Post Cervical Ca RTX anal pain

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Hello,

My mum was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and had chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Since then, she has been experiencing pain around her anus (she described that the pain is not from inside) and has been having trouble sitting or lying down. The pain is intermittent and seems not to have any pattern but appears to increase at nighttime which is preventing her from sleeping. When the pain is at its worst, she will be screaming in agony and I just feel absolutely useless as I am in the UK and she is in Japan. I am a nurse (currently not working as back in fulltime education) with haematology background and have limited knowledge on other cancer types... I am looking into medical journals, forums, healthcare websites at the same time but wondered if you have any advice to relieve this type of post-radiotherapy pain?

She is taking paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly but they seem to start losing their effect. It sounds like her doctor explained to her that he will prescribe short acting oxycodone but there seems to be a miscommunication with the ward and they tried to give her long acting. She declined it on the bases that the pain isn't there all the time... (I'm trying to educate her with all medication effects/reasoning in prescribing etc)

I looked into other forums here but couldn't find practical advice on alleviating this kind of pain so have come here to ask.

Thank you in advance and I'll keep searching for advice!

Lye

Annemarie- Macmillan over 2 years ago

Hi Lye

Thanks for contacting Macmillan Cancer Support and welcome to the online community.

It’s difficult for nurses on this platform to say exactly what is causing your Mum’s symptoms. Any new, worsening, or ongoing symptoms should always be reviewed to determine the cause.

However, pain control is something that would be required to be reviewed in person.

We would advise that your Mum makes another appointment with her consultant or Clinical Nurse Specialist who can assess her and ask some questions about her pain.

This way Mum should get the best pain killers for her individual situation.

I wonder what other support you have. It must be difficult with your Mum being so far away. There is information and support available through our online community especially the family and friends groups.

Maggie’s also offer some emotional advice and online courses that can help anyone affected with cancer.

I hope this helps.

Please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you have any more questions.

Annemarie

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref: FS

lye over 2 years ago in reply to Annemarie- Macmillan

Hi Annemarie,

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes I do appreciate this is a difficult question to answer as pain is so individualised.

They don't have CNS's in Japan and nothing like this amazing Macmillan support. I am hoping to speak to the consultant myself with English/Japanese interpreter to discuss about this matter, so fingers crossed mum's pain will get better.

Thank you for your guidance for information on getting the support as well. I really appreciate it :)

Lye

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Post Cervical Ca RTX anal pain