but for the past week I’ve totally lost my appetite (it wasn’t brilliant before) and the last couple of days I’ve been constipated but when I have had a bowel movement I still feel like I need to go! I feel bloated all the time and I’m just exhausted after only being up for a couple of hours is this normal? Please help
Hi Bev 22
Thank you for contacting us and welcome to our online community. My name is Isobel and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists at Macmillan.
I see you have joined our Anal cancer forum, I hope you are finding this helpful and supportive.
It’s good to hear that most of the pain/discomfort you have experienced is now easing. However, I’m sorry to read you are experiencing other symptoms which are causing some distress.
We would recommend that you speak to your medical team about the digestive symptoms you describe to ensure you get the correct medical assessment and assistance you require. These may be a consequence of treatment and through time should hopefully begin to settle, but we cannot be sure of this and it is important to let your medical team know about this.
Recovery following a cancer diagnosis and treatment can take several weeks, even months, and is a gradual process. Feeling exhausted, as you describe, is common. Fatigue is a very difficult to live with, but it is possible to manage this and through time improve the quality of your life.
Reaching out for support, as you have done, and talking about your experience can be beneficial.
Please do not hesitate to contact us again. You may also find it helpful to speak to one of our Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the support line who would be able to discuss this with you in more detail.
With Best wishes,
Isobel Y - Macmillan
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref/IY/LM
