Need fix for small uncontrolled bowl movements after radiation?

Posted by Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor @dsh33782, Feb 23 7:35am

In April 2025 I had 28 days of radiation for prostate cancer which resulted in some continuing uncontrolled bowel incontinence. My doc said it would stop in a few months but it has not. As a result I continue to wear depends 24/7. This is manageable but I would like to correct this medical problem. There is a new Mayo Clinic book now available in paper and audio formats here: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/product/mayo-clinic-on-incontinence/
The book does a great job describing the causes and treatments along with references to different types of doctors who can help. I have an appointment with my gastro doc this Friday and hope to find a cure.
Don

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ededed | @ededed | Feb 25 8:25am

In reply to @brianjarvis "What is your diagnosis? For the worst diagnosis, they’ll recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy." + (show)

@brianjarvis Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped resolve the symptoms of my radiation proctitis.

ededed | @ededed | Feb 25 8:27am

In reply to @jime51 "I completed 44 radiation treatments in April, 2025. Diarrhea started during that time and lasted until..." + (show)

@jime51 I was on Sucraflate enemas for more than a year. Then I had hyperbaric oxygen therapy which resolved my issues.

ededed | @ededed | Feb 25 8:37am

The probiotic Digestive Advantage Intensive Bowel Support taken daily has helped me significantly. I also take the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri and the prebiotic FOS.
I was advised to keep a food diary to try and figure out what foods are triggers.
That was great advice.
Palm oil, and caffeine (in excess of one cup of coffee per day) are triggers for my radiation proctitis.

jime51 | @jime51 | Feb 25 9:09am

In reply to @ededed "@jime51 I was on Sucraflate enemas for more than a year. Then I had hyperbaric oxygen..." + (show)

@ededed Thanks for the information. I'm just in my second week of four, and the doctor has mentioned the possibility of continuing if symptoms don't improve. Bleeding has stopped but bowel movements are still frequent and urgent. I hate the news about caffeine, but that may be part of my issue; I drink 4-5 cups of coffee daily.

brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | Feb 25 9:17am

In reply to @ededed "@brianjarvis Hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped resolve the symptoms of my radiation proctitis." + (show)

@ededed That’s great! They’ve found that HBOT helps resolve prostate cancer treatment radiation-induced proctitis, cystitis, enteritis, (and probably other “itises” that I don’t know about).
HBOT should always be an option considered when everything else has failed.

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Feb 25 10:12am

In reply to @chippydoo "I dealt with bowel incontinence for a couple of months after radiation then it quieted down...." + (show)

@chippydoo wrote "It seems torching the rectum with radiation is the gift that keeps on giving."

Yes, very true. But I keep telling myself that the same radiation spread that caused my radiation cystitis and proctitis likely also killed any stray prostate cancer cells that were starting to spread into my bladder or rectum. A little irritation beats dealing with new tumours.

The good thing about very-precise radiation like photon is minimising the side-effects; the bad thing about very-precise radiation is minimising the serendipity (killing nearby cancer cells you didn't know about yet). There are always trade-offs.

chippydoo | @chippydoo | Feb 25 10:49am

In reply to @northoftheborder "@chippydoo wrote "It seems torching the rectum with radiation is the gift that keeps on giving."..." + (show)

@northoftheborder Truth! Can't say my proctitis was a little irritating but get what you are saying. Seems if photon could miss stuff that doesn't show up on a scan and EBRT nukes everything good or bad in the zone. A lot to be said for having a desire to live your fullest life regardless of the lemons thrown in. I bitch about some of this but also get out and live life if it isn't too bad.

briang1958 | @briang1958 | Feb 25 11:16am

This conversation is turning interesting - Proctitis huh?
I have an appointment in a few hours with a Colo-Rectal Surgeon who just did an MRI, I'll bring this up.
Should I be seeing a Proctologist? I have not had one on my team since just after the surgery.

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Feb 25 12:39pm

In reply to @chippydoo "@northoftheborder Truth! Can't say my proctitis was a little irritating but get what you are saying...." + (show)

@chippydoo wrote "I bitch about some of this but also get out and live life if it isn't too bad."

Bitching about stuff sometimes is a cancer patient's fundamental right. The rest of the world just has to deal with it. 🙂

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Feb 25 12:42pm

In reply to @briang1958 "This conversation is turning interesting - Proctitis huh? I have an appointment in a few hours..." + (show)

@briang1958 My radiation proctitis was never bad enough that I sought help — it was just confirmed during my next colonoscopy.

My radiation cystitis, on the other hand, was bad enough that I had a urology oncologist on my team for a while, until I was doing well enough that he "fired" me (after asking if it was OK) and handed off to my family doctor.