chn's Cancer Blog
March 12, 2010
Ok—I am less than a week post-treatment but I am already noticing thing that I am concerned about.
First of all, it seems that my vagina is more sore than my anal area. I don’t get it. My skin is really itchy (almost done peeling) and my vaginal area is swollen and sore. I read about people talking about vaginal stenosis—since I haven’t even attempted sex since this whole thing began, I am wondering about that..
Also, I think that my diarrhea is starting to disappear (which is great) but I am noticing a change in my bowel movements which concerns me. They are real skinny—which I read was a symptom of anal cancer. Has anyone else noticed this post-treatment? Of course I am worried since I haven’t had any follow-up tests done yet..
My fatigue is still there but I think I tend to overdo it and exert myself too much. I do notice that after walking my dog around the neighborhood, my legs feel like I have just ran a marathon. Pretty disconcerting for me since I have been a gym rat and a jogger for the past 15 years! I am sure my stamina will return…eventually.
Anyway, if anyone can help me out with these concerns, i’d appreciate it. I thin I am doing pretty well for being 5 days post-treatment!
Thanks
March 10, 2010
I want my hair back.
I met with the doctors
spoke with the nurses
I’ve been examined
cut open
poked with needles
drained of blood
I’ve worn the gowns
lain on the tables
exposed myself
I’ve taken the meds
slept with a pump
applied the creams
I suffered with nausea
weakness
itchy skin
diarrhea
I’ve endured the burns
the peeling skin
the swollen tongue
the chemo
And now I am done.
Time to heal
to recover
to breathe
I can retrieve my life
my freedom
my sanity
It is over
I want my hair back.
chn—
Your thoughts are ones we’ve all had. It is time to reclaim your life and resume doing all the things you did before. It will happen, trust me! As for the hair, give yourself a little time and that will come back too! I wish you all the best and will keep you in my prayers.
Hugs—
Martha
Posted on Thank you for a concise record of how we all probably feel.
May I include your poem in my ebook on cancer? Please let me know. See my latest post for more info on the book.
Hugs,
Theresa
Posted on Theresa,
I would be honored for you to include my poem in your ebook.
I hope you are feeling better—your strength will return. Take one day at a time!
Oh how well I know! Hope you are doing well!
Hugs,
Eva
Posted on Chn. And your wish shall be granted! So glad you are on the road to recovery
Thanks for your support - 
Hi,
You are doing good. I had diarrhea for months and still do sometimes and I am 9 months post treatment. My anal area definately hurt more than my vagina but that still hurt too. As for your stools being skinny mine are different all the time. Sometimes they are skinny and sometimes not. You should definately ask your doctor about it. You could have scar tissue like a lot of us and that is normal. But bring your concerns up to your doctor. I wish you all the luck in your recovery and I will keep you in my prayers.
Take care
Do you have a follow up visit with your rad doc or onc doc scheduled for this week? I had my one week follow up with my rad doc yesterday. She said the vagina swelling and itching is normal for 7-14 days post rad treatment. She expects it to start feeling better in another week or so.
I never had diarrhea but had constipation instead. Don’t know that one is worse than the other, I just had to be different, I guess. My stools have been thin since the onset and are now beginning to look more normal.
It’s a good idea to address your questions to your doctors so they are aware of your situation and can help you with any further rx. My doc gave me an rx for Silvadine cream. It’s helping. I also put some aquaphor mixed with Lidocaine solution around my vagina before I pee to ease the sting. Hope these ideas help.
I’d say you’re doing great if you’re out walking your dog around the block.
Hugs,
Theresa
This is the oposite of what I experienced. I have vaginal cancer and found that my anus and rectum were more sore than my vagina which was hit with alot of rads. Although I did have tenderness and swelling. Ask your doctor if you should use a vaginal dilator to prevent stenosis and scarring of the vagina. They often recommend this, especially if you are not sexually active. It helps limit vaginal scarring and keeps it open. The oncologists usually have these in their offices to give patients. Something to think about once you feel you are healing better. The dilators really aren’t bad or painful. Mine look like plain white candle sticks, sort of.
Just a note on the skinny stools- you could just have some swelling in your rectum/bowel from the treatment that is causing it. Especially this close post-treatment. I’d put a call in to the dr. to at least let them know, and get an appt for some peace of mind.
It’s understandable that your thin stools would concern you, but this is pretty common after this type of treatment. I had this occasionally for months. As with the vaginal stenosis, anal stenosis can also be a side effect, which shrinks the area. This could be the cause of the thin stools. I would not panic about it, but as advised above, I would mention it to your docs on your next visit. I tell mine everything, even if it doesn’t seem important! Just like all the other areas that were radiated, your vagina will heal too. But since this area is internal and not open to air, it may just take a little longer to heal. I, too, use a vaginal dilator to keep things opened up and it really helps, so please ask your rad onc about this. If he can not give you one, they can be ordered on line. As for the fatigue, don’t get frustrated, as your energy will come back. You state that you are a runner. So am I and I was back to running in about 10 days after treatment. Your comeback may not happen that quickly, but stay positive and encouraged because you will soon be back to it. Your body has been through a lot in the past few weeks, so just be patient and go easy on yourself. Celebrate every little improvement! I wish you the best in your recovery—please keep us posted.
Hugs—
Martha
You have so many “surviovors” all giving you great advice. The best being talk with your doc. However, the docs don’t yet know what is normal or not normal with this treatment and we all do heal differently and at different rates. Try not to compare yourself to others as Martha suggested.
The vaginal burning is normal since you were also radiated from the front and stenosis can be a problem. Please read my blog on “how to open your vagina after radiation”
Often the tumor does not actually shrink for up to three months so this along with stenosis of the anus can make stools thin. your stools will change now and then depending on foods you injest, scarring, minerals you injest (cold minerals such as calcium might give you more diahreah) and your fatigue will wax and wane like the moon. You might be running in 10 days to find that you need back off again and stop for a long time. Your muscles might be very tight both from the radiation and from the toxic overload. you should begin simple at home detoxification. Try to pace yourself and be joyful that you are on the healing side of things and it will take time. You didn’t get your cancer in a day and you certainly will not heal in a day. Best to you as you do heal. Nova
It just takes time. You will feel a little better every day. With me everything shrunk. Get you the dialator it will help. My doctor also put me on premarin vaginal cream twice a day for awhile to help with the vaginal stenosis. Sex is still uncomfortable for me still but it is getting better. Don’t be so hard on yourself its early just take it easy and give yourself time to heal.
Big Hugs,
Eva