Hi MJcarer,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I'm sorry to hear of the situation with your friend - I hope you are all getting on as OK as can be.

Side effects of these treatments can vary a lot from person to person, depending on the treatment and each person's situation. We have some general information on our website about radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which may be helpful.

It will be your friend's doctor who is best placed to advise however, as they will be able to do this specifically to her. Hopefully you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have and to get the information you need to support her.

Our nurses are also available if you'd like to talk things through. If you'd like to do this, you can reach them on freephone 0808 800 4040 - Monday-Friday, 9-5.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi MJcarer

I'm nearly 3 months post treatment for anal cancer. I had the standard chemo and radiotherapy treatment. My chemo was via a picc line (some people have tablets). The chemo made me feel sick on the first round but not the second, this was due to the fact that I was given mitomycin on the first lot amd I didn't realise that I could have had anti sickness meds. The radiotherapy made my bowel movements take a long time at the beginning and gave me bad wind (cutting veg helped with the wind) as time progressed bowel movements became painful and I had radiotherapy burns in my case mainly round the tops of my legs. I would stress everyone reacts differently to treatment bit I would imagine the fact that your friend is wheelchair bound that her bottom may get uncomfortable at the least. I would make sure you keep the area well moisturised but check with her medical team what you can use as different hospitals seem to ok different things. Don't know if this is any help or not, but feel free to ask me anything, will try to help if I can. Xx