Post anal cancer treatment side effects

Hi  Wishes 

Please don't worry too much. The side effects vary quite a lot from person to person and are well known to the staff who will be treating you. Also they start quite gradually so you'll have time to discuss these, when and if they start.

You'll possibly be given a set of dilators to use once you are finished and they will explain how and when to use them. This should help prevent stenosis and scarring.

The other things you are worried about, like it affecting your bones, are really something you should talk to your oncologist about. It will depend on whether you have existing conditions or if you are at risk, so it would be worth mentioning. You will have regular appointments with staff wherever you are being treated and you can monitor how your healing progress is going with them. 

Try not to keep looking on line; you'll get a lot of outdated and in many cases inaccurate stuff there. My advice would be to stick with Cancer Research UK or Macmillan for your information if you are in UK.

Be kind to yourself whilst you are having the chemoradiotherapy, eat well and rest as much as you can; it can take months for you to even start feeling yourself again. But you will get there!

Good luck, let us know how it goes. x

Thankyou so much for your reply, it has reassured me and I will make sure I ask all the questions at my meeting. It’s so frustrating and upsetting, I’ve suffered with constipation for a long time and everytime I’ve been to the doctors or hospital apts they’ve said oh you’ve had a clear colonoscopy, your blood tests are normal and so was your fit test but now I’ve found out that the colonoscopy didn’t even look at the anal canal and the fit tests don’t pick it up and blood tests can be normal. It’s so frustrating that no one over the years looked in that area even though in 2011 they did and I had fissures and hemorrhoids. I’ve always just been told it’s just your constipation and I’m annoyed with myself that I haven’t requested them to look and examine me. Xx

Hello Wishes 

I didn't even know about the after effects of the radiotherapy and I was so keen to have it done and over with.  And yes, you can have a new normal afterwards, however, the main thing is that you go forward prepared; use the dilators to avoid stenosis in the vagina and if necessary the anal canal.  And it is a good idea to talk to your oncologist about preventative measures you can take in avoiding at least some of the late side effects.

At my last meeting with the oncologist (four years since treatment) I asked if surgery wasn't a better alternative to radiotherapy given some of the side effects that some people have.  And she was most emphatic that it is not, the surgery may have to be really invasive and runs the risk of damaging adjacent organs (and cause disfunction in them) and there is no guarantee that all the cancer would be removed.  She was really forthcoming and explained that they are really aware of the late effects on SOME people (I must stress that) but that there is constant research going on to lessen some of these.

I am really sorry that perhaps I haven't given you the reassurance that you are looking for; however, no one knows until the treatment is over how they will be affected.  There are many on the forum who have completely recovered and are back getting on with their lives, so, with a bit of luck, you will be one of those too.

Best of luck with your appointment next week, I am really interested in what your oncologist says.

Irene xx

Thankyou so much Irene, this is helpful to me and I will definately discuss it with my Oncologist. I’m such a healthy person, I exercise regularly, eat well, hardly ever drink and don’t smoke, which is why I hate the idea of having these treatments and what it’ll do to my body, but I know that it’s probably my only option. I do have some stress in my relationship though and I’m trying to manage that x

Hi Wishes 

Easier said than done I know but try not to worry about the what ifs. Not everyone gets side affects so fingers crossed you are one of those people. From what you've said you seem to lead a healthy lifestyle which I'm sure will help. If you are worried about the possible effects on your bones and hips exercise specifically weight lifting will help as it strengthens bones. Have a chat with your oncologist on Tuesday and see what he/she says. Sending hugs. Xx