I looked at my mom's rectum and....

[ocstacy]

So my mother just finished her Neoadjuvant therapy (xeloda and radiation ) on Aug 16, 2017. I noticed the last two weeks have been the hardest for her. She says it feels like she is peeing razor blades out of both ends. She ended up having a bladder infection so she was put on antibiotics.
I bought her a nice Sitz bath on Amazon and I highly recommend it to all of you in need of one. Here is the link (it's large and roomy, great reviews!) https://www.amazon.com/Yunga-Tart-Seatz ... =sitz+bath

Anyhow, I asked my mom if I could look down there to see what was going on "Down there". She looked at me like I was crazy but I did help her with the enema prior to MRI a couple months back. It looks like the tumor is protruding out. Look like tissue is coming out mixed with other garbage that I don't want to say. (TMI) Could that be the tumor coming out? hmmm... So I helped her clean the area (poor thing) and the "Coating" really helped her with the pain. Her pain level was a 8 or 9 and then it went down to a 3 after the coating. I also noticed that the rash on her feet has increased from ending the Xeloda. Anyone experience this after radiation? https://www.amazon.com/Medline-MEDDYND7 ... ion+Bottle this works great too (perineal irrigation bottle) I used it after child birth and it was the best thing ever for squirting down there on both ends because had horrible hemorrhoids! That hurt me the most with child birth.. and I ended up with a C-Section! Also, my mom's surgery date got pushed back to December instead of October. Is it risky waiting that long? Hmmm....

I have decided that I want to become a registered nurse or work in the hospital as a sonographer after caring for my entire family. I am completely okay with bodily fluids, blood, etc. I have a strong stomach.

[benben]

You're a wonderful daughter for the level of care you are willing to provide. MEGA Kudos.

And I highly commend your choice to get into nursing. A good nurse is double their worth in salt.
I really respect nurses after my treatment experiences. Each one is different, but most of them have a few really good qualities.
Some are really communicable and friendly, while some are a bit less communicable but have a keen eye for diagnosing symptoms.
For the most part I love them all

best wishes for you and your mum.

[ocstacy]

You're a wonderful daughter for the level of care you are willing to provide. MEGA Kudos.

And I highly commend your choice to get into nursing. A good nurse is double their worth in salt.

Thank you so much, that means a lot! I will do anything for my parents, including trying to get the best medical care as possible. I just hate seeing them in pain and suffering. My mom's oncologist gave me the nicest compliment the other day. She said I should have been an Oncologist which was another amazing compliment! If only I would have gone straight to Medical School that would of maybe happened. My mom's oncologist is 32 years young. Wow, she looks like a little baby but she sure knows what she is talking about. I wish you all the best. Prayers to all <3

[JJH]

... My mom's oncologist gave me the nicest compliment the other day. She said I should have been an Oncologist which was another amazing compliment! ...

Remember, if you decide to go into nursing there is a certification called Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) that you could apply for once you have obtained your nursing degree:

https://www.oncc.org/certifications/oncology-certified-nurse-ocn

[NHMike]

So my mother just finished her Neoadjuvant therapy (xeloda and radiation ) on Aug 16, 2016. I noticed the last two weeks have been the hardest for her. She says it feels like she is peeing razor blades out of both ends. She ended up having a bladder infection so she was put on antibiotics.
I bought her a nice Sitz bath on Amazon and I highly recommend it to all of you in need of one. Here is the link (it's large and roomy, great reviews!) https://www.amazon.com/Yunga-Tart-Seatz ... =sitz+bath

Anyhow, I asked my mom if I could look down there to see what was going on "Down there". She looked at me like I was crazy but I did help her with the enema prior to MRI a couple months back. It looks like the tumor is protruding out. Look like tissue is coming out mixed with other garbage that I don't want to say. (TMI) Could that be the tumor coming out? hmmm... So I helped her clean the area (poor thing) and the "Coating" really helped her with the pain. Her pain level was a 8 or 9 and then it went down to a 3 after the coating. I also noticed that the rash on her feet has increased from ending the Xeloda. Anyone experience this after radiation? https://www.amazon.com/Medline-MEDDYND7 ... ion+Bottle this works great too. Also, her surgery date is now in December instead of October. Is it risky waiting that long? Hm.

I have decided that I want to become a registered nurse or work in the hospital as a sonographer after caring for my entire family. I am completely okay with bodily fluids, blood, etc. I have a strong stomach.

This is about where I am with Xeloda and radiation. I don't have the pee issues but the rest sounds like me. For me, the tumor popped out two months ago and I had to pop it back in but it is stuck now. That it can move around in your mother may be a good sign as it means that it hasn't invaded the muscle yet. My surgeon mentioned that it might be a tumor over a polyp which would be the best case but it was not to be for me.

I'll take a look at that bottle. I would like something to self-irrigate with.

[Bev G]

[b]

This is about where I am with Xeloda and radiation. I don't have the pee issues but the rest sounds like me. For me, the tumor popped out two months ago and I had to pop it back in but it is stuck now. That it can move around in your mother may be a good sign as it means that it hasn't invaded the muscle yet. My surgeon mentioned that it might be a tumor over a polyp which would be the best case but it was not to be for me.

Mike, with all due respect to you, I feel compelled to let you know that that is not how anatomy works. Tumors do NOT pop out. If tumors aren't attached to a vascular supply they die, butt they still wouldn't "pop out" If you had something pop out, that you could then repace, it almost certainly would have been a hemorrhoid.

Best wishes to you.

[NHMike]

This one popped out, at least part of it did. It took me 30 minutes to get it back in. I actually managed to get a look at the part that was outside.

[JJH]

This one popped out, at least part of it did. It took me 30 minutes to get it back in. I actually managed to get a look at the part that was outside.

If this is a tumor and it moves around from one radIation session to another, then how can you be assured that the radiation is targeting the right place in each session?

[NHMike]

This one popped out, at least part of it did. It took me 30 minutes to get it back in. I actually managed to get a look at the part that was outside.

If this is a tumor and it moves around from one radIation session to another, then how can you be assured that the radiation is targeting the right place in each session?

This was well before treatment.

It froze into place before treatment which is to say that the cancer invaded the muscle. So I would have been a 3A if treatment had started a few weeks earlier.

[stu]

That was quite something to do that for your mum. I have tried my best to look after my mum for the last eight years . When I read your post every part of me thought " Nope ... never... thank goodness my sister is a nurse"
Well done you,
Stu

[NHMike]

If you've raised kids, you've seen and done it all.

[ocstacy]

The tumor popped out two months ago and I had to pop it back in but it is stuck now.

As for my mom, her tumor is very close to the opening (lower rectum area) To me it look like the tumor or hammy or just both was coming out a little. The nurse mentioned it's the tissue.. possibly the tumor shrinking.. who knows. My mom says her pain level is an 8 or 9. She first mentioned the pain to feel like burning hot pain, now she said it's turned into icicle blades... I feel so bad for her. I got her "Coating" and the Sitz bath seems to be working. The rash on her legs are moderate rashy from the Xeloda, worst than when was taking the Xeloda. She ended her last dose 08/16. Her side effects were the strongest 2 weeks after her tx ended. When will her pain stop? Ever?

[NHMike]

I see that she had a 6 cm tumor and that's huge so I could understand if some came out. The 3A could mean that most of it is a polyp which means that it could more easily move around. At least she's through the chemoradiation. So hopefully it's improvement from here on out. I guess this is why they wait 6-8 weeks before surgery. I was really hoping to go on a vacation in the time in-between but it wouldn't be fun with a burned butt. Hopefully it's manageable.

[susie0915]

I had that razor blade pain when urinating like your mom. My radiation oncologist gave me lidocaine and I would put a dab in there before urinating. It numbed the area, was so helpful. Recticare also has lidocaine in it and can get over the counter if possible. I remember looking at my bottom with a mirror and it was charred and red. You're doing a great job taking care of your mom. My sister and niece are both nurses, as well as my nephews fiancé. Praying for you and your mom.

[ocstacy]

I see that she had a 6 cm tumor and that's huge so I could understand if some came out. The 3A could mean that most of it is a polyp which means that it could more easily move around. At least she's through the chemoradiation. So hopefully it's improvement from here on out. I guess this is why they wait 6-8 weeks before surgery. I was really hoping to go on a vacation in the time in-between but it wouldn't be fun with a burned butt. Hopefully it's manageable.

Mike, how is your Neoadjuvant therapy going? I have been thinking about you. You exercise and in better shape than my mom and younger by 15-20 years or so. They are looking to do the surgery in December now which I was hoping in October. The Dr. mentioned to my mom that she would most likely be staying in the hospital for a week or so. Hope everyone butt's feel better soon. I still suffer from Butt problems too :0( It's embarrassing BUTT it's true!