Anyone have rectal pain after radiation? What helps?

I developed moderate pain and rectal bleeding 9 months after radiation for prostate cancer. My gastroenterologist diagnosed it as radiation proctitis during a routine colonoscopy. I've had several treatments including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. I've been warned that untreated it can develop into something much worse!

Thank you for your reply I will talk to my Doctor about the oxygen therapy sounds like a very good idea The pain In the rectum area is now gone but it took close to 6 weeksSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

Finished SBRT treatments 4 days ago. I can handle the burning when urinating. The rectum-anus pain and inflammation is VERY painful and annoying. I was given hydrocortisone suppositories, I’m doing sitz baths, ibprohen, recticare ointment, and Metamucil. Still driving me crazy. What else can I do. I did have a balloon spacer.

Hi gshep,
I completed SBRT a little less than a week ago. I have hardly any GU issues, but GI is not good. A day after treatment finished, I started having loose BMs, and now I have basically all symptoms of proctitis. I got the barrier gel, so GI issues were not on my radar at all.

I showed your post to my PCP before my treatment was to start. I said I was concerned that my care team said I didn't need a spacer.
Unfortunately, my PCP agreed with the cancer center, and wouldn't advocate for me to have a gel spacer. It wouldn't help me, I was told.
My SBRT took place from from April 9 to 21. My oncologist prepped my mind that my immediate side effects might peak on the third or fourth week after my last radiation.
I noticed some mucus and blood in my stool on the 3rd week post-SBRT, and I was concerned that it get worse on the 4th week -- during which my wife and I would be in a cruise (advanced booking July 2024, non-refundable if we cancelled in April/May 2025).
Fortunately, I was much better in week 4 and the cruise went well. I am just so thankful. But then there is still the long-term side effects years down the road that I have to watch out for; I feel optimistic about the future though.

Might not be. I had 6-7 bm’s/day for 2 weeks following IMRT.
All good after that.
Phil

Just to add, Baby Wipes are a lifesaver for inflamed anal tissue. Recommended by Sloan…

I had 8 radiation treatments they wanted me to have over 40. After the 8th treatment I developed chronic diarrhea for 2 weeks, 2 trips to the ER for saline because of dehydration and could not eat any solid food for 2 weeks. I am now on Orgovyx for 3 months so far. The RO advised me to go back to my urologist for any other advice. I’m 77 and PCa is not metastatic but outside the prostate. I’m probably too old for surgery and I have other co morbidities. I don’t hold any miracle treatments coming from the urologist so it’s probably ADT for me until they don’t work anymore. Thanks everyone all your information has been enlightening and helpful.

So sorry to hear that; so you ended your radiation tx for good? Because you can pick up where you left off after a few weeks if your SE’s dissipate.
All radiation is cumulative so you have 8 treatments ‘in the bank’ so to speak. Not saying that you won’t have the same problem but you might not. Best,
Phil

Thanks for your input I may go back. I’ll have to mull it over with my family and the oncologist. It wasn’t a pleasant experience to go through. 🙏😊