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Looking for tips on managing Radiation-induced proctitis
Looking for tips from anyone who has experienced bowel incontinence caused by radiation induced proctitis. My husband was diagnosed with radiation induced proctitis 2 years post-radiation therapy. He had a bleeding rectal ulcer that was treated with twice daily sucralfate enemas for 8 weeks. The bleeding has stopped but he still has occasional fecal incontinence.
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No the laser is what stoped the bleeding without question
,Anyone out there, who has had radiation treatments , have frequent bouts of diverticulitis?
I experienced rectal bleeding about two years after radiation for stage 4 prostate cancer. It was diagnosed as radiation proctitis by a gastroenterologist who prescribed Mesalamine suppositories. These were only marginally helpful. I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy which showed no major problems.
I’ve found by experimenting over time that I can stop the rectal bleeding by controlling diet and exercise. For me, limiting things like corn chips, spicy food, too much roughage (even certain vegetables in large quantities) has helped. But even more impactful is avoiding heavy alternating pumping of the legs, e.g. bicycling (even on a recumbent bike) or things like split-leg squats or lunges. A two-legged squat or leg press seems to be okay. Casual walking is okay. My layman’s remedy is to avoid strenuous activity that would cause friction in the rectum
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1 Reaction@firespooks, your question about diverticulitis might be worthy of a separate discussion. @sparky54 talks about ulcerative colitis in this discussion, but UC and diverticulitis aren't the same thing, although both are GI issues.
- Radiation for Prostate Cancer with Ulcerative Colitis
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-for-prostate-cancer-with-ulcerative-colitis/
Rtv: did your husband have spaceoar inserted? What type of external beam radiation machine was used? Specifically, was it a narrow margin Radiation machine of 2 mm or one that used 3 to 5 mm?
He didn't have spaceoar? I don't know which radiation he had. Other than it was external beam. Sorry, it was during covid so all our contact with the oncologist was by telephone so we may have missed some of the information.
Had two of 2 sbrt treatments,on second rectum was not clear but they did treatment saying it was up to their guidelines to proceed.Third treatment was not able to be done because again rectum was not clear although I had bm and enima short period before treatment attempt.Also having trouble keeping bladder full.Dont know how I can get these in control as when trying fill bladder I have to urinate too soon,or after enima have to have more than one movement and will then urinate also.
That's frustrating. My husband was able to keep his bladder full and bowel empty in order to keep the field clear. He followed the instructions exactly. Restorolax every evening and a full bottle of water one hour before treatment.
Thanks will try Restorolax.Oncocologist recommend enima before procedure which caused movements just before scannings and bladder to empty.Had to reschedule after 2 scannings were not clear.Wonder why I was not told about Restorlax?
Maybe different protocols for different cancer clinics. We're in Saskatchewan.