Getting a cancer diagnosis can be terrifying…but it is manageable. As soon as you’re diagnosed, you may begin to benefit from these helpful tips for navigating life with anal cancer.
Gather Your Tribe, Circle the Wagons
Some people will feel the need to tell all their family and friends for support. Or you may be the private type—one who doesn’t want people to know, or have people constantly calling to ask how you’re doing, because you want to handle it on your own. Everyone is different, every cancer journey is different, and that’s okay.
Prepare Yourself, Emotionally and Physically
From the moment you find out you have cancer until you feel healthy again, do not do anything you don’t want to do…and don’t feel guilty. Miss that wedding, let the laundry pile up, say no to friends dropping by, give 3-word text answers; do whatever you need to do—or not do.
Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. Join an anal cancer support group, but be aware that a group can be a double-edged sword: you will get wonderful tips from fellow patients on how to best get through, but you will also hear the worst stories of their cancer journeys. Just remember to follow your doctor’s advice before the advice of anyone in a group because a lot of people in the groups sometimes give incorrect or irrelevant advice.
Get All Your Ducks in a Row Before Treatment
Being prepared includes getting your medical insurances in order, getting any home health nurses set up, securing rides, and ordering items you might need. Once treatments begin, you want the least amount of stress possible. Note: Ordering from Amazon but keeping the boxes and paperwork until needed will give you an opportunity to return items you may not use, if done in a timely manner.
Humor Is The Best Medicine
I found a comedy TV series and binge-watched it every day so that I had some laughter to lighten my mood. In my case, it was Golden Girls (wow, they’re racy!).
While you may be handling your diagnosis and treatment…you may be surprised to find that you develop PTSD months or even a year after treatments are over.
Rest and Reflect
Rest every single chance you get. Be aware that while you may be handling your diagnosis and treatment with grace and dignity, you may be surprised to find that you develop PTSD months or even a year after treatments are over. If you find that you start stressing afterwards about events that you would not normally find so stressful, it may be that your brain is just now able to process what you’ve been through.
In my case, when my boss would ask me to work at the last minute, it really (really!) caused me extreme anxiety and stress that was irrational. After I realized that this was my way of dealing with what I had been through, I was able to put it in perspective, but it took a little while for me to handle it.
Self-Care Is Essential
Here are my best tips for self-care while receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy:
- Make sure the area of your body that is getting radiation is very clean before you go to treatment
- Use only gentle soap, like Dove or Cetaphil
- Ask your doctors about using certain deodorants before coming to radiation
- Faithfully maintain your doctor’s suggested teeth-cleaning regimen to avoid mouth sores
- Use lotion, especially on your hands and feet, to prevent cracking. (Vaseline petroleum jelly is good on the feet at night, covered with socks.)
- Stay hydrated, even if you have to sip all day
- Flush/clean your PICC/port with diligence
- Starting on day 1 of radiation, use alcohol-free baby wipes when using the toilet. As my doctor said, “Dab, don’t wipe. Dab, dab, dab.” I personally found Honest baby wipes far superior to other brands and worth the higher price
- A sitz bath is crucial! It not only keeps your bum clean, but it is soothing as well. Note: A bidet is easy to install and was very helpful for the first month, but by week 5, even the low-volume spray was too powerful and caused pain. (It also caused gas and loose stools.)
- Use radiation burn cream suggested by your doctor and follow instructions
- By all means, follow your doctor’s orders regarding food lists! This was probably one of the best tips I learned. Some foods interfere with chemotherapy, while some foods will be bothersome during radiation. A handful of almonds? Nope. That avocado? No way. Forget the “Eat raw fruits and vegetables and lots of whole grains!” motto for now.
Care For Your Caregiver
It is scary to be around people because you need to be very mindful of getting germs, and the last thing you need is COVID, colds, etc. When you’re scheduled for chemo, be careful about having your caregiver give you rides unless you are both wearing truly protective masks. You can ask for help with other tasks: pick up some groceries, walk your dog, vacuum, throw a load of wash in, etc. Keep in mind, though, that if your caregiver gives too much, they may get burned out.
Don’t have your caregiver do things that you are still able to do, especially in the beginning, because by the end of your treatment, when you just don’t have the energy and you must rely on them, you will want your caregiver to be going full steam.
Be prepared for people to ask what they can do to help. One of the things you can ask of your friends and family is to give your caregiver a break. Have someone take your caregiver for a game of mini-golf, to get ice cream, for a ride to a lake, for a visit to a movie theater, etc.
Exercise and Get Your Electrolytes
Walk or exercise every day, if possible, even if only for a 10-minute stroll.
Make sure your bladder is full by the time you arrive for your radiation appointment. This expands the space between the organs and helps the radiation team secure clearer images. However, the team also suggested not to drink carbonated beverages in order to avoid having gas pockets show up on the images.
Drinking electrolytes helps keep your body hydrated. Pedialyte is a great option and is offered without flavoring. Electrolyte powders can be helpful and can be mixed into other drinks…but check with your doctor since some powders have a very high sodium content, which may not be the best idea for patients with high blood pressure. Gatorade is another option, but it does not have the high amount of electrolytes that Pedialyte has.
Ensure is an easy and delicious protein boost. In a blender, mix chocolate Ensure, 2 scoops of ice cream, a cup of milk, and ice cubes. Not only does this drink give you that protein boost, it provides some calories, satisfies that sweet tooth, and it’s pretty easy on the stomach!
Do Kegel or anus exercises in order to strengthen your pelvic floor and/or anus muscles. Pull muscles in, hold for 10 seconds, then relax; do this 10 times per day. When you feel that drastic urge to run to the bathroom and think you might not make it in time, use those muscles.
My Best Piece of Advice
Lastly, here is my best piece of advice, which saved my bum—and my sanity—at the very end of treatment: Ask your doctor for a prescription steroid cream called “Clobetasol Propionate Cream USP, 0.05%.” When the anus feels raw (and itchy!), just use a tiny bit, as needed, per your doctor’s instructions. It works like a miracle drug. I found that it was a little pricey but worth every cent.
Good luck on your cancer journey. We are all warriors, truly. God bless you all.
