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Rectal tumor pain from chemo?
Hey everyone thanks for allowing me to join the group!
I got a question that I could use some insight on
My father was diagnosed with stage 3A rectal cancer with a large tumor right at the edge of his rectum basically on his sphincter.
He’s tolerating folfrinox ok, he’s currently on session 2/6 but the biggest issue he’s having is this constant pressure…
Like you’re holding in a crap almost clenching your rear but 24/7 based on how he describes it, it also reawakens his back pain as well
Since starting treatment this pressure has only increased.
He can’t even walk or sit when it gets bad his whole bottom is extremely sensitive when this “pressure” builds up,
The only thing that helps is ibuprofen but since he has stage 2 chronic kidney disease he really shouldn’t be using ibuprofen or any NSAID’s
Tylenol doesn’t do anything nor have any creams or other medicines our doctors have prescribed to combat this issue
What’s interesting is that he actually feels better after his chemo sessions he’s able to go to the gym, run errands, and have a semi appetite.
Most likely I’m guessing because of the steroids they’re pumping in him
He only starts to go down hill once he runs out of his oral steroids dexAMETHasone 4 mg tablet after around 3 days post chemo port treatment
Our medical team currently doesn’t want to prescribe any additional steroids though
Is there any advice or alternative anti inflammatories?
Has anyone else experienced what my father might be experiencing or have some context on what it may mean as well?
Does this swelling and inflammation mean the tumor is shrinking?
Wishing everyone here the best thoughts and prayers
And thank you for your time, sorry it’s a lot I just want to help my dad feel better
If we can get this inflammation thing figured out he’d be so much better
He has no other side effects besides fatigue currently and of course this inflammatory pain
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It sounds more like anal cancer, which is what I had. Inflammation is one of the goals of chemo and of radiation. The cancer cells don't tolerate it well and die. When I started treatment, I was told that it would be brutal, but that it would end. I wanted it treated, so I figured out ways to get thru each day. That is what he has to focus on - get thru today in order to have tomorrow. There isn't always a fix for things that we have to go thru in cancer treatment but we can get thru them anyway.
I realize cortisone is considered a steroid…I think, but would it impact him as much if in a cream? My gastroenterologist prescribed me a cortisone cream to be applied locally inside rectum with an applicator. I was having some pain, thought to be proctalgia fugax or hemorrhoids. An anoscopy was clear except for internal hemorrhoids. A small amount was quite helpful.