Hi, please get checked out. I was ill with stress which aggravated my IBS. Then I had a rectal haemorrhage and tried haemorrhoid cream. Long story short. Rectal exam alerted the GP she listed me for urgent colonoscopy, 8 biopsies later, I had to have a stoma as a large tumour blocked my anus. I’ve had chemotherapy and radiotherapy now awaiting results whilst recovering from treatment- if I’d gone sooner they may have found it when is was small enough to remove. I thought it was my IBS so don’t know how long or which was symptoms but if in doubt go get it properly checked out. Trust me I was embarrassed and terrified of having my bum probed but the simple truth is health& life is more important than a few seconds embarrassing discomfort! 
good luck.

I couldnt agree more. Fortunately I found my anal growth when it was less than 3cm and surgeon managed to remove most of it.  I'm now about to undergo 28 sessions of chemo and radio therapy which hopefully should kill off the remainder.

Mine was too large, inoperable they said, but I had 30 sessions of chemoradiation, which caused me a lot more damage than I expected and I’ve just had my post treatment scans. Waiting now for resu and whether I need surgery and if that’s the case if I can then have my stoma reversed, trying to stay grateful and positive and not worry about the unknown, but it’s not always as easily done as . Good luck with your chemoradiation think positively that any remaining cells be zapped

I'm in the middle of 28 sessions of chemoradiotherapy and suffering from what feel like third degree burns!   The creams I have been given don't seem to help much.   Has anyone got any tips to cope with the discomfort and pain? 

I spent a lot of time laid in bed so that I could be naked, clothes can make it worse. I also took daily salt baths and still do (Dead Sea salt). During treatment I used integra honeymed cream morning and night and during the day I used drapoline after ever visit to the loo. After treatment they will give you a cream to use (flamazine) which has silver sulphadiazine to treat the burns and I used that for 5 weeks after and have now gone back to honeymed and drapoline which is important for healing but I also take regular pain meds and oramorph to assist with the pain and soreness. I hope this helps but please ask if there is anything else. I’m female, it’s very different for men due to clear differences in anatomy, but both will require regular pain meds for sure.

Dear Lambow and thanks for your post

I'm sorry your skin has become so sore with your radiotherapy treatment. 

The general advice is to use moisturiser applying it gently as long as the skin isn't broken, but if an area of skin breaks down to stop moisturising in that particular area and get some advice about which sort of dressing to use to cover the raw area of skin.

You need to let the radiotherapy team know that the creams you've been given are not working and see what their advice is.

A couple of years ago the Society of Radiographers updated their guidelines for patients and professionals about skin care during radiotherapy so I think these are the best place to look for online advice. You can download and read their patient leaflet.

I presume you are coming to the end of your radiotherapy treatment. I'm sure you know, it can take a few weeks after stopping radiotherapy for the skin to start to settle down. I hope this happens soon. 

Please give us a call if you want to talk anything over. Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are here weekdays 9-5. 

Best wishes,

Celene

Dear Lambow and thanks for your post

I'm sorry your skin has become so sore with your radiotherapy treatment. 

The general advice is to use moisturiser applying it gently as long as the skin isn't broken, but if an area of skin breaks down to stop moisturising in that particular area and get some advice about which sort of dressing to use to cover the raw area of skin.

You need to let the radiotherapy team know that the creams you've been given are not working and see what their advice is.

A couple of years ago the Society of Radiographers updated their guidelines for patients and professionals about skin care during radiotherapy so I think these are the best place to look for online advice. You can download and read their patient leaflet.

I presume you are coming to the end of your radiotherapy treatment. I'm sure you know, it can take a few weeks after stopping radiotherapy for the skin to start to settle down. I hope this happens soon. 

Please give us a call if you want to talk anything over. Our number is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are here weekdays 9-5. 

Best wishes,

Celene