Hi vip, I think the various Kaiser regions are somewhat autonomous. I know for sure the only reason I'm on W&W is because my colorectal surgeon at Kaiser Sunset got permission from the powers that be to introduce it at that facility. Given it's not an approved treatment I understand Kaiser South...

Basil, I don't know anything about the PROSPCT trial you were in. Is it possible they are starting to get results from the trial that are leading them to re-evaluate the treatment?

I'm having the typical radiation issues but at least I'm mostly regular. It's not diarrhea but it's not hard either. It is actually nice as I seem to be having fewer false urges. I'm using toilet paper that I run under the faucet for two seconds to clean up and still thinking about the sitz bath. M...

For future reference here is the link to determine if a colorectal surgeon is board certified, for best results enter the last name only and click on Submit:

http://www.abcrs.org/verify-a-physician-2/

Mike yes, your surgeon is very well qualified.

At Kaiser they wouldn't even give me an appointment until six weeks after radiation ended. I was told any earlier my rectum would be too swollen and inflamed from the radiation for them to make a good determination of the results. It was the longest six weeks of my life!! That appointment was a phys...

PM sent.

Sree, lots of good information in your post, thank you for contributing to the thread. I think it's very important to note it took the full ten weeks for your tumor to finish shrinking.

We often see people who have their surgery only six weeks after radiation and that's too soon!!!

Walgreens has them:

https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/duro- ... 72-product

I think most drugstores and also Walmart.

The way I discovered I had a tumor was I started having pain in my rectum during exercise. The pain started as my pulse began to increase. At the tumor board meeting all the Drs felt obliged to stick their fingers up my ass and feel my tumor. I guess actually touching a cancer tumor was a new experi...

Mike, your treatment journey is going to be a bitch, but it sure beats the alternative.

I firmly believe it's good to be prepared for the worst, but keep on hoping for the best, and that hope helps you keep battling on thru the treatment.

I think some of the side effects of radiation depend upon the location of the tumor. Mine was very low, right at the end of the anal canal and actually into the sphincter muscles. This meant more of the radiation had to pass thru my anal area, the first side effect was I sprouted a little forest of ...

Congratulations sreekanth !!!! It's good that you are getting mop-up chemo, mozart13 posted a study a couple of weeks ago that indicates it plays a big part in reducing the risk of recurrence. I had an appointment last week with one of my local Doctors and he surprised me by saying he was seeing mor...

I'm in favor of moderate exercise during treatment, I just think it wouldn't be wise to overdo it.

A strained muscle is the last thing you need when you have to make a dash for the restroom.

Mike, for the next four weeks you need your body to focus entirely on shrinking your tumor.

Maybe take it easy on the exercise so your body's attention isn't diverted to fixing muscle aches and strains?

Mike, there's a lot of bone in the pelvic area and it's likely the radiation will impact your bone marrow's ability to produce blood cells. I know all my counts dropped to below normal levels during radiation, and I believe this is one of the main causes of fatigue and the inability to exercise at t...