Anal cancer

Hi Bry

I do hope your treatment goes well. What I would say is my treatment team were brilliant and they really looked after me to manage my symptoms. For me the first few weeks were OK. I did have a few chemo symptoms but nothing too bad. The worst for me was headaches but it was only because I wasn’t allowed to take my migraine medication. The radio symptoms kicked in around week 4. I was very sore but the painkillers and creams they provide do help. I’m 2 weeks after now and it’s settling down. I’m quite tired but nothing that a bit of rest won’t help. 
For me getting a sitz bath and water wipes (rather than toilet paper) were real essentials. 
Good luck with it all x 

Hi .y treatment was OK u till the last week when iwas sore. For3 weeks after I won't lie it was hell

You need a sitzbath from Amazon

and flamazin cream and pain killers.After 3 weeks it started to heal you also need a donut cushion to sit on  as its painful I purchased a ring do nut which took everywhere .

Take Care and sending love

Wendy 

Hi Bry1,

Wishing you well for the start of your treatment journey.

 I would honestly say that the lovely people on this forum are just amazing in sharing their experiences and excellent advice on all the things that help.

I know that you will receive kindness and wisdom here if you reach out- about anything at all. 

 I have never been on a forum before and wish I’d used it more. I just found the whole experience difficult to talk about particularly in the early days when I couldn’t get my head around the diagnosis.

I’m sure you will have a great team looking after you too and don’t hesitate to ask for help and advice when you need it. 

You are not alone. 
Wishing you strength and all the best for next steps xx

Hi Bry1 

I've been posting my weekly reflections - I'm currently in Week 5 with 7 more treatment days left and then the "healing" fortnight to get through.   

I found this forum super informative and helpful and a lot less alarmist than the Facebook groups... so hopefully you'll be able to read about people's experience and recommendations...  My top tips are:

• Water wipes
• Sitz bath 
• Coconut oil (not B4 treatment)
• Donut (mine stays in the car)
• Talk to the team about symptoms and use pain management and anti-sickness as needed
• Be kind to yourself - it's two months of your life, take it easy 
• And lastly continue to use the forum as it's an incredibly supportive community.

All the best

Ali 

Hi Bry1

Feeling anxious is totally normal but once you start treatment that will probably ease a bit as you feel like you are making progress if that makes sense. My experience was treatment wasn't a walk in the park but not as bad as I had expected. We are all different and react and cope differently. I would say keep yourself moisturised and go down your legs aswell as the obvious, use whatever moisturiser your medical team say is OK (this seems to vary from hospital to hospital). Also ask the hospital for creams for burns etc. I don't know if you are male or female but the things I found necessary were water wipes and men's baggy boxer shorts. I took paracetamol for pain relief when required. Good luck. Sending hugs. Xx

Hi Heather,

Thank you for your kind words and advice,  everyone here has been so nice and really appreciate all the information and help.

I will definitely be taking all this information in, and continue to chat and share my experience through this treatment process and after.

Hugs to everyone here

Bryan

Hi Wendy,

Thank you for this information,  will definitely be investing in these items as a few people have said the same.

Hope you are feeling lot better now.

Take care hugs

Bryan 

Hi Bryan, welcome to the group. When you get your first day out of the way you will know the routine and feel more in control. I know the side effects are going to be a bit different for you as you will not have to use the dilators to help with the vagina or early menopause symptoms but hopefully the men in this group will come forward with some tips of the side effects common for yourselves. Sitz baths and bidet sprays are a godsend and water wipes. I personally used a skin gel called StrataXRT all through my treatment which constantly stays on the skin 24/7 which help keep my skin intact. I did get some internal inflammation around week 4/5 and beyond in which they gave me morphine. If you ever take opioids then take stool softeners alongside this to prevent hard stools. They do give you various creams and I did find my hospital was a bit stingy at first giving anything out but eventually they did give me the appropriate creams at the end of treatment. Good luck, we are here to help you on your journey with any other tips and basically to let off steam.

Julie

Hello Bryan,

Welcome. It is an anxious time, this waiting bit - once I had accepted the shocking cancer thing, I just wanted to get started, so at least you have not long to go now. Once you are actually doing it, things feel a bit better, and you spend more time interacting with others at the hospital and less time in your own head. And you feel you're on your way.

All the staff around you will have seen it all before so make sure you tell them if any side effects begin to creep up you, and they will give you whatever you need. WE all have different side effects, but you are unlikely to get them all, and they come gradually so you will have some warnings. Mention to staff as soon as you feel a twinge, or an itch.

As well as the sitz bath and some soft pants, get some books or TV things lined up so that you can rest and chill. Stay in touch - there is some great info here and a wide range of people, some just starting like yourself, and some who are years down the line.

All the best 

Hello Bry1 and a warm welcome to the group although I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis.  The fear of the unknown can feature very much in the early days after the diagnosis and and all the various scans and tests just add to the stress.  But the real treatment is just two days away and although it is tough it is a relief to know that this has a very good track record for ridding people of this cancer, so hold onto that.

You have had some brilliant advice already, and all I would add is that we have all been through it and there are no holds barred on here when you need to talk about your treatment and your side effects - everyone is really so helpful and have stayed around to help others on this course.

Big hug Bry, will be thinking of you on Wednesday.

Irene xx