Low rectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Hi Maniac72 and a warm welcome to the board. Radiotherapy can continue working for several weeks after the actual treatment has finished so hopefully things will start to improve soon. The tumour may have been aggravated by the treatment so may be a bit inflamed so your stools are narrowing to get past it. Did they give you some cream to use? Now your treatments finished you should be ok to use any soothing cream like nappy cream and also haemorrhoid cream may help as it has a slightly anaesthetising effect. Once chemo starts you may find that your bowels become looser so keep talking to the chemo nurses about any side effects that you’re having.

Bag for life is usually for very low tumours - I had a temporary stoma which was reversed later - but lots of people cope with them just fine and quickly get on with life as normal. There’s lots of advice and support on the stoma board and I’ve attached the link below

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/ileostomy-and-colostomy-discussions-forum

Hope things settle down for you soon and the chemo goes well

Take care

Karen x

Hi Thanks  - Things have improved in the last week with bowel movements. Still have the urge to go with nothing there (Tenusmus) and stools still strained and quite narrow. 3 weeks now since radio chemo (5 week course) finished - starting 4 cycles of Chemo next week which should take 3 months - should i start to see bigger easier stools soon?

Hi Maniac72 

I found that my stools became bigger and the blood loss stopped after a few weeks. A later scan showed that the tumour had shrunk by 75% - hope you have similar (if not better ) result

Hi thanks for that

Had my chemo delayed by 1 week due to having to a tooth extraction.

Its been nearly 4 weeks since my initial chemo radio finished.

Rectal bleeding stopped about 3 weeks ago but still stuggling with bowel movements and straining narrow stools but starting to feel a bit more in control by not having to ruch to toilet as much, but still have constant feeling that i need to go.I am getting a little bit anxious that my stools are not yet getting larger which i guess the tumour is still causing a restriction. Its going to be a long slog of 3 months before I get re scanned and find out how sucessfull my treatment has been.

Staying positive but its hard!

Hi Maniac72 

I had chemoradiation 6 months ago for rectal/anal cancer.

The tumour was large and it appears to have cleared, but it has left scar tissue and radiation proctitis. This is very common with radiation treatment and can last months, years and some times never goes away.

I had a recent colonoscopy, no tumour, just lots of inflamation, irritated blood vessels and swelling. I have a temporary stoma so don't feel your discomfort or see thin stools, but from other sites, I know your symptoms are familiar with rectal radiation.

It's very early days for your healing and it needs careful management with laxatives and diet. It may not be your cancer, but on the Macmillan anal cancer forum, the group have lots of great advice on how to manage your symptoms. It might help put your mind at rest regarding the side effects of your treatment.

Keep your medical team updated and all the very best with your next round of treatment and recovery.

Ally

Thankyou - will do!

Hi Maniac72. I had 25 radiotherapy sessions plus 3 internal at Clatterbridge. Unfortunately I still have a tumour very low in the rectum. My stools are very narrow with some bleeding. The radiotherapy nurses gave me some soothing lotion it really works quickly to clear any pain and itchy feelings. I think the narrow stools are the ‘new normal’. Try not to strain, just read a book or magazine at let nature take its time. Hope this helps

Thanks for your comments and best of luck with your continued treatment. 

Hi, having just been diagnosed with a low T3 N1 and having a really flat day today I just wanted to thank you for making me laugh out loud, never heard the phrase 'bag for life' before!  Having had a short term bag 20yrs ago I am facing the inevitable once again although this time I suspect 'for life'.  If it's any help, my diagnosis came after similar to you, some kind of restriction and difficulty passing anything and my surgeon carried out what he called a 'dilation' which I have to say worked a treat but unfortunately that was when he discovered the tumour after biopsy.

Hope you feel better soon

Keep laughing - its the best drug!  All the best