Symptoms Post Treatment

Hi I was diagnosed with anal cancer in July 2022,finished in September 2022,a few weeks after I started to lose blood clots ,when I see the doctor I found out I got radiation proctitis which is the thining of the lining ,turn vains in like spider vains,which courses bleeding,which I got told it could last up to 5 years,I've already had it for almost 3 years,had 2 treatment by cauterizing  but still bleeding 

I do hope you don't have the same,I've not read on the forum any body else having it.all the best to you 

Sue x

Hi,

Yes, I had - and still occasionally have - some slight bleeding, and I believe it's just do do with the skin inside being very fragile after the treatment. My only advice would be to try not to let yourself get constipated, and perhaps take a stool softener if this was recommended to you. I think it is quite common for many of us, but you should probably mention it to someone in your medical team just to reassure yourself.

xx

Thank you for the feedback - it's is reassuring to know that these things can happen, and it doesn't necessarily mean a recurrence of the cancer. I am sorry to hear of the radiation proctitis. I have read about it , but I haven't seen anyone speak of it in the forum so thank you for sharing.

Hello One of many

Yes, I used to have frequent little bleeds, and it was mainly caused by a hard stool or even very gentle straining.  Some time after treatment I had to have a sigmoidoscopy due to very slight thickening at the tumour site and afterwards I was shown the film showing a healthy colon, but with lots of tiny red veins - radiation proctitis.  I have since had a stoma formation due to severe anal stenosis and don't have the problem any more, but then in my experience I was still having small bleeds more than two years after treatment.

I can completely understand your nervousness, I would mention it to your treating team just to put your mind to rest.

Irene xx

Hi One of many , I too had some bleeding on & off when having bowel movements for quite some time post treatment. I mentioned it each time I saw one of my team, they didn’t seem particularly surprised or concerned. It was first thought I may have a small fissure but in hindsight I think it was just possibly the fragility of the new skin following the radiotherapy. Over time these episodes just got less & less & now I’m almost 7 years post treatment things are mostly back to normal apart from a little stenosis & the bleeding never happens now.

I hope this helps to reassure you a little although it’s always wise to run these things by your treating team. 

Nicola