Dealing with health conditions after cancer

Good luck you need it ️

I had early stage 2 bowel cancer picked up in screening, i had surgery, needed a stoma, needed chemo due to lymph nodes, nothing went to plan with my treatment. After 9 months I had the stoma reversed, little did I know the worst was yet to come! I have been left with LARS, lower anterior resection syndrome, this has been ongoing for almost 3 years and I can say it has been so much more life limiting than the cancer, I also have chemo related neuropathy in my hands and feet that has not got any better. I can barely eat anything, I have accidents when out abd I am terrified goung anywhere. The neuropathy prevents me from doing so much, cooking, hanging out washing, drying my hair, anything in the garden, if something has a vibration going through it like a leaf blower or power washer I cannot hold it,my balance is getting worse due to me not feelung my toes and I just love walking. Yes, so life after cancer for me is not good, mentally it really gets you down. I actually dread to think what I would be like if my cancer was caught later, I dont think I would be here.

Hi I had pelvic radiation as I had cervical cancer . I also then had brachytherapy. I think I was lucky and actually did treatment ok whilst having it . I did have bouts of indigestion and heartburn . I was given tablets but also brought some in chemist . I was also advised to eat an apple a day but not the skin , apparently it’s very good stopping heartburn etc and recommended by a nurse . My biggest problem once I finished treatment was wind really bad wind and very embarrassing ! .i also have problems with my bowels which I found very embarrassing to talk about . I didn’t have diarrhoea but have a lot of mucus which I sometimes have no control over so have to wear pads when going out etc . Have told my consultant and been told it due to radiotherapy and if it’s no better on my next appointment they will investigate more . I also cannot eat the same things I ate before but a small price to pay . Once I finished treatment and had first checkup I really felt a bit lost as for months I was up and down hospital seeing nurses doc etc and then nothing . I had my cancer nurse for backup but I found that quite hard . 
val 

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply to this post. 

I hope 2026 is treating you well so far. Remember, no matter what new challenges come your way this year, Macmillan is here for you. You can find support here in the forums, or on the Macmillan Support line. Our trained advisors, including cancer information specialist nurses, can provide emotional support and practical information about all aspects of cancer.

You can call the Macmillan Support Line for free (in the UK) on 0808 808 00 00. Our Support Team is available 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.

Feel free to keep replying to this post.

Hi Dylan,

I'm a bit late to this but for those with peripheral neuropathy in their feet, this may help.

I have always walked a lot and have had foot problems (and special orthotics) since before cancer and treatment.

I was fortunate that my oncologist reversed many of the p.n symptoms from my Immunotherapy by stopping the course (it was post chemo & op and was supposed to avoid bladder cancer recurrence) and giving me steroids to damp it down.

My hands are OK but feet were still quite sore. However I went to a podiatrist to see if I needed to change my orthotics and she has rebuilt my gait and also posture using a foam base which says it is specially made for peripheral neuropathy (it is yellow and the words peripheral neuropathy are written on it). We have both been very pleased with the difference this has made.

I know my nerves are still damaged but think the walking has improved blood flow at least so I have fewer numb bits. This is important for many reasons, especially mood but also as an osteoporosis patient I can't afford falls.

These orthotics are not cheap (though worth every penny to me) but knowing they exist may help patients get hold of them via the NHS.

All the best,

Latestart

Hello Latestart,

Thank you so much for replying to the post and sharing such helpful advice. It is very positive to hear how the podiatrist was able to rebuild your gait and posture.

Thanks again, and I hope things keep improving for you. 

Hi Dylan

I had a successful wide local excision and recon with analogous tissue for breast cancer. 
I am taking anastrozole as it’s the gold standard treatment along with radiotherapy.

Since starting the aromatase inhibitor widespread joint pain has become significant preventing sleep and leaving me very incapacitated ( hobbling like a much older person). Some days I can hardly move at all and everything is a painful effort which leaves me exhausted and fatigued.

Fortunately I have a gp who listens and she is advising me to increase amitriptyline taken for pain during the night and prescribed nepofam for the pain in the day. She has also recommended I try the Nuffield chronic pain programme which I am waiting on a start date for. In the meantime I am attending aqua aerobics x2 per week and a hip knee and back rehab class at my local leisure centre run by physios. I feel totally broken after these exercises and often have to sleep in the day to recover a bit but I am well aware that motion is lotion and if nothing else it’s getting me out which is good for the soul. 

I do wish the oncologists were a bit more clued up and maybe honest about the impact these drugs have on some people- every last bit of estrogen is removed leaving your joints dry and muscles and tendons unbelievably sore and tender. It’s really very hard indeed and I am very worried about how I will cope when I go back to my demanding teaching job in secondary school.

If I’m honest I would love to cease taking it but I know that increases my risk of recurrence massively. So I’m going to do the Nuffield programme, take the pain relief and hope for the best for a few months to see if I can manage the pain better. Being in pain all the time is incredibly wearing and wonder if my depleted energy will be sufficient to allow me to continue to work- I do want to but the way I am at the moment would make it very challenging indeed. 

This all sounds like a lousy moan- after all the drs saved my life . But I have been left with a new mountain to climb and it’s tough to feel optimistic when you can’t climb the stairs or rise from a chair because of the state of your joints. And the knowledge that this may continue for 5+ years. 

Trying to stay positive and look for a silver lining- anastrozole has killed my appetite so I’ve lost over 20kg in 5 months! Got to hope the new lighter me will eventually be in less pain and well enough to return to work.

to all the AI ladies out there I hope your journey is easier than mine xxx

sending love and good vibes

Scrumpton Baggins ( my macmillan alter ego)

Hi I posted recently about peripheral neuropathy and wonder if you have tried walking poles. I meant to add this in when I posted about orthotics for p.n. but forgot.

When I first started getting symptoms in feet and hands I was using the poles anyway for my daily walks because I was weak after my bladder removal operation. It was later  immunotherapy that brought on the peripheral neuropathy.

However I found that the poles gave me confidence to increase my speed when I couldn't feel my feet properly. And the foam handles helped me grasp them ever with tingling fingers. I use poles that have springs (damping) in them to support my knees and think that also prevents vibration in my hands. I use them particularly when walking fast around my local park most mornings. These days I don't use them in town but would if I needed to. They are much better than a walking stick as with two poles you in effect have 4 legs not 2. Plus most people using a stick tend not to be in balance, either leaning to the front or the side. Poles are really good for posture  provided you adjust them to the right height (not too high, unless descending a steep hill - more or less 90 degrees at the elbow on the flat.)

I have also been using very good Meindl walking shoes for years which are broad and have excellent soles and making walking, even with p.n. much more pleasant and  even without the orthotics I mention in my other post. I get them from outdoor shops and find I need to change them every 2 years or so. I do walk everywhere I can and use public transport so they get plenty of wear. And being fairly fit helps my mood a great deal.

I hope you find this helpful.

All the best,

Latestart

Hi Scrumpton 

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment here and share some of your story. 

Please don't ever feel like you need to hold back from sharing or that you are moaning. The online Community is a safe space to express what ever you need to and be real about your experiences with people who understand. 

It does sound like you have a tough "mountain" to navigate. Macmillan and the Online Community are here for you every step of the way.

I hope the pain management improves moving forward. Please feel free to give our Support Line a call if you want to chat about pain management or anastrozole with one of our cancer information nurse specialists. 

You can call the Macmillan Support Line for free (in the UK) on 0808 808 00 00. Our Support Team is available 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week.

Take care and all the best,
Dylan

I’m finding things difficult as I’ve been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer just before Christmas 2025 as early in December of that year I had yellow jaundice caused by the pancreatic cancer restricting the flow of the bile duct so had a stent fitted 

in meantime of carry out tests beforehand they found the pancreatic cancer was the cause 

I am still waiting for results of the biopsy taken along with all of the other tests undertaken as to whether they are to operate and/or carry out doses of chemotherapy.  

The operation “the dipole” procedure removes not only the part of the pancreas but also all of the bile duct, gall bladder along with part of the lower stomach all of the duodenum the large intestines and then sow everything back up 

I will have life long enzymes tablets to take over what the pancreas excreted etc with other such life long tablets to take with meals too

At the moment my pancreas is not doing what it should and my uncontrollable bowel movements especially at night /early morning makes life difficult especially first thing in the morning too. 

I’m effectively self employed and difficult carrying out work, chasing for work, being an effective member of the design team when I’m not attending site meetings due to my hospital tests etc causing such anxiety and panic attacks as to where my next project is coming from so I can pay my bills as money is now evaporating from the reserves 

So all in all I’m pretty much coming up to rock bottom with no one or no where to go 

if I register with unemployment benefits Agencys and work comes in do I unregister so such a bit of a pickle 

a lot to think about and still I’m waiting for the surgeon to make his decision so I’ll probably see if I can jolly him along tomorrow to start with and go from there! 

Along with make a list and go through bit by bit

As looking to go through weeks and weeks of 

chemotherapy does not appeal to me and considering the surgery scars the living daylights out of me but surgery may be the best of all options to remove the cancer once again 

in 2021 had bowel cancer section of bowel removed and was told that was the end and got all clear notice until receipt of pancreatic cancer diagnosis December 2025 

so that’s me up to date !