Anal Cancer

Hi Moira (Three),

If it’s anything like my treatment regime I saw my oncologist once a week during treatment for skin checks, blood tests etc. Mention at your next radiotherapy session that this is worrying you & you’d like to speak to someone about it if possible. Your oncologist will possibly be the best person to speak to about the bleeding as he/she will have knowledge of the position of you tumour etc., & if this is the cause. 

Dilators!… you’re given these to use when treatment has finished & your healed well enough to use them. The radiotherapy causes both anal & vaginal stenosis & gradual use of the dilators can help stretch those muscles that have been affected by this.

Nicola

Thanks Nicola,

You've put my mind at rest! I felt like, though everyone is extremely nice, everyone was only interested in the bit of me they were dealing with, not the rest of me, if that makes sense? I've been given so much paperwork but no one has taken the time to explain anything! A good example is the Clinic Review and Dilator Chat! After speaking to you it makes sense now, I imagine I'll be finally able to speak to someone! Then I have a Clinic Review every week and in-between Unplanned Drop in Clinics! The other thing, what's a Lower GI Clinic Review? I know it'll be something simple but I've never heard of it!

Many thanks, Moira x

Hi again Moira (Three),

The only time I saw the lower GI team was prior to diagnosis, they did my biopsy, delivered my diagnosis, ordered diagnostic scans & referred me on to my surgeon but everyone is different & often need involvement from different specialists throughout, following treatment. Please stress at your weekly clinic review how concerned you are about this bleeding & ask them to explain in layman’s terms why it’s happening to you, there’s nothing worse that worrying about something & it being explained in a load of medical jargon that you struggle deciphering, I’m sure they won’t mind at all. 

Nicola

Thanks Nicola, I'll be sure to do that! I think I saw the Lower GI a couple of times on my timetable, nothing about this diagnosis of mine has been straightforward so I'm not surprised! I've been feeling very tired today,probably stress! The district nurse is still coming every day too, to dress the wound on bottom, which still isn't healed!  I think I'm having a bit of a pity party but you've helped enourmously, as usual!

Moira x

Aww it’s a lot to contend with Moira (Three) I’m not surprised you’re tired, it’s a stressful time dealing with the diagnosis & getting your head around treatment etc., then there’s the fatigue that inevitably comes along with the chemo & radiotherapy & that’s without the added confusion of things sometimes not being sufficiently explained!  As you think of things you need explaining a little more clearly or fully jot them down in a notepad & take them into your weekly clinic with your oncologist & then you’ll be sure not to forget anything, chemo brain is a reality during treatment I’m afraid! Get some nice feel good food inside you, do something to pamper yourself a little & get plenty of rest. I hope you’re feeling a little less stressed soon.

Nicola