Itching

Hi Debh1,

I'm 2.5 yrs post treatment & still, on occasion, have all the symptoms you describe above! Mine seems to come in bouts, I’ll tootle along for a while feeling great then I’ll probably have a difficult BM & that kicks things off, the odd bit of bleeding, the dull ache almost bruised feeling where my tumour was & the itching. My skin seems to get quite irritated fairly regularly, my surgeon said the new skin that forms following radiotherapy is basically like baby’s skin & as such can get a little rashy & itchy as with when babies get nappy rash, he also said it would never return to the way it was prior to treatment! I’ve just had a bout of this recently, I’ve upped my softeners & I also use sudocrem on the advice of my oncologist. Sometimes it can last a couple of days other times it goes on longer.

Can I also add it’s perfectly normal for our minds to go into overdrive following what we’ve been through & because the after effects of the treatment can closely mimic the symptoms of the cancer itself only increases the anxiety. I know I have a very small chance of any recurrence but it doesn’t stop all of my senses being heightened during one of these episodes. I’d advise having a chat about your symptoms at your appointment & I’m sure your Dr can put your mind at rest. 

Nicola 

Hi we finished treatment at approximately the same time so I am almost 18 months post treatment too. I have ongoing bouts of soreness and itching which don't seem to be related to bowel movements, they flare up out of nowhere. I do have mucous sometimes and that does cause soreness. As Nikki65 has said, unfortunately the after effects of the radiation mirror some of our pre-diagnosis symptoms, this makes it difficult to know exactly what we should be worrying about. The most difficult thing I find is when I have a bit of bleeding. However, on the basis that all has been ok to date, I try and remind myself that these are all symptoms of the intensive radiotherapy we had. That said, if any of my symptoms worsened I would call my Oncologist for reassurance. Our skin will never quite be the same. Nikki65 has put it very well blow, the post-radiated skin is like a baby's and is prone to rashes and itching like nappy rash. This is exactly what my skin is like.  I don't tend to use any creams, I just continue with the salt baths and things settle, until the next flare up! I would definitely share this information with your Oncologist who I'm sure will be able to put your mind at rest. Bev.