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Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 10:38 am
by Marie25
DH has recently been having rectal pain which we assume is from the tumor. He is trying to manage it with meds and rest. He told the doctors and they didn't say much. Does anyone have advice on what can help manage the pain? Or know if it means anything, like is the tumor growing/spreading? His next scan isn't untill the end of November to see if the chemo helped. His first round of chemo started 8/29.

Re: Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 4:23 pm
by NHMike
Is it pain from pushing when going to the bathroom or is it just pain randomly through the day? I definitely had the former and maybe the latter. I was rather beside myself bugging the medical staff with the comment that it seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. They didn't offer any solutions to the actual problem - I think that they suggested Miralax and offered painkillers. Two to three weeks into the Chemo and Radiation it began to shrink and my concerns about the size of the tumor decreased as I felt it less. It's not nice going through it but things get better once you're into the chemo and radiation and the tumor starts to shrink.

Re: Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 7:03 pm
by Marie25
NHMike wrote:Is it pain from pushing when going to the bathroom or is it just pain randomly through the day? I definitely had the former and maybe the latter. I was rather beside myself bugging the medical staff with the comment that it seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. They didn't offer any solutions to the actual problem - I think that they suggested Miralax and offered painkillers. Two to three weeks into the Chemo and Radiation it began to shrink and my concerns about the size of the tumor decreased as I felt it less. It's not nice going through it but things get better once you're into the chemo and radiation and the tumor starts to shrink.


Thanks for the response. It is on and off throughout the day he says. I'm glad it shrunk for you and hope you continue doing good!

Re: Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:34 pm
by Rock_Robster
I also had some rectal pain/discomfort prior to starting treatment, which thankfully went away after the first 2-3 rounds of chemo. The subsequent radiation also did a number on the tumour - completely inactive on the PET before surgery. Hopefully your husband gets similar relief soon!

Re: Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:56 am
by justin case
If he already went through radiation, as the tumor is tearing away it can feel like there is glass coming out sometimes. it will subside. On the other hand some people think that enough chemo will do the trick, and try to avoid radiation. One fellow I was doing chemo with tried to avoid radiation, and by the time he decided to get it, he had to be wheeled into the Radiation facility as he could no longer walk by himself.

Re: Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2019 10:19 am
by NHMike
justin case wrote:If he already went through radiation, as the tumor is tearing away it can feel like there is glass coming out sometimes. it will subside. On the other hand some people think that enough chemo will do the trick, and try to avoid radiation. One fellow I was doing chemo with tried to avoid radiation, and by the time he decided to get it, he had to be wheeled into the Radiation facility as he could no longer walk by himself.


Radiation will kill anything.

Chemo is not 100% guaranteed to kill tumor cells or shrink the tumor.

Re: Rectal pain? From the tumor?

Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2019 11:58 am
by justin case
NHMike wrote:
justin case wrote:If he already went through radiation, as the tumor is tearing away it can feel like there is glass coming out sometimes. it will subside. On the other hand some people think that enough chemo will do the trick, and try to avoid radiation. One fellow I was doing chemo with tried to avoid radiation, and by the time he decided to get it, he had to be wheeled into the Radiation facility as he could no longer walk by himself.


Radiation will kill anything.

Chemo is not 100% guaranteed to kill tumor cells or shrink the tumor.

Being poisoned, is not at all fun. 9rounds of Folfox, 6 of them with radiation. was not fun but I've been alive for almost 8 years since that treatment . 12 more just 5 FU.