Continuing healing after radiotherapy for squamous cell anal cancer that ended 11 weeks ago..

Hi Nana42,

I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong at all, unfortunately in the early days post treatment it’s all a bit of a juggling act where food suitability & stool softeners/loperamide etc., is concerned. I remember suffering similar episodes in the early days but mine were mainly connected to constipation so I would have to take 2 or 3 lots of softeners & then I would have an episode where I would be on the loo for what seemed like an age emptying out! I would avoid taking loperamide unless you’re experiencing chronic diarrhoea or if you have diarrhoea & need to go out somewhere then take the minimum that will give you adequate control, this is where the juggling act comes in! If you get constipated again try starting with one sachet of laxido or the like & hopefully that will be enough to help things along if not take another later in the day maybe.

I think this treatment has possibly changed my digestive system forever, there are some things that I just can’t eat anymore as it’s not worth the discomfort of bloating, gas or toilet issues, I found keeping a food diary a great way of identifying foods that caused a reaction. I also had flare ups of what I can only describe as internal inflammation for a while after treatment had ended too that could make things, especially at my tumour site, really quite sore. I hope this helps a little. 

Nicola 

Thanks Nikki. You’re a great support.  

Hey Nana, ooh you’re going through it right now, bless you. 

I can’t drink caffeinated drinks at all as a results of radiotherapy. It’s just not an option! I would also say green tea might not be your best bet. For at least the first two months after treatment all I could eat was tiger bread with butter. And water or lucozade - nothing else. After about 10 weeks I tried some of the digestive enzyme drinks like Yakut and that really seemed to help. The explosive toilet episodes will really be holding back your recovery, so maybe take a few steps back - ask visitors to come to you, cut out any fruit and veg and caffeine and gently reintroduce food. I was on chicken and potatoes for a LONG time. 

you’re doing great, but walk before you can run, because you’ve already climbed a mountain Nana.

lots of love and a big hug to you xxx 

Thanks for sharing your experience.  I am probably being too adventurous, but my appetite is back.  Thanks goodness for this forum it’s like a hidden velvet glove holding your hand and giving you a hug when you most need it.  If you haven’t experience what we’re going through it’s difficult for others to understand.   Thank you

Hi I’m new here today, I was diagnosed with Anorectal cancer last October I have advanced Stage 4 N1, I have squamous carcinoma in my anus a 7 cm tumour in my rectum apparently very uncommon, I had a emergency colostomy in December which I really didn’t want however since having it it has help me so much with bowel movements,  I start my chemo and radiotherapy on the 21st of Feb as much as I’m looking forward to starting it, I’m also anxious about the side effect, sorry you are going through your side effects and hope your side effect will be relieved soon take care x

Good luck to you as you start your journey..  It appears that people who have colostomy bags have a better time of healing, as those that don’t, suffer every time a movement passes the wound.  It’s good to have this forum for support as it’s difficult for those who haven’t experienced anal cancer to understand what you’re going through.  Good luck 

This was another reason why they made me have one, not only was I unable to go as very constipated and the tumour was blocking it but they also said that it will really help while going through the radiotherapy as when opening your bowels will be so sore etc.

Nana can I just ask you was you very sore down there  due to the radiotherapy, did you end up with a bladder infection or any of the side effects they said you may have I know everyone different!! X x

Hi Dizzy1968 again.  When undergoing radiotherapy the area round the clitoris and vulva we’re not sore initially, but towards the end they were.  The external area became brown the internal area must have been burnt too.  I found Flaminal soothed that area and helped initially.  The external brown area peeled quite quickly.  A few weeks after the radiotherapy ended this area was no problem and I didn’t have any bladder infection,  I’m okay drinking diluted cranberry juice and I know this helps prevent urinary tract infections.      Good luck with your treatment and keep in touch with the forum as they’ve helped me so much.  As you say not everyone has the same symptoms.

Thanks for you information, I’m 54 and in good health other than the cancer so hopefully I have a fighting chance.

Hope  you don’t mind me saying if your have issues with your bowel and being very loose look at what your eating I was put on a low residue/ fibre diet which helped with my bowels movements, before this I suffered with constipated and so was put on Cosmacol, maybe look at just taking the Imodium to stop the very loss bowel when you have stopped being loose and started to be firmer just take 1 laxido a day you may have to up it to 2 if you become to firm but definitely look up low residue diet, talk soon Nana take care x

I don't have much to add onto the very wise responses here, but wanted to pass on my best wishes to you - these unpredictable, sometimes-worsening, sometimes messy and painful parts are SO hard to manage!