Post pelvic radiotherapy issues

[K_I_T]

Hi, I had 5 sessions of radiotherapy to sacrum, last one on Monday this week. Had a lot of "grumbling" in tummy. Started to experience sharp pain in one side of rectum when opening bowels since yesterday. Stool is soft and it is also painful just passing wind. Been to the toilet 6 times so far today. I'm worn out. Any suggestions to ease pain in rectum?

[Hazelgreen]

Yours sounds like a difficult problem to have! Does pain medication help remove the soreness? I wouldn't be shy about asking my GP for help in this regard.

Perhaps, you should ask your radiologist for advice, or, at least an estimate regarding how long you might experience this?

I do hope your body's reaction goes away soon!

Hugs,

Cindy

[Rbeth]

I had MBC in the lining of my stomach and rectum and had a gastrojujunostomy, where they close up the entrance from your stomach to your intestines and then take a piece of intestine and build a new entrance from your stomach. So I have had diarrhea every day for the last almost four years. But I’m here to give you suggestions. I have a palliative care doctor and work with him. I take two Tylenol 650 and two Oxycodone 5mg and two Imodium after I empty my bowels. I put Vaseline up my rectum before my bowel movement to protect my insides. You can use a glove to lubricate with the Vaseline. I have tried all types of diaper ointment and hemorrhoid creams and gels. I prefer Walgreens hemorrhoidal cooling gel.

Tea has a soothing property. I drink green tea and recently found a cinnamon clove tea. No caffeine.

Check what vitamins would be good for you. I take lots of them.

For the gas use Gasex or simethacone before you eat. Tums also helps.

I eat a banana every day. I found a rice cracker at Trader Joe’s is crispy like a potato chip and makes my bowels less watery. And speaking of water, every time you go to the bathroom drink a glass of water so you don’t get dehydrated. I was in the hospital during COVID for 6 days being hydrated. If I didn’t go I would have died.

Here’s another suggestion about tea bags. They shrink membranes. I use the large cold brew tea bags and wet them in warm water and put them on my tush. Then an absorbent pad in my undies. Feels good.

I have several heating pads around the house and I am usually on one. I have tried a few different brands and now use the large size PURE brand from Amazon.

They also make ice packs to fit in your undies. Try everything.

I am in New York and have a Marijuana Card from my palliative care physician. I speak to the specialty pharmacist for my medicines. I am not on it at the present time.

A sitzbath is another option to try, but I personally can’t sit there.

It’s not pleasant but manageable for me. You’ll need to see what works for you. I watch what I eat and can’t tolerate dairy very well.

My medication gave me type 2 diabetes. There is an endocrinologist at Sloan Kettering whose specialty is medically induced diabetes 2. If you get this also, Dr Flory treats people world wide with this condition. I have a local endocrinologist and he wants me on insulin. Dr Flory said I have a lot to be concerned with and has me monitor my glucose with a Libre. I have more concerns about lows than highs. I keep a few sugar packets with me and just pop them directly in my mouth if I go below 70. I like jelly bellies and marshmallows besides the standard orange juice. I hope this doesn’t happen to you.

If you get hand and foot syndrome where your skin peels, this only happened to me once, thank goodness, I used Udder cream until it healed and currently use Dove Intensive cream. I use the Dove Cream on my face too.

I will be 72 in June. My stomach cancer is in remission, my cancer in my ribs turned to scar tissue, but the cancer in my rectum is currently the problem. I had Breast Cancer in 2009 and was told it would not come back. Cancer is tricky. Mine also mutated.

If I can give you any other options I have used please contact me. I live in Rochester NY.

I hope this gave you some options to try.

It’s not an easy path, and we didn’t pick it. I say that my body hates me and I’m fighting back.

Best to you. Reenie

[Bettybuckets in reply to Rbeth]

I’m worrying about my tush and cancer. Have a numbness. Hope the scan will reveal all. What symptoms did you have or just find it in endoscopy? And what chemo did they put you on to try to control it?

[Rbeth in reply to Bettybuckets]

I had a colonoscopy because of pain and constipation. It revealed a cancerous stricture in my tush. I also had cancer in the lining of my stomach. I started on Ibrance, then Letrozole, then Xeloda and now Piqray. I did not go on chemo. I am also on Fulvesterant shots monthly. My cancer type is 27.29.

I have a lot of pain after moving my bowels so I take 2 Tylenol 650 and 2 oxycodone 5mg and always sit on a heating pad.

I haven’t had numbness.

My Piqray was 300 and then my numbers went down so I went on 150 and my cancer numbers are up so tomorrow I am going up to Piqray 200.

Best to you feeling better. Reenie

[Bettybuckets in reply to Rbeth]

Thanks for explaining… they are always worried about the cancer going to my stomach lining… I still feel good most mornings and then if I do too much feel very much convinced by afternoon thst cancer has spread as I feel so dreadful. Only time snd scans will tell.

[luckysmom13]

Glycerin suppositories can be helpful. Wear a glove and put some vaseline on the outside. If you use one during the day you may want to use a panty liner in case a little leaks out. If used at night, it will stay in. It dissolves over a few hours to lubricate the area.Immodium and extra fiber can help with diarrhea.

[Tolife_18]

Dear K_I_T, I’m so sorry to hear you experience these unpleasant and painful symptoms. You got a lot of good practical advice already.

Based on what I read in your post , it does sound like radiation burn of the intestinal mucosa. Please discuss your symptoms with the radiation oncologist and GI specialist who is familiar with similar situations.

Sending you good wishes and pls update up with hopefully good news.