4 weeks post treatment and I am feeling so anxious

Hello Donnie,

Welcome to the forum although I’m sorry about your diagnosis. Well done for completing treatment.

 I just want to say that it’s really early days for you. The radiotherapy is continuing to work which is why they wait 3 months to do the first scan and often say that it’s the 6 month scan that’s the important one. There is often scar tissue, irritation and inflammation.

I imagine everything is still quite irritated internally for you and definitely for me it took several months for my bowels to settle and in fact they still are far from ‘ normal’. When I saw the oncologist in June I was told that I still have inflammation and that this isn’t uncommon.

 I am almost 9 months post treatment and the treatment was successful in that there is no evidence of cancer. 

I can completely understand your fears but from what you describe this sounds quite normal. I do think that we have a huge focus on the treatment and side effects but not much guidance on what to expect afterwards. This forum is incredibly helpful so it’s good that you’ve found it. 

Xx

Hi Donnie (donnieca31fe5 ),

Firstly welcome to the MacMillan Online Community although I’m sorry that you’ve had the need to find us. Secondly congratulations on completing your treatment, it can be a rough trot can’t it? 

As PEB24 has said it’s still very early days in your recovery & I think that all of us here that have been through this treatment can relate to your symptoms & the way you’re feeling. I’m currently a little over 7 years post treatment but clearly remember those early days often felt like I was taking 3 steps forward then 2 steps back. I had skin flares for quite a long time. If you’ve been unfortunate enough to suffer bowel disturbances during treatment these can also take some time to settle, the treatment will have caused a whole load of inflammation (internal & external) that can last a while on & off, this was certainly my experience.

The radiotherapy also continues doing its thing for quite some time following that last session & it’s not unusual to have not had a complete response at that first scan but the 6 month mark check up seems to be the important one. 

Again I’ll repeat from the previous reply, at the stage you’re at it all sounds very typical of the recovery from this treatment & hopefully when you see your oncologist & surgeon in a couple of weeks they’ll confirm this for you. 

I hope this has gone a little way to reassuring you. 

Nicola 

Hello Donnie

You got through it - well done!  And there is always an aftermath in the early days after treatment and I think you may well find that when you see your oncologist and you tell them they will nod and say, everything you are going through is normal.  I don't mean to downplay what you are going through in the slightest, even now, over three years after my treatment ended (and particularly before scans) I still get all these odd symptoms appearing just to keep me on my toes!  In the early days odd and frequent bowel movements, sore skin, pain in the area and urgency are all part and parcel of recovery.   And as it has been emphasised it really is early days for you, you are doing so well and you just need to be kind to your self and let your body recover.

But at the same time, flag anything you are unsure about with your doctor; we are not medically trained and although we have a world of hard-earned experience having all gone through the treatment having the official reassurance is a great help.

Big hug, let us know how you get on.

Irene xx

Hi Donnie donnieca31fe5 

Well done on getting through treatment and welcome to the group. Like the other replys have said it's still early days in your recovery and everything you are feeling is totally normal. If you are worried about anything  mention it to your team. You will get there and this will all soon be a distant memory. Xx

Hi

I completed my Treatment on 9th April ( T2n1a) with small mesorectal node involvement and at my 6 week follow up was told there was a 0.5 cm raised area which could be residual tumour or scar tissue so I had another MRI and the same found at 6 week post scan so was seen again after 4 weeks and all was well and I had a complete clinical response .  I was told that they wanted to give the treatment more time as it continues to work for 6 months and the full effect isn’t seen until then.  So I now have a 3 month follow up at the end of October so all I am saying is give it the full 6 months as you will have surveillance now for 5years.

best Wishes - this group is so supportive 

Hi Donnie,

Im 7 weeks after my Chemoradiotherapy, and completely feel and understand this anxiety.

My consultant has been so.positive all the wsy through. This cancer has shrunk 95% success rate with this treatment we have had. I know they can't guarantee anything, but there is a face to face support group near me in . There was very positive support and people who were much further on than me. Have you got multivitamins.  Ive found them really helpful.

I have no idea like you what is normal for my body anymore. Remember the radiotherapy carries on working for another 3 months after the end of treatment . So don't  expect  to be how you were before.

Stay strong . We can get this Anne

Thank you so much to everyone who responded to this. I have days that are really rough and days that I can calm down and forget about things a bit better. Today was definitely a better one, so thank you. Just trying to not worry (as much as I can) and just deal with things as they come. I appreciate you all. 

Thank you! Two steps forward, three back is definitely how it feels. The answers here did reassure me! I know only my doctor is going to be able to say for certain what is going on, but at least I can calm down a little and wait for that word. Thanks for responding - I appreciate it.