CancerCompass message board discussion started by daddysgirl on 8/15/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15334,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/  Dad had 5 weeks of chemo radiation this is his first week off and his stomach is red and angry looking like it's burnt as well is that from the after effect of the radiation? K daddysgirl Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Your dad has rectal cancer? I ask because that is what I have and I just finished my radiation and chemo this past Wed. My radiation sites were one on each side of my buttocks and the other aimed just above my rear crack. I have not seen any skin changes to those exact areas but my rear crack got pretty bad a couple weeks ago and is still peeling. This past weekend I noticed a darkening and drying of the skin around front just below my pubic and have also lost most of my pubic hair in just that area above my uretha SP!?!?  sorry, I seem to have a few problems with spelling lately. I assume it's part of the chemo brain  I have read about. My radiation Onc. was actually surprised to see the peeling and iritation down my crack.. go figure, I am always the oddball. He said it is usually just at the spot of entry for the radiation. They gave me and ointment to put on it and it's getting better, mainly just peeling.This is my first posting here.. I just found this site and am looking for ideas on what to eat. I still have no appetite and bad stomach cramps. I have to force myself to eat.  Life is worth the fight Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hello  To make you perhaps feel a bit better my father had awful burns on his butt up his crack and on his stomach it pealed it burnt  oozed and almost got infected then it itched and finally healed. So yo uare not alone on that part.. his in now getting ready for surgery next weekand Dad is drinking that ensure because he doesn't really want anything and those are a quick drink and are 350 cal so it's like a meal he can just choke down.. so that keep is weight in check.. hopefully after the surgery and recover he will want food again..  hope this helpsK   daddysgirl Mon, 03 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Life is worth the fight,           Wow does this bring back memories!!!! I didn’t have too many problems with the irritation. I was given two types of ointment which kept me in line :) I would rub some on to help prevent problems instead of waiting until they occurred. It did get tough to eat though. I was given a few different powders by the naturopath that helped somewhat and if I wanted a certain food the hospital would fix it for me the next day so that helped also. They also gave me chocolate milkshakes that were very nutritious when I requested them. The best part was that the food is free for the patient and very cheap for the care giver! Now that’s incentive!! For some reason when I was having problems with eating I all of a sudden had a craving for their salmon in butter ginger sauce. I have no idea why!!! The chef even gave me the recipe so I could fix it at home. One time I got a craving for a subway seafood sub…… go figure. The rule at that time was if you wanted to eat something even if it wasn’t “good” for you by all means go for it. I even think I hit Taco Bell once or twice! :) As you may know red meat can be problems for some but I got the go ahead because of the protein. That was the secret. Protein with a capitol P!!!!!! I too had stomach cramps about one to two hours after the radiation but I believe that the powders I was taking helped greatly. The cramps usually subsided in an hour or two after they began. Even though we have never met I can say that I know EXACTLY what you are going through!! :) Nutrition is a major part of your journey and should not be taken lightly. I am here to say that there is life after rectal cancer and there is always hope!!!!!!!! God bless you on your journey. Feel free to contact me privately if you wish and if I can help in any way just let me know!! You are in my prayers. Dave Maggie Mae Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT