Anyone have Surgery success with tumor at the internal sphincter ?

I am in the same boat. 12 rounds of chemo (I have one to go) and 6 weeks of radiation every day which is over. Still quite painful but the tumor has shrunk from 6cm to 3.1cm and indicators from blood tests are good. Next is a consult with the surgeon and a colonoscopy and then see where that leads.

Cyst bath was a life saver for me, along with keeping aquafore on my skin. Could not use the aquafore in the vagina area as it caused me to get a urinary tract infection. I had my doctor prescribe me with mupirocin cream. It was a life saver as well. No tight clothes. And when you are under chemo treatment make sure if possible your urine does not touch any other parts of your body. It will burn and cause lots of pain. Wipe with wet wipes. I know it will be hard but try and drink lots of fluids and eat when ever you get hungry. I was eating every 3 hours. I lost around 15 lbs. I did not lose all my hair but every time I brushed it I would have to clean my brush out. It really got thinned out. I had thick hair. My tastebuds changed and food tasted terrible or had no taste at all. It was miserable but I got through it with lots of tears. Have your doc prescribe you with anxiety meds and pain meds. You will need both! Good luck and will be praying for all going through this dreadful cancer!

Praying you and i are cancer free!!! Such a scary time in our lives!

Yes, I thought my problem was hemorrhoids too. I saw the PA a few times, never the doctor. After nothing was working for my pain…I kept telling them I felt like I was sitting on a golf ball. And I was! The tumor was quite large and only found after I insisted they do a scope. I also had 30 rounds of radiation and chemo. I know all about the burns and pain. My treatment was completed in early December 2022. My first PET scan after Tera was in March. Cancer had shrunk a lot but was still there. I was told treatment continues to work for up to 6 months after it’s stopped. My next PET scan is in a few weeks. Hopefully it will all be gone by then.

I just finished up with chemo and radiation for anal cancer. I thought I had hemorrhoids. Surgeon went to remove them and found a cancerous tumor instead. He removed it and I started treatments! Worst time of my life. I was so sick from chemo and the burn from radiation was miserable. Bowel movements were so painful and of course I had a UTI twice. Thankfully I did not have to have a colostomy bag as it seems the muscle down there although weak is working ok! I am now just trying to get better since my treatment is done. It was two chemo treatment and 30 radiation treatments. I will have a petscan in about 2 months to confirm I am cancer free!

Your story sounds similar to mine. There is comfort in knowing that I’m not alone in my struggle. I am new to this new “normal” and am still finding what works for me. What is your diet? What meds have you tried? Any suggestions that you can make are greatly appreciated.

I had colon cancer in 2020. I didn’t have surgery. The tumor
was on the sphincter and I was treated with radiation and chemotherapy. It left the sphincter permanently damaged and I have been to many doctors trying to find relief. I was told it may be my new normal. And for the years that it has been, it is my new normal with fecal incontinence numerous bowelmovements a day, bladder irritation as well. Besides all that icky medication’s they have given me Pre/Probiotic has been really good and helping soothe that area. I am on an immune suppressant. numerous bowel movements a day,bladder, irritation as well. Besides all that icky medication’s they have given me and also found the hub. I watch my diet carefully most of the time . And walk a lot or as much as I can.

Thank you so very much!##

I will find out if all my cancer is gone in a few weeks. They have suggested that surgery may be an option for me. The sphincter is already damaged from the radiation. As a result of that I have fecal incontinence. Please tell me what the recovery process was like? I’d like to know what to expect.

Definitely get a cyst bath. Amazon has one that sits on your toilet and pumps water. I filled it with warm water and that was my haven. It is so soothing!!