Just about to start treatment

Welcome to the club nobody wants to join! I don’t have a stoma, but my tumour is same as yours - squamous cell T3N1. I’ve just completed my 12th of 28 treatments. Feeling a bit tired in the afternoons now, have some minor soreness around the anus (mainly caused I think by the need to poop 3-4 times in the morning now almost as soon as I get up) and I’ve moved to a fairly bland diet to keep stools reasonably solid. But apart from that all is good and I’m feeling Ok.

Wiping will become sore - I bought a peri bottle (lots on Amazon) and use that instead of paper to clean after a bowel movement. It was a great investment and I don’t think I’ll stop using it. Listen to your body and rest if you feel tired. Ask the nurses anything and tell them if anything is worrying you. They will be able to reassure you or offer help. 

Be prepared for a long day tomorrow if you are getting a chemo infusion (I had a short 10 minute infusion on day 1 and everything after that is tablets for me) but after that the radiation sessions are quick each day (15 mins). 

happy to answer any questions you have. No question is a stupid question and everyone here is so helpful and talking from lived experience. 

Hi and welcome. It's not easy starting treatment with all tge questions, worries and preparation.

Im in my fourth week and uts been ok. I have a rest during afternoons and take antisickness pills. Im also getting a little  tender xown below but apart from this its gone ok so far.

On the positive side my lump is almost gone after three full weeks of treatment and now I cab see thr results which the doctors arr aiming for xx

Thank you for replying. It’s good to read how people are getting on during their treatment as it’s the not knowing how you are going to feel. 
Yes I’ve got my chemo infusion at 11am tomorrow and then my radiotherapy at 14:40pm so it is going to be a very long day. I’ve read a few people mention the peri bottle so might order one just incase.                        Is there anything I can take or use to prepare for any of the symptoms that may happen?    Thank you so much x

I would say take antiaickness as soon as you wake up in the day when you start chemo tablets as they make you nauseous. Drink plenty of fluids and have rests in the afternoon x

I took the anti sickness tablets just for the first two days (because I had an event to go to on the second day and didn’t want to be ill). I’ve not taken any since then and I’ve been absolutely fine. 

something I have been doing is to take a light dressing gown/wrap with me to my radiotherapy appointments. It saves the NHS from having to launder a gown every day and it saves me from wrestling with a stupid gown that won’t tie up or keep me decent!  I’ve also got my drinking down to a fine art and do my bladder filling on the drive to the hospital so I don’t have to arrive so early. 

Definitely stop using dry toilet paper now if possible. Either water wipes or a peri bottle. Will help guard against soreness, which will be inevitable but may be delayed with care. 

good luck tomorrow. Let us know how you get on.  

Sarah x