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Radiation + Chemo (Mitomycin-Fluorouracil) for anal cancer: Anyone?

Colorectal Cancer | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (26)
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@rioa21

I too had anal cancer. I had radiation and treatment with Capecitabine for 6 weeks. The chemo was in pill form. The side effects from the chemo were mild. Loss of appetite and feeling tired. The radiation wasn’t as easy to tolerate. The burns and damage to the skin were very painful. There was a week when I could hardly get dressed. One thing that helped was a bidet. My husband insisted that we have one installed. It was really a lifesaver. I also used a lot of Aquaphor cream. It is now 2 years later and I have been cancer free. I have scans every 6 months. The radiation cooked my sphincter muscle so now I have an ostomy. It’s been a year since that surgery. The ostomy has given me my life back. My next set of scans is in March. If those are good I won’t need more scans for a year. I hope this helps you in your journey.

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Replies to "I too had anal cancer. I had radiation and treatment with Capecitabine for 6 weeks. The..."
angelikab | @angelikab | Dec 17 12:58pm

Hi rioa21,
Thank you for responding to my post.

I am 1/2-way through my treatments and, so far, I have not had any harsh side effects, the kind you describe in your post. I am on the chemo pump, not pills, so I have 2 rounds of chemo, my 2nd starts on the 23rd. I have had 15 radiation treatments, with 15 more to go. When did the burns and damage to your skin begin? I have been using Aquaphor cream since the start of my treatment, as well as some lidocaine cream to help with the rectal discomfort. I realize that the effects of treatment are cumulative, and that my side effects can worsen, but I insist on remaining positive and hopeful that once my treatments stop, I will have nothing but smooth sailing from there on out! My husband and I booked a cruise to Japan and China for November 2025, and I have every intention of being on that ship, sipping wine on my balcony, enjoying the ocean breeze and feeling that all is right in my world! 🙂

Wishing you a merry and a happy!
Hugs, Angelika

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clare12351 | @clare12351 | Dec 17 7:33pm

so good to read that the ostomy gave you your life back
This helps take away the fear and reservations should that prove to be my path as well
Thank you!!!!

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