Bad Reaction to Radiation

[Hopefulprayers79]

My husband has started his radiation a week ago today.!He is experiencing a lot of pain and soreness in his rectum.He says he can't sit comfortably anymore. He tells me he thinks the tumor got bigger. I told him I don't believe the mass got bigger I just think he might be experiencing the initial inflammation they said could happen in the beginning. He talked to the Radiation Omcologist yesterday and told them he was experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort. He also said he feels like he has to go to the bathroom all the time, even when he knows he doesn't. The thing that concerns me is the Radiation Oncologist said he shouldn't be experiencing these symptoms and that it's to early on. She wrote him a prescription for steroid injections but she said she doesn't want it to interfere with the radiation in any way. Should we be concerned or is this normal?

[NHMike]

My husband has started his radiation a week ago today.!He is experiencing a lot of pain and soreness in his rectum.He says he can't sit comfortably anymore. He tells me he thinks the tumor got bigger. I told him I don't believe the mass got bigger I just think he might be experiencing the initial inflammation they said could happen in the beginning. He talked to the Radiation Omcologist yesterday and told them he was experiencing a lot of pain and discomfort. He also said he feels like he has to go to the bathroom all the time, even when he knows he doesn't. The thing that concerns me is the Radiation Oncologist said he shouldn't be experiencing these symptoms and that it's to early on. She wrote him a prescription for steroid injections but she said she doesn't want it to interfere with the radiation in any way. Should we be concerned or is this normal?

He may be right.

The feeling of need to go when you don't is because the mass gives you the fullness feeling. If the cancer is in the muscle then it can hurt to push on it to the point that you get some blood. To avoid pain, only go when there are signs that there is something there to come out. The problem is that you can't always tell. If it is hard to poop because the mass is so big, then use something like Miralax so that it is easier to come out.

BTW, this is my experience. I am not a doctor but your typical doctor hasn't gone through this so they don't know what it feels like.

[ocstacy]

My husband has started his radiation a week ago today.!He is experiencing a lot of pain and soreness in his rectum.He says he can't sit comfortably anymore. He tells me he thinks the tumor got bigger.

I am sorry to hear about your DH having pain so soon into the treatment. My mother developed the pain that he is developing towards the end of her treatment and about two weeks after she ended. She mentioned that it felt like peeing and posing razor blades and a hot burning pain. My was constipated before she started tx and therapy and during she experienced diarrhea. Now, it looks like tissue is protruding which the nurse and dr. says it could be the tissue, hemmy, or the tumor shrinking and coming out. Whatever it is, she is in more pain than she was during the tx. She is now taking Coating for pain, sitz bath, and has to ᏞᎪᎽ down. I feel awful for her cause when I had bad hemmy's I was in the worst pain of my life and it did feel like razors.. but that only lasted a couple of weeks. I just had bad bad hemorroids from stress and I didn't get it taken care of and it got worst. Pain level was a 9.. it was unbearable that "coating" was the only med to help the pain to go away. I have looked down there on my mom and took a peak and what it looks like is "hemmy's from constipation along with radiation pain. I wish I could make her feel better.. but only time can heal.. prayers. What really helps is like they said Myralax but you will need to stop taking that, cause if your DH is taking Xeloda and Radiation he will eventually have diarrhea. Aquaphor was my mom's best friend.. good luck

[ocstacy]

I had a special butt pillow made for my mom out of styrofoam. there is a hollow area kinda like the doughnut but this has more cushion. seems to help her.

[AppleTree]

I do not know if this will help you, but I kept notes about my 5 weeks of chemo/radiation here viewtopic.php?t=54100#p429358
If I did something wrong copying the link, try searching my posts.
Peeing razor blades and urgency...anti-spasm medicine really helped. Plus several different kinds of cream.
Ask DR about taking Immodium, as needed for diarrhea. After my reversal I now take 4-6 Lomotol a day. DR just gave me a shot today because I am in max dose Lomotol and Folfox of could be stronger than that. So, always talk to the doctors AND nurses. They are usually a wealth of information.
I had to be in University, so I sat on a donut pillow.
I hope he gets some relief soon.
Hugs.

[JJH]

I do not know if this will help you, but I kept notes about my 5 weeks of chemo/radiation here:
http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=54100#p429358
If I did something wrong copying the link, try searching my posts.

That link should work for almost all users. If it doesn't work they can try the link below instead:

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=54100&p=429358#p429358

[NHMike]

I do not know if this will help you, but I kept notes about my 5 weeks of chemo/radiation here viewtopic.php?t=54100#p429358

I'll certainly read through it.

[DarknessEmbraced]

I'm sorry your husband is having so much pain and hope his doctors will be able to give him something which will help!*hugs*

[BIG ROB 69]

Sorry for your troubles, butt always listen to the patient. Morphine works for me. It takes away that feeling of always having to go to the bathroom.