Im new to this group. Just writing this message makes me cry. Still very emotional. Im 3 months post chemo radiation Pelvic and rectal . I had 20 session.
Definitely 1 day at at time. 1 step forward 2 step back . Still in alot of pain . DOSE IT EVER GET BETTEr ?. From what iv read everyone seems to say 1yr . Im 52 my dr said im young and healthy so will be less but im starting to think otherwise . Thank you i would appreciate any advice you have
Welcome to the group although im sorry you have found yourself here. My oncologist told me it would be a good year to get back to normal or possibly a new normal. We all progress at different speeds, I would say 3 months is quite early in your recovery but if you are still in pain you should speak to your doctor and ask for something. Im coming up to 12 months post and it has been as you said 2 steps forward and 1 back on the whole im doing good so yes it does get better but I wouldn't say everything is as it was before. Try to celebrate any wins. Other than the pain ( which is enough) is anything in particular getting to you? . Sending hugs. Xx
Having a cancer diagnosis in itself a life-changing experience and then to go through what is widely recognised to be a very tough course of treatment is traumatic to the best of us, I don't think anyone quite takes it in their stride. You need to be very kind to yourself; you are early in the recovery period and reading your post made me remember wondering if the pain would ever let up. But somewhere around the three-four month mark, it did become easier.
But if you need extra medication, please ask for it. My oncologist suggested going back on Oramorph which I declined as I had real problems with constipation whilst on opioids. However Ian has suggested an alternative that may well help you through this period, I am really sorry that you are so badly affected.
Thank you for your kind words. Reading your post gave a little bit of hope. Fortunately i have not sufferd from constipation, the opposite im very regular. I started using a zinc cream that they use for nappy rash this has helped with the outside pain alot
I am three and a half years from end of treatment. Unfortunately I had severe anal stenosis and had an elective stoma just over a year ago. However, I should stress that there are many who have gone back to having relatively 'normal' bowel movements, I think it may depend on where the radiotherapy is targeted and an individual's response. I have very fragile skin in the area but keep a supply of soft cushions around the house to sit on. Again, some of us just had what looked and felt like bad sunburn but I lost all my skin back to front so I think this 'new' skin is what is causing such sensitivity. But actual bowel movements, before I had the stoma, were nothing like they were in the early days, when I had to take to bed with my back passage throbbing with pain for a couple of hours after a bowel movement! That improved dramatically, and I hope it does for you too.
I can relate to your post. I am coming up to six weeks post end of treatment and I am still in a lot of pain when having a BM. I saw my oncologist last week and he said this was normal and I should expect this to gradually improve over the next 6 weeks. He didn't seem overly concerned when I told him I had yet to sit on the toilet normally, I am using a sitzbath as it is too painful. He did suggest ibuprofen and said some people use haemorrhoid cream, but he personally didn't recommend.
It is depressing as it makes me worried about going away anywhere, how will I manage. I know that the skin in the anus is very sensitive and I can only remain hopeful that eventually, one day, I will go to the toilet and feel normal, or at least pain free again.
Good luck going forward and try to stay positive. It's hard I know.
