Anal cancer long term effects

Hi Lori,

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our online community, I hope you’re finding it helpful. I see you haven’t joined any groups yet and wondered if our anal cancer forum would be helpful.

I’m sorry to hear about the symptoms you are having. It’s reassuring to read that your scans have been clear, however it’s understandable to feel the way you do as the symptoms are affecting your daily life.

Radiation injury can affect up to 20% of patients who have had treatment to the rectum, anus, cervix, uterus, prostate, urinary bladder and testes. This can develop as a sudden onset or months after the radiotherapy has finished. The Royal Marsden has further information about chronic radiation proctopathy that might be helpful to read.

We also have information about late effects of pelvic radiotherapy that I hope you find helpful.

If your symptoms aren’t settling down or they get any worse, it would be a good idea to get back in touch with your hospital team to let them know. This will give you the opportunity to discuss whether a referral to other health professionals if appropriate.

I’m not sure where about in the UK you are but the NHS University College London Hospitals have a long-term-follow-up service. If this is too far away from where you live there may be another clinic closer to you.

I really hope this information is helpful. Please know, you can always give us a call to talk things through further.

Take care and best wishes,

Sarah (Cancer Information Nurse Specialist)

Our Ref: LZD

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.