hemorrhoids & anal fissures while on chemo :(

2 chemo cycles ago, the steroids they give me with my chemo in office made me constipated, which incidentally led to the first hemorrhoid I've ever had in my life. also pretty sure I have anal fissures because it feels like shards of glass every time I poop. I absolutely dread going to the bathroom now, and regularly use prep h and anusol. unfortunately, I have 1/2 a colon so I go to the bathroom more often than most people. I am so depressed because it feels like I just can't catch a break. not only am I fighting cancer and dealing with the awful side effects of chemo, but for the past few weeks going number 2 has been agony. I'm afraid one of these times when I go to the bathroom, I am just going to faint from the pain. I've never experienced anything like this in my life. has anyone else ever had this problem? does anyone have any advice? this is literally ruining my life. I almost want it to end just so I can be free of the pain and subsequent sadness this is causing me.

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  • Hi Discordia and Pauline

    How utterly miserable for you both.  Hubby had constipation and the resultant piles (and though a non cancer sufferer I have myself suffered with both).  His consultant was aware and he was prescribed laxatives to take daily to counteract the constipation (side effect of his chemo) and used a a prescribed cream (really sorry cannot remember it's name) which gave better pain relief than the over the counter pile suppositories/creams.  I also found that 'slapping on' barrier cream just prior to going to the loo helped but you may  have to check with nurse/oncologist/GP or pharmacy if its okay to take alongside any other medication (my barrier cream was normally used for baby's bottoms).  Take care ladies, Jules x

  • thank you for your response Jules! I will definitely be asking my oncologist again about this issue again when I see him next week. especially with the chemo making it harder for my body to heal, I hope there is SOMETHING, anything they can give me to help!

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