Anal cancer

Hi Babymole 

Welcome to this forum.

Firstly so sorry re your AC diagnosis..we all know on this forum how you will be feeling..

Some things you need to cater for..

Tiredness.. this will envelope you at times..so please rest and be kind to yourself.

Diet..I ate a very bland diet as I found what goes in has to come out so stayed off anything rich or spicy..

Loss of appetite..think this was due to the oral chemo..so I stocked up on thinks like white bread for toast..Porridge.. pancakes..and Wafer biscuits.. try to get your calories any way you can..

I would also suggest the following.

Water wipes fir your toilet visits.

Sitz bath to sooth your bottom..

Use the flamigel the radiotherapy department give you and ask for more when you running low.

Take your anti sickness tablets..you will find this keeps the sickness from the chemo at bay..

Find lots of things to watch on netflix..Amazon etc..

Download some books.. or your hospital should have a macmillan library  .

Just remember be kind to yourself..the first few weeks of treatment are not too bad.. it wasn't until about 20 days in that I started to feel a little uncomfortable..

I'm 18 days post treatment now and whilst I'm still exhausted and have a few sores.. im seeing the light at the end of the tunnel..

You can do this..we are all here to help..Good luck.. you will do great

Hi Babymole sorry to hear about your diagnosis but i'm sure the end of treatment will sneak up on you like it has for me! Are you based in the UK? I was treated in Leeds, UK and they tattooed the radiotherapy markers onto me during a planning scan (they don't come off). I had the same treatment it seems to be the standard. I had an infusion of mytomycin day 1 then capecitabine 1650mg on radiotherapy days mon-fri. The first two symptoms to get me were really dry mouth and cracked lips. I also found out the hard way why they tell you not to have coffee (caffeine). Firery wees are not something anyone needs to experience!

Everyones symptoms differ though. It can depend on your age and general health too. I have anxiety and depression so the mental side is really kicking me right now. Just be well prepared to be unprepared and thats ok! There is a chemoradiation shopping review where I updated all the items I personally used during my treatment, you might find it useful!

Hugs and have a good day!
Goose

Hi Babymole

I'm coming up 4 months post. Everyone reacts differently to treatment and the side affects build over time. I had a different chemo regime to you, all mine was intravenous. I think I got off quite lightly, I had really bad wind pain from day one and was advised to cut veg from my diet which sorted it. I would say eat what you fancy I found food tasted different and I mainly survived on cheese and marmite on toast. I had burns from the radiotherapy mainly round the tops of my legs and towards the end pooing was like passing razor blades dipped in acid. I also had a mucous avalanche near the end  aswell. I took paracetamol for pain relief but nothing else. Water wipes and men's baggy boxers were the only things I bought. The hospital provided me with nappies for the mucous issue. Make sure any creams you use are ok'd by your team as different hospitals seem to ok different things. Keep your team posted on pain etc and make sure they give you creams and that they check your skin. Keep your skin well moisturised. Good luck for the 24th we are all here for you, just take it one day at a time. Sending hugs. Xx

Hello Babymole

You have already been given some excellent advice and the only thing I would add is disposable incontinence sheets; sometimes towards the end of treatment there can be some urgency in going to the loo, especially if the chemo/radiotherapy causes diarrhoea.

And a calendar - mark off the days of treatment, you think it will never end but it really lifts the mood seeing how few you have to go, it really is the light at the end of the tunnel.

And we are here to support too, should you need it.

Big hug

Irene xx

Thank you so much everybody for your amazing advise and support I will keep you all updated with progress .Tomorrow radiotherapy treatment plan being put in place to start Monday 24th March 

Hi Goose yes I’m in the uk Rushden Northants treatment is at Northampton quite a trek daily but I will kick this C in the arse Yes the same treatment I will be having xx

Hi Babymole ,

It’s great to hear that you’ve got a treatment plan in place & that you have a start date too. 

You've already had some great replies here & sound advice.

Your worries are the same as we will all have had embarking on this treatment, I was terrified of the side effects that I may suffer throughout. I too had the same treatment plan as yourself except I had 23 days opposed to the standard 28 as I’d had my tumour surgically removed via local resection 8 weeks prior to starting my chemoradiotherapy. Things weren’t as bad as I expected. The side effects build slowly & your treating team will help you deal with them as they arise, be honest with them & let them know how things really are, it’s not the time to be brave.

I carried my treatment schedule with me to each radiotherapy session & on the way home put a big old line through that days appointment, it was surprising how cathartic that was & how quickly the checked off appointments overtook the unchecked ones. You’ll be through the other side before you know it. 

Nicola 

Hi Baby Mole,

I'm so sorry to hear that you've had to join this club, but I hope you'll find the support and advice you need here, just as I have.

I'm currently finishing week three of chemo and radiation (my treatment plan spans 30 days, with 2 intravenous chemo sessions and the rest as tablets). It's only now that I'm starting to feel noticeable soreness around my bottom and vagina. To manage this, I soak in Epsom salts both in the morning and afternoon, and I make sure to apply the prescribed creams regularly.

So far, I feel fortunate to have avoided any side effects from the chemo. I am losing weight, which I assume is normal since I've had to cut so much from my diet. This week, I've also started experiencing diarrhea.

I've found a few things that really help:
- A memory foam cushion for sitting comfortably.
- Sitz baths with warm water, which ease the discomfort during bathroom trips.
- Tena Lady knickers when venturing out, although I mostly stay home in loose, baggy PJ bottoms and I currently take painkillers three times a day 

I know the next few weeks might become more challenging as the irritation from the radiotherapy intensifies, but I'm focusing on taking it one day at a time.

Good luck with your treatment plan—if you need anything, just shout!

Thank you for support wishing you all the best and hope you are coping aswell as can be expected .Sending hugs your way I will update you in my progress .I went for my treatment plan on Wednesday they made 6 attempts to put a cannula in for the scan to put dye in and failed due to me being so cold so got to go back on Monday 10th my 70th birthday .Im taking a hot water bottle to hopefully help xx

Babymole

I have tiny veins and they always have a problem trying to get a cannula in.  I drink copious amounts before I go and cuddle a hot water bottle on the way to the hospital.  They never get the cannula in first time and I sit and break out in a sweat whilst they fiddle around!  When I had chemotherapy, the nurses had a long narrow bucket that they filled with hot water and I would sit for five minutes with my arm in and they never had a problem.  I am always surprised that they don't make more allowances for the patients being cold and/or having small veins in other departments.  Best of luck on Monday, I do hope they are successful.  Irene xx