Bowel side effects

[jmarsh]

I began Lupron and Abi+Pred in 6/22. I did 33 whole pelvic radiation treatments in July and August of '22. Ever since, my bowel habits have been unpredictable. From constipation to loose. However, about 3 months ago I started having a lot of mucous in my BM's. Now, it is sometime mixed with bright red blood. The bleeding happens infrequently without pattern, but probably averages 2 times per week. Any thoughts or similar experience from anyone else with similar treatment program? I'm seeing gastro soon but wanted to point him in the right direction.

[Lyubov]

If you haven't done so, suggest you see a gastro-enterologist.

[Hidden]

Tell him you got pelvic radiation before anything else.

[fireandice123]

The blood could be caused by rectal scarring caused by the RT. I have something similar maybe once a month. No consistent frequency. It’s bright red blood with no pain. Quite shocking initially. I’ve had a colonoscopy which found nothing of concern. Both my RO and gastro doc said it’s caused by RT. According to my RO it is a relatively common SE of RT.

[Mike1971]

I agree it’s probably a SE of RT. I had a lot of bleeding from radiation damage. Every day (and a lot) for months which probably ”helped” me become anemic. Got Argon treatment during colonoscopy where they burned a lot of wounds shut, which fixed the problem.

I still bleed, but very seldome and very little.

[jmarsh in reply to Mike1971]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Same here - no pain. And light bleeding. Oddly, it started about 1 year after completing RT.

[Mike1971 in reply to jmarsh]

I believe radiation can cause problems years after therapy.

[Pop1959]

Hi there, 39 rads for me Jan 22. Same as you, spot bleeding then a lot then none, colonoscipe done nothing there. Wife got me onto slippery elm powder less than 1/4 teaspoon a day mixed in with any fluid. After 2 months bleeding slowed right down, no bleeding at all last 3 months. Best of luck.

[MarkBC]

If the bleeding is bright red, it comes from near the anus. It may just be hemorrhoids from irritating bowel movements. If the blood is very dark, it comes from further up the intestinal tract and requires immediate medical attention. In any case, I would visit your GP to confirm the source of the bleeding.

[groundhogy]

i got prostate rad with brachy so not the same treatment, but some of it definitely hit the lower colon area as my bowel habits have also changed.

I get the clear mucous thing. Now its difficult to pass all the bowel movement. Loss of elasticity due to scarring i think.

Anyway went to GI doc and they steered me to get high quality high strength probiotics and also olive leaf extract (anti fungal-Giaya brand) and it made immediate improvement.

I also have take metamucil every day to get it all out, or most of it.

[lhall2]

As others have advised, see a gastro Dr. My BM bleeding also started about a year after whole pelvic radiation. Turned out to be radiation proctitis caused by the radiation treatment & required argon plasma coagulation procedure. Two years from whole pelvic radiation treatment, developed radiation cystitis which is bleeding while urinating. Similar treatment was required. For both cases, 1st objective is to rule out cancer

[Vynbal]

I had a bout of radiation proctitis 3 months after RT, mucus and red blood. My RO prescribed a hydrocortisone enema and it cleared up in a few days.

[jwrhn]

Sounds like it could be radiation proctitis. I had the argon laser and that didn't work finally got so anemic that I needed a transfusion and spent a couple of days in the hospital. The gastroenterologist found a large ulcer and recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy they did 40 treatments and because it was slow to respond did another 20 more. They will do a colonoscopy to check you out and the HBOT might be an option for you.

[Cvit in reply to jwrhn]

I had roughly 50 hyperbaric oxygen treatments,

which were very effective in healing my bladder &

Bowels, following radiation. Time consuming, but not painful.

[Tigger2022]

Yes, what everyone else said. My husband literally just went through all of this — he’s 54 and finished radiation a year ago, too. Started with blood and mucus in his stool, has the unpredictable urgency you describe. He had a colonoscopy on 11/13/23, and the GI doc said it was radiation proctitis. But, he also had a pre-cancerous polyp removed so I guess it was a good thing he went — he was otherwise not due for a colonoscopy for 6 more years, so who knows what that would have turned into by then. He’s now on a 5-year cycle for the colonoscopy.

[Gatodd]

I did have similar experience with inconsistency and periodic blood. I had a clean colonoscopy prior to radiation and wasn’t due for one yet.

Turns out it was an aggravated hemorrhoid that was causing the blood. Probably diet and inconsistent hydration were contributing to the stool inconsistency.

[Oatmeal2]

Definitely see your gastroenterologist, but your symptoms do sound like proctitis brought on by radiation. I’m on this board because my husband has PCa but I can speak from experience about suffering from proctitis for years brought on by using an antibiotic. It would come and go (the same symptoms you described) and finally a gastroenterologist recommended a high potency probiotic called visbiome. This was the only way to finally bring it completely into remission. He also recommended 400-800 mg of turmeric per day for inflammation. I also found that adding a small scoop of collagen peptides to my morning coffee helped stop a flare a few years ago.

[vintage42]

The bowel problems could be from the effect of pelvic radiation in 2022. I was told that it can affect the small intestine, in the belly far upstream from the rectal area. That would make any blood in the stool partly digested, and dark rather than bright.

In 2021 at 78 I had 20 IMRT to prostate, which could affect rectum and colon, but did not. In 2023 at 80 I had 30 IMRT to pelvis, which could affect small intestine, but so far has not.

I eat a high-fiber diet (uncooked oatmeal, large salads, whole tomatoes, broccoli and brussel sprouts ), take 2 heaping teaspoons of Metamucil nightly and have a normal BM every morning.

[Karmaji]

I started rectal bleeding 18 months after RT...chronic mess.... Saw four top Gastros....Completely ignorant of mechanism of radiation damage...Nothing works what they propose accept APC....real scandal....

No study on rectal bleeding due to RT...I found 2 articles with non invasive look. dated 2000..

.Sucralflate enema helped with 80 %...Then switched to Vit C A E...

Under control... some red blood spot on toilet paper every 10 days.... My RO says it will stay...

I do not agree ...RO does the damage but does not know the mechanism...

I have to do my own personal clinical study as no pharma is interested...

Lot of Zombi senescent radiated cells lying and they will keep damaging others....

How to get rid of their damage....

Cocktale of A C E....No money for big Pharma...

Then senolytics....not much is known....

Well this is my path... Patient has to take his/her health in his hands thru DD...

Docs are 20 %....Then they just dump you after protocols and when in remission....on your own

Nothing against chemical docs....bur health span is more than that...

Exercise, Nutrition ..less sugar less carb, healthy fat, less meat, local grown vegetables, intermittent fasting, mindfulness...and I am on way to nice healthy lifestyle...all free

keep sharing...may be contradictory views.....

Soon AI agents will crowd the health space...

[ImDD]

As others have said it can be a side effect of the RT. However, you should still let your doctor know. Be proactive. I read one case where a person had severe damage to their colon and a section needed to be removed.

[hfl20]

My radiation was in Dec 22/Jan 23. Half of the radiation was whole pelvic. About a month ago I had a bout of radiation cystitis (self diagnosis after about 24 hours of blood/clots). After a PSA check a few days ago, I spoke with my MO's nurse about cystitis and her comment was that "radiation is the gift that keeps on giving". I've had bowel issues since about the middle of my radiation treatments and now sort of control it with lots of natural (refrigerated) probiotics, fiber (beans, bran, etc.), water, and a 100mg docusate sodium (sold as stool softner) before bed. I also prepare my morning oatmeal with 1 cup water, 1/2 cup oats, 1 tablespoon chia seeds, and a tablespoon of ground flax seed. Berries and soy milk make it less gummy.

After reading this thread, I'll try the slippery elm and olive leaf extract instead of the docusate sodium.

[carbide]

Colonoscopy is in your future. Best luck.

[j-o-h-n]

This is from and old post of mine which points out that "shit" can happen when getting fried and sometimes takes time to show up.

Radiation - I've posted this before so to those people who have already seen this please forgive me.

I had 8 weeks of salvage radiation to "the bed". 5 days a week (not weekends) for 8 weeks minus 1 day for a total of 39 sessions at MSKcc. The actual radiation was like getting an x-ray by my dentist. I never had any side effects during the whole 39 sessions. However, 2 years later my left urinary tract was "fried" as per my urologist (or from passing prior kidney stones he was not sure). So, I had to have a urinary stent placed up my urinary tract (through my willy which is really nothing - sounds terrible but it's nothing) to aid in passing my urine (which was never a problem anyway). So I had stents in and out every three months for many years and now I'm stent free, Also, I don't know if this would apply to you but guys here recommend SPACEOAR HYDROGEL to be inserted for protection of parts of your body. Make sure you ask your R.O. about the space oar and make sure you ask here on this forum before getting fried

Hopefully a good doc will solve your issues.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Thursday 11/30/2023 12:50 PM EST

[Jumpingbellybeans]

I’m going through the same symptoms right now. Pretty scary. Probably why I’m here tonight. I have a joyful colonoscopy next Thursday. How did yours turn out?

[jmarsh in reply to Jumpingbellybeans]

Had to postpone until May. Stay tuned. Best of luck to you.

[Jumpingbellybeans]

Thanks brother. Best of luck to you too. I’ll keep you posted from my side.

[Jumpingbellybeans]

I had my colonoscopy on Wednesday and came back all clear. The blood in my stool was a side effect of the radiation last year (radiation proctitis). Wishing you all the best in yours.