I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about

Know exactly what you want?

Show search

Notification

Error

Bleeding from the rectum

Email this conversation Print this conversation

User

Posted 27 Oct 2020 at 11:06

i was diagnosed early due to my rising PSA levels. I elected to go for radiotherapy which I had in Jan/Feb 2019. In August 2019 my bowel habits changed. For the last 3 months I have had bleeding from my rectum due to damage caused by the radiotherapy. Because of the blood loss I now have anaemia, which is being treated with iron tablets.

i did try various suppositories (over the counter and prescribed) to stop the bleeding without much success. I recently had a session of argon plasma coagulation treatment. The surgeon said it could well take 2 or 3 sessions and I might not notice any change in blood loss. This has turned out to be true. I am now awaiting a second appointment which the consultant said would be longer.

Has anybody else experienced this and what was the outcome?

User

Posted 27 Oct 2020 at 11:31

It sounds like you have radiation proctitis- in amongst the prescription meds you have already tried, have you had a hydrocortisone (steroid) rectal foam?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 27 Oct 2020 at 11:37

Hi, yes it is proctitis. Tried that solution via some specialised suppositories

User

Posted 27 Oct 2020 at 14:29

Hi , I had similar about 8 months after RT, got worse so had suppositories for a while but they made little difference and (whilst maybe I should not be so emotional ) gave me a loss of dignity doing that twice a day .

eventually saw a consultant who did laser treatment up there . I watched my insides on a 60 inch screen being zapped , didn’t feel anything until about 15 minutes and 50 zaps later when I started to feel very hot inside, the heat of the laser !,

anyway since then (now 3 years ago) I get very occasional blood when I wipe my butt, usually after too much booze and a curry !

Not sure what the laser process is called but I would ask if you can have that? It was a game changer in terms of stopping the blood, confidence and self esteem.

Edited by member 27 Oct 2020 at 14:30 | Reason: Not specified

Dream like you have forever, live like you only have today Avatar is me doing the 600 mile Camino de Santiago May 2019

User

Posted 28 Oct 2020 at 10:47

I have this too, started 5 months after RT.

It's not currently at a level which is causing problems, and I'm not incontinent or farting blood. Usually just a red smear on the toilet paper a couple of times a week, but occasionally (like this morning) there's quite a lot more. My oncologist and GP have said I can have a referral to colo-rectal when I want to. They don't regard it as mandatory because I had a bowel screening colonoscopy which was completely clear, just before being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it's most unlikely I have got bowel cancer in the time since that.

Interestingly, my oncologist said try to keep stools loose to reduce the bleeding, but I find completely the opposite applies to me - tends to only happen when I have looser stools. The other big warning he gave me, and has also written to my GP in case the GP refers me to colo-rectal, is colo-rectal must be warned not to biopsy an area of radiation proctitis unless they think it's absolutely essential, because such a biopsy can fail to heal and result in eventual perforation of the bowel.

User

Posted 28 Oct 2020 at 11:33

Many thanks for those who have responded to my story.

User

Posted 17 Nov 2020 at 11:50

I've been having this problem for the pasted couple of weeks and not sure whether it's early days to start worrying about it.

I finished my RT Feb 2020 about 6 months later I started having a mucus discharge from my rectum after I had been to the loo, about an hour afterwards.

Over the pasted couple of weeks, after I have been to the loo the mucus discharges but now contains a little blood(bright red). I have to admit that I do strain a little so that I am completely empty but I do not feel I'm over doing it. I cannot see any blood in my poo. It only occurs after I have been and in the mucus that follows.

Would be grateful for any info, if not will try my nurse.

Thanks

User

Posted 17 Nov 2020 at 13:52

The timeframe is about right for late onset radiation proctitis (although can be up to 5 years)

The mucus is produced by the rectum wall to lubricate for having a dump. It's also produced if the rectum is irritated, so it's very common when having external beam radiotherapy. My oncologist refers to it as mucus farts, but the best term I heard came from someone else's oncologist, an over abundance of rectum lube. It's taken me about 15 months for the level of rectum lube to return to normal, although mucus farts were gone by 10 months.

Don't strain when having a dump, that's bad on many counts, besides not helping with the bleeding. Don't be in a rush. Take a book in with you, or do some social media on your smartphone, to give yourself time to go. That gives the rectum time to lubricate before the dump and make it easier and less likely to tear fragile blood vessels. I suspect the mucus you pass later is the mucus your rectum produced for the dump, accompanied by the blood caused in part by straining and having the dump before the rectum self-lubricated.

Having said that, don't sit on the toilet seat excessively long either, it's not great for circulation in the legs.

Edited by member 17 Nov 2020 at 13:56 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 17 Nov 2020 at 14:36

My bowel movements have changed since SRT. I was a once a day and almost at the same time. The habit changed to my going for three days and either passing a huge amount or going twice in an hour. Lots of mucus at times. Lots of straining and blood coated motions or bright red blood on the toilet paper. I have been investigated and nothing sinister was found. Don't assume nothing is wrong get yourself checked out. Just as an added bonus my SRT had a detrimental effect on my bladder as well.

Thanks Chris

User

Posted 17 Nov 2020 at 15:35

Hi All

Thanks for the replies and telling me what it was. I don't feel like it's anything to serious, it was very little but will monitor the situation and if it doesn't improve then I shall contact my nurse and see what they suggest. Was just a little taken back by it as I was caught unawares.

Again thanks for the replies 🙂

User

Posted 18 Nov 2020 at 01:05

One thing I should have said, always tell your oncologist. Even when the symptoms perfectly match radiation proctitis, your oncologist may want you referred to colo-rectal just to make double sure there's no bowel cancer.

Edited by member 18 Nov 2020 at 09:54 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 20 Nov 2020 at 11:27

I recently had my second session of argon plasma coagulation. It took about 20 minutes. The consultant said he had sealed about two thirds of the lesions and would arrange a third (and hopefully final) session before Christmas. The blood loss has reduced but seems to accelerate if i eat something spicy. Overall it looks like we are getting towards then end of this unhappy period.

Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.