tamara's Cancer Blog
February 8, 2010
7 months post treatment
Views: 101
I was just wondering if anyone on here has experiences rectal bleeding months after treatment. I am so scared that this is coming back. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy Thursday as my docs seem very concerned. Please let me know if any of you have had a reoccurence of anal cancer or bleeding. Thanks
Thanks for your support - 
Tamara—
You did not say what type of cancer you have, what stage, and what type of treatment you received. I was treated for anal cancer with chemo/rad back in Aug. & Sept. 08. I have had follow-ups every 3 months, including scans, and at this point am NED. I will tell you that I still deal with bleeding occasionally with BM’s, especially if I become constipated. It is usually the worst first thing in the morning. If you received the same treatment that I did, you may be experiencing radiation proctitis, which is inflammation of the rectum/anal canal, brought on by the radiation damage. It is quite a common side effect and can come on soon after treatment ends or sometimes not until much later. Please be sure to talk to your doctors about this and have them check the anal canal area very thoroughly, either by anoscopy or colonoscopy, although anoscopy is probably the best way. I understand the fear you may have when this occurs—I panicked the first time it happened to me after treatment. Bleeding after this treatment does not necessarily mean the cancer has returned, so please try not to worry until you have something to worry about.
If you are an anal cancer patient, I might suggest completing your profile here to indicate that type of cancer. You will get noticed by others that way and get more feedback. We are here to help you if you will let us. Please keep us posted on how your colonoscopy goes. Take care.
Martha
Tamara,
I am with Martha…not enough info on your part. I had colon cancer twice, and do experience a little bleeding when my bowels get “flared” up as everything is liquid acid coming through me. It has been 16 months since my total colectomy and it is just now showing improvement. I am assuming you still have colon since you are having a colonoscopy…Your doc is on his game and it sounds like you are in good hands. Don’t waste your strength with worry, just live life and deal with what you have to! We will always answer what we can, just give us more info to go on.
Be blessed and know we are here for you!
Larissa
Hi Tamara,
I agree with Martha too! I am 8 months post treatment and I was stage 2. I don’t have bleeding that often but every once in a while I will get a tiny bit on the tissue. I do however still get some pain and itching. The doctors don’t seem to be concerned and told me it was radiation damage. Has your doctor done a digital rectal exam or an anoscopy recently? Please post some more information about your self and your diagnosis. We are all here to support you and help you through. Take care.
Nancy