I'm suspecting...

During the last couple of years, I had more and more frequent episodes of pain when having a bowel movement, I thought it was hemorrhoids, but that might be the consequence...

I had to take progressively more and more macrogol, and now I'm fasting because going to the toilet it's too painful.

What I'm feeling is like my butt is super tight, my stools are thinner and I feel like they have less space to pass, even with macrogol they hurt (I never got hemorrhoids removed so I exclude any complication from operations).

Even if I don't have hemorrhoids flare ups the sensation is like my butt is super tight, like something is always about to break when stools are passing, the pain is not localized in one point, is everywhere. Anti inflammatory suppositories do nothing, as well as bioflavonoids, the situation looks stable and it's been progressively worse..

Like a year ago I had episodes of pain and then they went away for a while, progressively with time I was more and more time in pain and less and less time I had pauses. Now it's so tight that at every single passage something breaks or irritates and it never really has the capacity to heal. It could be on the front, on the back, on the right, on the left, it's not localized.

Also sometimes I have a lot of gas which cannot get out and lately some abdominal pain and even nausea when I take the macrogol (max 2 times a day).

I also had a polyp which was removed 2/3 years ago.

I've a scheduled appointment with my proctologist again in September.

My husband just had his LAR surgery a few days ago. He keeps getting a lot of bloating in his abdomen causing discomfort and pain. Any suggestions beyond heating pads, walking, and pain meds?

Edit for more details: he has an ileostomy and output is strong so doesn’t seem to be a blockage.

Today was my last day of radiation/ oral Xeloda !! I never thought this they would come and with the grace of God I am done now onto the next part of my treatment .

I’ve read that having APR surgery can affect sexual functioning. Females who’ve had this surgery, has this been your experience?

Hi everyone,

My mom is 8 weeks post-LAR for Stage I rectal cancer (upper rectum/rectosigmoid, no stoma). Overall she’s doing well, but she still has moderate occasional pain in her lower left abdomen/pelvis and across her lower back since surgery, where we assume her anastomosis is. She sometimes experience clustering (LARS) but otherwise feels normal, and her urine output is fine.

I’m wondering if this kind of pain is still part of normal healing, or if it might be a good idea to follow up with her surgeon. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Is there anyone who, after chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc., developed a liver lesion that eventually was not a metastasis? My dad developed one with SUVmax 7.2 on PET/CT… I’m close to losing my mind..

I have stage 3 rectal cancer, and I had my flex sig procedure today. Before the procedure, the surgeon was very optimistic about putting me on watch and wait, based on my MRIs and bloodwork. I responded really well to chemotherapy and chemo radiation.

Then he inserted the scope, and almost immediately two little bumps appeared on the screen. I said, “That’s not good.” He confirmed it was cancer and that I would need APR surgery.

I was devastated. For months, all my doctors had been leaning towards no surgery. Heck, they didn’t even schedule a surgery date as a placeholder! But now I will be having surgery in three weeks, which will leave me with a permanent colostomy bag. I can’t believe those tumor bumps were not seen on the MRIs.

If you’ve had this surgery…

What was your pain like?

How bad was the recovery?

What things were helpful for you?

Update 8/19/25: my oncologist is concerned. He wants more imaging, and he wants me to get in touch with my colorectal surgeon.

Background: dx at 49YO with 3B rectal cancer in 2021. Radiation and FOLFOX in 2022. Had APR (removal of rectum and anus) with permanent colostomy in September 2022. Have been NED since. Guardant 360 is clear. CTs since then have been unremarkable.

Received my CT report earlier this evening. While no metastasis shown, there is an area of concern near my anal region - "non-specific area of nodular measuring 3.2 x 1.8 cm. Could be postsurgical in nature. Recommend follow up."

I shot a message via MyChart to my oncologist to ask if I should be concerned and questioning the post-surgical comment seeing as how there has been no mention of anything in this area per my 2022, 2023, and 2024 CTs.

Anyone else experience something like this?

Hi everyone, Has anyone here who was diagnosed with rectal cancer stage 3 or 4 experienced swollen lymph nodes in the groin area or lower back? I’m scheduled for a colonoscopy this Thursday and I’m really worried that it might already be stage 4. Thank you for any answers or experiences you can share.

Hi all,

My dad has been diagnosed with rectal cancer.

It started on 4th august, when he identified blood in stool. Went to doctor on 6th. Doctor was not able to do a proctoscopy, assuming it to be piles, he ordered a colonoscopy followed by surgery for the 7th. On 7th , tumour was visible in colonoscopy.

He sent a sample for biopsy and informed me, stating that it is most probably a malignant tumour. Since then it is continous bad news.

Next day on 8th was MRI, Dr says looks like stage 2 rectal cancer.

On 10th we have a PET scan, results on 11th show metastasis to liver. Stage 4 it is!

Met with an oncologist on 12th. Chemoport insertion completed on the same day.

We are supposed to start chemo with folfirinox tomorrow 18th, due to holidays.

But my dad has been having slight fever on/off. Doctor says will check for hematoma due to surgery.

This could delay treatment further.

I am losing my mind. My whole family is getting anxious.

How did you all handle this?

Hello! I’m meeting with my surgeon at Mayo Clinic on Monday. I’m figuring he is going to recommend APR surgery since it is the safest, surest option. However, I am really nervous about the surgery and the colostomy bag and am wondering if there are any alternatives that I can discuss with him.

For background, I had a large, low rectal tumor with sphincter involvement. After chemotherapy, my MRI showed a near complete response. My next MRI after radiation showed that there might be a small spot of active cancer remaining, but they aren’t sure whether it’s inflammation or actually cancer. My CEA is 1.6. All of my lymph nodes are no longer suspicious. No mets. Originally was stage 3.

I will have the flex sig procedure on Monday.

I wanted to share, this is an open trial.

The Impact of Preoperative Exercise and Nutritional Optimization for Patients Undergoing Treatment for Rectal Cancer: The PROPEL Trial | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute https://share.google/Z6mcllFSuDH4wivZ1

Has anyone heard of or participated in the Clinical Trial for SafeHeal? It is for a medical device used for patients that need LAR surgery as an alternative to diverting ostomy, designed to eliminate the need for a temporary stoma in most patients. I am interested in learning more and curious if others have heard of it or participated. 44/f , stage 3 low rectal , diagnosed July 2024. Completed radiation and chemo (Capox - oxail + capecitbine/xeloda) Unfortunately, although the tumor shrank, I did not have a complete response so will likely have to do LAR , awaiting next steps from my surgeon

Did anyone experienced symptoms like daily blood in stool or cramps or was your diagnosis from a routine colonoscopy

Just here to say it’s been such a rough week; second round of chemo, and so many obstacles. Pain management for tumor area nerve pain, and an old injury being exacerbated by treatment have made pain a near constant, and the opioids are complicating matters with chronic constipation no matter what laxatives, stool softeners I’m prescribed at any amounts. I’m working with palliative care but perhaps haven’t been a strong enough advocate that this pain management protocol is breaking me down and not working. I feel so defeated and don’t know how to handle it lately. I (35F) have six more rounds of chemo for Stage 3C rectal cancer after having completed 6 weeks of daily chemoradiation, and I feel nearly panicked at the thought of this for the next 3 months, before more scans and surgery. Someone tell me it gets better. I feel so broken.

D

Well, after re-staging, I'm now officially on Non-Operative Management/Watch and Wait. It's been a wild ride for the last 10 months after being diagnosed T3N0M0 on Sept 30th 2024. The local Tumor Board unanimously agreed that after completing TNT, surgery wasn't necessary and I was a strong candidate for WaW.

MRI showed cCR. Flex Sig showed that scar tissue shouldn't cause an issue moving forward and the biopsy taken no longer detected cancer cells. The plan is now for monthly office visits/blood work with Oncology, CT Scan/Flex Sig every 4 months and an MRI every 6 months, for 2 years.

If you're just starting this journey or are mid-journey, stay positive and keep fighting, as tough as the treatments can be (I'm looking at you, Oxaliplatin), this shit works!!

Is there any activity that can help with my neuropathy symptoms from the chemo and radiation this round of chemo plus the radiation is making me more miserable than just doing chemo alone

Getting my reversal done on Friday morning and my surgeon said that it's a day surgery up in Canada.

I always thought you had to stay there for a few days. Hoping everything goes smooth.

Hi all! my mom has T3N0M0 lower rectal cancer. she’s currently on round 2/6 of folfirinox. she’s tolerating it extremely well given the circumstances. next up is oral chemo + radiation. she has a zinc desitin cream, aquaphor, lidocaine cream. what else helped you when getting radiation?? she’s wondering about a portable bidet. please give your recommendations !!

i’m visiting her from across the country so we want to get stuff figured out in advanced so she has it in case it’s needed before i have to go back home.

My mom was diagnosed with Stage 1 rectal cancer last month and is currently 5 weeks post-LAR operation. She didn't require an ileostomy and is currently recovering well at home.

Initial biopsy (from colonoscopy) showed Intramucosal carcinoma with Signet Ring Cell features.

Final pathology after LAR revealed Stage 1 (T1N0) moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma. No LVI/PNI, no tumor deposits, no tumor perforation, low tumor budding score, and 13 lymph nodes all clear. MMR IHC testing showed the tumor is MSS (pMMR).

Her oncologist is recommending 6 months of oral Capecitabine based solely on the signet ring cell finding in the initial biopsy. We understand that adjuvant chemo is typically not recommended for Stage 1 according to NCCN guidelines but her oncologist doesn't want to take any chances with the SRC findings.

Just wondering if there are others here who also underwent adjuvant chemo despite being Stage 1 or low-risk Stage 2, where it’s not typically recommended per NCCN guidelines.