Hello everyone!! Somewhat new here in regards to posting, but I have been reading the board for a few months, knowing what was to come (and it has been very helpful!!). My mother has rectal cancer and will be starting chemo and radiation on Tuesday for 5/6 weeks (pre-op). Im trying to understand the side-effects, what she will or will not be capable of and if there is any insight as to what I can do to help her? I know its an open-ended question, but any advice would be helpful.....Im very much in the dark as to how she will feel and how she will be able to cope (she lives alone) over the next month or so.... I have listened to all the doctors but I wanted to ask those who have been through the same experience. Thank you for your guidance and I wish everyone a happy holiday!

Hello,

I am sorry to hear of your mom's diagnosis. I did 5 and a half weeks of 5FU/radiation in Sept/Oct. At first I felt OK, but eventually the radiation (and chemo) do cause fatigue. I needed to take it easy and nap daily. Some days I did not drive myself, and some days I did. Toward the end, the bum pain and diarrhea got very bad. I used Aquaphor, sitz baths, and some prescription hydrocortisone cream on a regular basis...even had a half a percocet on occasion to dull the pain. Once she is done the treatment it will take about 2 weeks to feel back to her old self.

Also, don't be surprised if she needs to take a break from treatment. I had to stop the 5FU for a week and a half due to low red counts (had a blood transfusion as well.)

Overall, I would just try to be there for her emotionally (the first day walking in an infusion room can be very overwhelming), and to help her do some household chores (laundry, vac******, etc.)

Hope that helps some. Good luck and God Bless,

Thank you for the tips and I wish you a happy holiday!!!!

I'm just off chemo/radiation. Your Mom will feel fatigue lilke none before. Thinking of turning the dishwasher on will tire her out let alone loadin the darn thing. But let her sleep..... I never drove I had cancer volunteer drivers for the whole threatment 5 weeks. ..... be ready in adannce with creams for the burned areas and trya
and keep them soft and a product called accucel was a lifesafter for me.Sitz baths are also important but I did mine in the bathtub warm water one box of baking soad and 20minutes of reading all helped to keep bummper from fall ing off ...

For me urinating wwas hell, as my skins was so swollen and raw. The diareha was handled well by my colosotomy, but that too is a side effect. A side effect he didn't wanr me about was radiation colitis, and I had it. Painful but soon heals when radiaion is stopped. My onoologiist stopped my radiation adn it was sapping my strength and creating great pains. Surprisingly - once radiation was stopped gettint better commenced and increased daily. Swift recovery. but fatgue hangs around a while.

My family helped me a lot while trying to let me be independent. I could have used a little more 'attending' but I didn't say so. I found it hard to make meals and found it hard to eat and drink, so I kept trying to pop hi cal stuff into me but it was a real effort.

Not sure this is what you wanted but I hope it helps.

That's exactly the advice I wanted to read...My mother broke her arm in November, through all the tests and doctor's appointments, I've been the driver and caregiver in general. From your experience, it seems that I will be keeping it up for another month or so. I will ask the radiation doctor about the cream on Tuesday, too. Thank you and I hope you are feeling stronger.