Managing the late effects of pelvic radiotherapy ... - Macmillan Cancer

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Managing the late effects of pelvic radiotherapy in women 32
Managing bowel late effects Managing bowel late effects Bleeding from the bowel Bleeding from the back passage (rectum) after radiotherapy is common, but it’s usually mild and often doesn’t need treatment. Bleeding sometimes improves gradually and can stop on its own after a few years. Women who take blood-thinning medicines, such as aspirin or warfarin, may have heavier bleeding. Bleeding may not always be a result of previous radiotherapy. It can be caused by piles (haemorrhoids) or straining on the toilet. But even if you think you know the cause, always tell your cancer doctor or specialist nurse if you have any bleeding from the back passage. It’s important to find out the cause and to rule out serious problems. Your doctor will do an examination of your back passage and may refer you to have a test to look at the inside of your rectum (an endoscopy, see page 31). Treatment If bleeding is minor and manageable, you probably won’t need any treatment. You’ll be given advice about your bowel habits to help minimise the bleeding and avoid constipation (see page 59). If the bleeding is interfering with your day-to-day life or if you have become anaemic (when your body produces fewer red blood cells than usual), you’re likely to need treatment. If you’re taking blood-thinning drugs, your dose may be reduced and monitored. Your doctor or specialist nurse will explain more about your treatment options and give you more detailed information. 33
Page 1 and 2: A practical guide to tests and trea
Page 3 and 4: Contents Contents About this bookle
Page 5 and 6: About this booklet About this bookl
Page 7 and 8: Pelvic radiotherapy Pelvic radiothe
Page 9 and 10: Pelvic radiotherapy Gullet (oesopha
Page 11 and 12: Late effects of pelvic radiotherapy
Page 13 and 14: Late effects of pelvic radiotherapy
Page 15 and 16: Bladder changes Right kidney Left k
Page 17 and 18: Bladder changes Talk to your doctor
Page 19 and 20: Managing bladder late effects Manag
Page 21 and 22: Managing bladder late effects Needi
Page 23 and 24: Managing bladder late effects Leaki
Page 25 and 26: Managing bladder late effects As yo
Page 27 and 28: Managing bladder late effects Blood
Page 29 and 30: Managing bladder late effects Diffi
Page 31 and 32: Bowel changes Bowel changes Sometim
Page 33: Bowel changes Talk to your doctor T
Page 37 and 38: Managing bowel late effects Tenesmu
Page 39 and 40: Managing the late effects of Managi
Page 41 and 42: Managing bowel late effects insolub
Page 43 and 44: Managing bowel late effects Other a
Page 45 and 46: Managing bowel late effects Greasy
Page 47 and 48: Managing bowel late effects Strengt
Page 49 and 50: Managing bowel late effects Read ou
Page 51 and 52: Managing bowel late effects 49
Page 53 and 54: Managing bowel late effects Foods t
Page 55 and 56: Managing bowel late effects Fistula
Page 57 and 58: Coping with bowel or bladder change
Page 65 and 66: Lymphoedema Lymphoedema If the lymp
Page 67 and 68: Bone changes Bone changes Most wome
Page 69 and 70: Bone changes What you can do: •
Page 71 and 72: Early menopause Hormone replacement
Page 73 and 74: Managing the late effects of pelvic
Page 75 and 76: Your sex life Treating any late eff
Page 77 and 78: Your sex life Occasionally, bleedin
Page 79 and 80: Your sex life Getting help It can b
Page 81 and 82: Managing the late effects of pelvic
Page 83 and 84: Your feelings Your feelings It’s
Page 85 and 86:
Your feelings Getting help and supp
Page 87 and 88:
Your feelings Complementary therapi
Page 89 and 90:
Work Work For most people, returnin
Page 91 and 92:
How we can help you How we can help
Page 93 and 94:
How we can help you Professional he
Page 95 and 96:
Other useful organisations Other us
Page 97 and 98:
Other useful organisations The Sexu
Page 99 and 100:
Other useful organisations Offers i
Page 101 and 102:
Further resources Useful websites A
Page 103 and 104:
Disclaimer, thanks and sources Disc
Page 105 and 106:
Can you do something to help We hop
Page 107:
Cancer is the toughest fight most o
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