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After radiation side effects?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 6:33 pm
by kal74
I was dx in July with low rectal cancer and I'm finishing up my last three treatments of chemo/radiation. My xeloda dose is low (1000mg 2x day) so I'm tolerating that we'll, the radiation has been hit or miss, I'm doing IMRT and just started the cone down and my bowels are worse then ever, also a lot of burning in that area. The dr gave me a cream for the burn and I have mess for the diarrhea but I try not to take them so I don't go the other direction.
My main issue is about how long after finishing the radiation should I expect to have these bowel side effects? I'm trying to eat bland and not go out often but its generally hard and I'm hoping to go back to work soon
Thanks

Re: After radiation side effects?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 7:20 pm
by Aqx99
Unfortunately, you never know how long it will last. It all depends on your body. Radiation made me constipated. I had to take 2 doses of Miralax a day just to be able to go. I was doing that right up until my surgery.

Re: After radiation side effects?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 8:23 pm
by susie0915
I didn't have issues with diarrhea but when urinating felt like I was passing glass. The Dr gave me lidocaine to numb the area every time I went. After I finished radiation prob about 10 days to 2 weeks after I didn't have pain.
So hopefully in a week or so you will start to do better. Good Luck

Re: After radiation side effects?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 9:33 pm
by NHMike
The broken glass feeling went away one week after my last radiology treatment. My skin is still in rough shape though. I'm taking miralax a few times a week though I'm not sure that I need it.

Re: After radiation side effects?

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2017 11:37 pm
by JJH
I have read your 4 posts and I have a few comments of a general nature, but I will mention only one of them right now

1. Since you are a new member seeking informational support from people here you should really provide as much relevant information about yourself at the outset as possible so that people can tell whether or not their situation is relevant to yours.The best way to do this, in my opinion, is to create a signature containing as much relevant information as you have so far, so that this information is displayed at the bottom of each of your posts in the future. Tips on setting up a signature are contained in the link below

http://coloncancersupport.colonclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=52681&p=421597#p421597

The reason this is important is that if you don't have a signature and you are asking for information, then you run the risk of getting irrelevant information from members who misunderstand what your situation is.

For example, if you don't disclose whether you are male or female, then .you might get irrelevant, unhelpful comments about the uro-genital radiation side effects of the other sex. This is just one example.

Another example is your planned schedule for upcoming interventions. You haven't said whether or not a surgery is definitely planned for removal of your T2 tumor, but you have said that you have had discussions with several surgeons. If you are planning to have surgery, what type of surgery will it be and when is it planned for? Are you planning to go back to work for just a couple of weeks before surgery? What about working after surgery, which is a rather different question?

Re: After radiation side effects?

Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 3:21 am
by ocstacy
The broken glass feeling went away one week after my last radiology treatment.

My mom refers it to "ice pick" feeling.. "knife feeling", "burning".. she has to take hydrocodone with coating to feel better.
I would say she tolderated the Xeloda and radiation very good up until her last week of radiation. It really put her in a lot of pain down there. Not sure if it's cause it is still shrinking it but she also ended up getting a bigger rash on her ankles after she ended.

She is doing okay and will have surgery next week. prayers.. xoxo :idea: