Hi everyone. Hope your all as well as can be. I was confirmed to have Anal cancer on Tuesday.

Hello Michelle, welcome to the forum.

There is lots of information here about items you might like to buy before you start; I would say think about a sitz bath, it's very useful just for soothing and cleaning your bottom, and some people find it's really good to use as a loo. It can be much easier to poo into warm water and it's easy to flush and clean.

I found the radiotherapists gave me lots of cream, so I would chat to them to see what they advise - it seems to vary depending on where you are. They were my go-to people as they seemed to heard it all before and had lots of stuff to help. 

I would stick to basic unscented shower gel or soap as you might find your bottom gets very sore towards the end of the treatment - which leads me to pants. Just make sure they are soft and comfy with no seams, some people prefer shorts or men's boxers.

Finally, working can be tricky, particularly towards the end of your treatment. Your bottom can get very burnt and sore and you might feel pretty tired, so it might be good to have some time off planned as you come to the end of the treatment, and for the week or so that follows as there is a bit of lag where you have finished radiotherapy, but it is still affecting your body. See  how you feel but I would definitely prepare to have some time off if you can.

xx

Hi Michelle F6eb802 

Another welcome from me although I'm sorry you have found yourself here. With regards to creams etc there is a lot of advice and recommendations on here. I only used the creams recommended or provided by my hospital and when I used something not recommended by them I was told of, so I would run anything you are thinking of using however harmless you think it is by them as different hospitals seem to ok different things and some are more generous than others in what they provide. As for work I'm sure there will be some people on here who did work all the way through and that may be you, but i would prepare myself for potentially not being able to. I completely understand the financial side of this, have you looked into seeing if you are entitled to any benefits, i think macmillan would be able to help you with that, there is a benefits calculator on the site, you also may be entitled to PIP ive seen some people on here have got it. Sending hugs. Xx

Hi Bugle just a comment about you getting told off was a bit rude of them. I did purchase a gel that none of my team had ever heard of which was tested in Leeds cancer hospital with great success but deemed too expensive to carry on with using the NHS budget. When i asked about using this if i purchase it myself i was given a loud no straight away. When i asked why they said they stick with what they know, so i plonked all the information on her desk and asked her to read it and tell me of any reason i should not. The next appointment, it was approved and i think its simply down to they don't have time to read up on new methods or creams unless they have been bombarded with pharmaceutical incentives to use their products. The RT flamigel should be used on the very first day of treatment according to the producers but my hospital did not want to give me any until i needed it which i thought was very wrong. 
Julie

Hi Michelle

you are doing the right thing by getting prepared before treatment. I bought the MOOGOO shower gel which the oncology team give to their patients in Australia. It’s extremely gentle and they also do a moisturiser. As said on here, avoid scented soaps. I bought some soft cotton ladies boxer style knickers from Amazon and did size up. I also bought some harem trousers. Baby wipes 99% pure water. I used the sitz bath for everything at the end stage when things became uncomfortable and a bidet bottle is very handy when you are out. I’m retired so cannot advise about you managing your shifts but you do have your age on your side. I seem to remember on here that you can contact Macmillan for financial advice and support when having treatment so have a look at the helpline on this site. As said on here they will give you creams and pain relief. Remember we are all different and we don’t all get the side effects. I know some brilliant member on here did a comprehensive list of things to get before treatment but can’t find it so maybe someone will be able to advise. 

Julie

Hello and welcome to the group Michelle.

Some great information so far, so I will try not to duplicate.

My first suggestion would be to start using a non scented cream pre treatment. I was having major toilet problems due to the tumour, so to ease things I slathered a lidl baby healing cream around my anus. I think it helped my skin once the radiotherapy started.

I used Strata XRT before my radiotherapy sessions and after my shower when I returned. I have just finished the tube, expensive but it goes a long way. If I had my time again I would apply it from my anus to my coxicks. At the weekends I slathered on the Lidl baby non scented wound cream.

I used my sitz bath and pure Epsom salts after my treatment, it felt so soothing on the burns. I was nervous to use during treatment as it was a new product, but wish I had.

I used unscented QV cream everywhere else twice per day. I had been using unscented, soap free mild baby wash pre treatment and continued during treatment.

Period knickers and unscented, delicate sanitary pads as I had a lot of mucosa during treatment.

I am abroad and my team did not recommend any creams during radiotherapy. I got great information from this group, did one research and went ahead with Strata XRT.

The group have mentioned Pip, you may be entitled, get support and advice first as the forms can be tricky. Macmillan and Maggie's will be able to help and other group members have received support. I remember Nicola chatting about her experiences and the great support she received with forms.

I remember we have group members who worked through treatment and personally I could have managed part time. Your response to treatment and post healing will be very individual and you may not get the side effects.

Ally

Thank you so much for your reply. Very much appreciated 

Hey how's things?

Everyone is no nice in this group and offer wise words, experiences and positive words of encouragement.

I got diagnosed about five weeks ago which was a shock but everyone offered a listening ear and plenty of advice.

I also have to work for a while through treatment. Im hoping to work just weekends days or night shifts depending on my symptoms so I can save more money and then plan to have three  months off to recover. This is all dependent upon treatment though. Im also aware some had very limited time off and worked through xx

Hi Ally I have read your post regarding the StrataXRT. I too used this gel and one of the requirements was to apply it and leave this on continuously and not remove it for radiation therapy as it does not prevent the rays from doing the job and protects the skin. I’m surprised how professionals just are not aware of this! My oncologist agreed when reading the literature that this stays in contact with the skin 24hr a day. Of course with where the area is and constant need to clean there you just have to reapply very thinly. I did not get any breakdown of skin externally or blistering and only internally where you should not apply unfortunately 

Julie

I think your description of how to use the cream is spot on. 

I was very careful to apply during treatment and after treatment. I was burnt and had 3 areas near my anus that looked like cigarette burns, I think they were cancer areas coming to the surface, they healed fast.

My radiotherapy was done high up as the tumour was on the rectum. I applied Strata around the anus but not high enough to my coxicks, so the skin tried to breakdown on day 25. I got strata on quickly and again it did not break down and healed quickly.

I also applied a baby healing cream at the weekend, I used it pre treatment. It was thick and created a great barrier.

Your challenge with medical info clearly demonstrates that health professional are a little out of touch with modern practices. Before deciding to use the cream I read an article that convinced me that modern machines and specific creams applied correctly are a great benefit to many. 

If we keep sharing info on this site we will hopefully support more people to make that challenge.

Ally

Hello Michelle

A warm welcome to the forum although I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis.  You have had some sterling advice already from forum members and I won't add to that.  However, Nikki65 has experience of claiming benefits whilst undergoing treatment (hope you don't mind the tag, Nicola).  I was retired and didn't have to work, but I must admit towards the end of treatment I would have found it very difficult as by that time I was in a lot of pain from the radiotherapy and in particular loo visits.  That said, I know my side effects were particularly bad (not my opinion, that of those looking after me!) but others have fared much better in terms of side effects and recovery. 

I really hope you are able to get some sort of plan drawn up where you can have time off if you need to.  Please let us know how you get on.

Big hug

Irene xx