Rectal bleeding 18 months after RT

[Karmaji]

After 18 months of RT on seminal vesicles and pelvis

I have some occasional slight bleeding with no discomfort.

Should I let it be or seek colonoscopy ...

Will it just go away with time..?

Thanks for any remarks or suggestion

[pjoshea13]

I was told that the increased risk of cancer in the region that received radiation, doesn't show up in the first 5 years.

I had issues for a number of years. Finally, at 10 years, I had a colonoscopy. The pictures looked great! LOL. Healthy-looking tissue. However, that might to due to the high amounts of polyphenols passing that way every day.

I'll never get another colonoscopy because my liver clears the sedative cocktail within a couple of minutes, but otherwise I would be paying attention to the guidelines:

cancer.org/cancer/colon-rec...

-Patrick

[Karmaji in reply to pjoshea13]

Thanks...It seems nothing to do for people of my age...80+

Just handle with personal care...some oils and healthy food...

[Tall_Allen]

Late term rectal bleeding is an expected side effect. As long as it's not a lot of blood and it's bright red (not black and tarry), it should resolve on its own. Sticking instruments up there can make it worse. It may be best to let it heal. It may be hemorrhoids bleeding. You can get hemorrhoids treated by a proctologist.

[Karmaji in reply to Tall_Allen]

many thanks advice thru TA wisdom as always

[MateoBeach]

And Beatle wisdom “speaking words of wisdom let it be. Let it be.”

[Dog_man]

Karmaji:My two cents. I went through all of this in 2020 and 2021 from earlier RT. I had RP in 2010 and radiation years later when my cancer returned). I am on Lupron with good results). My bleeding was primarily urinary and resulted in blood clots in the bladder, emergency room visits, catheters, etc. Since my problem was primarily urinary, I went to my urologist. He did a cystoscopy and found radiation damage (which my radiation oncologist strongly argued that had nothing to do with the radiation!). I did not get a colonoscopy. Among alternatives proposed by my urologist, one was HBO (Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments). I went through 60 daily treatments (five days a week), each about 2 hours long and completely painless. My insurance, including Medicare, covered everything. My MDs were all in Atlanta but the HBO treatments were in Florida (hey, it was wintertime). Great results for me. Essentially eliminated all bleeding. Several of the men I met at the treatment center had rectal bleeding and it seemed to work for them also. It was good that I went to my urologist for this issue since my MO was only moderately familiar with the use of HBO. As an aside, my affected treatment area "mildly" lit up on a PET/CT scan a few months later, but everyone involved agreed that it was not cancer, but that area will continue to be monitored. What I learned: This problem could clear up by itself, but do not count on it. In my case, it got worse. Bottom line: There are alternative solutions to this uncomfortable problem – don’t get discouraged.

[Karmaji in reply to Dog_man]

thanks and very impressive your journey with oxygen

[rba092075]

I had bad rectal bleeding after SRT in 2014 nine months following psa rise after RP in 2013. I had a colonoscopy which showed bad scarring near anal entrance which I had treated with radio frequency ablation . It cleared up later on. Now I’m dealing with urinary incontinence for which I had sling surgery this past February which helped quite a bit. RT is the gift which keeps on giving!

[Karmaji in reply to rba092075]

strange r RT ghost visits...