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Radiation Proctitis treatment.

User
Posted 01 Jan 2025 at 20:42

I finished my treatment in September 2023 but following recent bleeding from my bottom, have been diagnosed with radiation proctitis. Anyone else had this and the treatment for it? 

User
Posted 02 Jan 2025 at 16:06

Yes.  Make sure you contact the Pelvic Radiation Disease Association.  They gave me the details of a doctor who specialised in this at a hospital about an hour's drive from my home.  My cancer hospital referred me there.

I was given a SEHCAT scan to check bile salt reabsorption and a colonoscopy.  

In the end, I opted for treatment to help control my bowel movements....I was basically bowel incontinent at that time.

 

User
Posted 02 Jan 2025 at 16:07

Whereabouts in the country are you?

User
Posted 03 Jan 2025 at 08:54

Yeah thank you for that. I’ve to have a colonoscopy too, just to confirm diagnosis and then possible laser treatment . Many thanks.

User
Posted 03 Jan 2025 at 08:54

Glasgow.

User
Posted 22 Apr 2025 at 10:13

I had EBR for PC which had spread locally (Gleeson 9). It was diagnosed in Jan '22, and I was immediately put on ADT for 2 years, with 20 doses of RT in August '22. About 9 months later I developed Radiation Proctitis, which I still have 2 years later. The severity varies but typically consists of passing small amount of blood at irregular intervals, soreness of the rectum  particularly after a bowel movement, and more recently tenesmus, i.e. a feeling that my bowel is full whether it is or not, which can make life quite difficult at times.

Medical intervention has consisted of laxatives (macrogol) which helped to soften stools, 2 courses of costocorteroid steroids anal foam  (predfoam) which were not at all effective, but they haven't come up with anything else. As things stand I can see this going on for a long time.

Does anyone else have experience of Chronic Proctitis and its treatment?

User
Posted 24 Apr 2025 at 15:06

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

...and more recently tenesmus, i.e. a feeling that my bowel is full whether it is or not, which can make life quite difficult at times.

Hi. My bowels have never returned to normal since my RT five years ago. I don't have any bleeding, just attacks of having to go with extreme urgency and very little warning. A year ago I developed tenesmus too. I had a colonoscopy before Christmas which only found inactive radiation proctitis, which explains the lack of bleeding.

What I find helps with the tenesmus is taking organic psyllium husk powder mixed in water every day. It's soluble plant fibre, also know as ispaghula, which is the active ingredient in Fybogel. I just prefer to take it without all the additives. I buy 1kg bags on Amazon and they last a long while. It's a bit like drinking wallpaper paste but you can add juice to make it more palatable of course.

all the best

Stephen

Edited by member 24 Apr 2025 at 15:08  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 01 May 2025 at 23:02

Thanks for this. Very similar to my situation. I go in for laser treatment next month. Good everything goes well for you and your condition improves.👍

User
Posted 01 May 2025 at 23:07

Thanks you . Very interesting. Hope the bleeding stays away and your symptoms soon get better. All the best.

 
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