Colorectal Cancer: Post Treatment 6 Months +: Medical Care Stages II,III,IV

Tests

Tests and imaging studies such as a CT scan, an MRI test or a PET scan are usually repeated periodically.

Side Effects

After radiation treatment for colorectal cancer, the following are common side effects and complications to be aware of. Keep in mind that there is no way to predict what will happen with any particular individual.

• Abdominal pain.
• Blood counts may remain low for years.
  • Medications are available to raise red and white blood cell levels.
  • If white blood cell count is low, do what you reasonably can to avoid infection. To learn how, click here. 
• Bowel cramping and intestinal blockages can continue for a long period of time. For some people, it is permanent.
• Diarrhea. 
  • If you had the entire colon removed, there is no cure for diarrhea. Changes in diet may lessen the frequency or looseness of your stool. 
  • For everyone else, click here to learn how to cope with diarrhea. 
• Fatigue may continue for years after treatment. 
  • Fatigue generally at least continues for at least as long as the time between diagnosis and end of treatment. 
  • For tips for coping with fatigue, click here.
• Fertility may recover years after radiation, or it may never recover.
• Hair: 
  • The hair on your head will not be affected by radiation for colorectal cancer. However, with radiation treatment to the pelvis, there may be a thinning out of the hair on your lower abdomen or pubic area or you may lose hair entirely.
  • If you do lose hair, it will generally not grow back. If it does, it may be a different color or texture. 
• Incontinence is not usually a long term effect of radiation therapy. There may be some difficulty in urination, including pain and increased frequency. For practical ways to deal with incontinence, click here. 
• Neuropathy 
  • Neuropathy shows up as pain, burning, weakness or numbness in the hands or feet 
  • Neuropathy may continue for weeks or months. If you had platinum based therapy (for example, Oxaliplatin), neuropathy may continue for years. 
  • For information about neuropathy, and what to do to help cope, click here. 
• Psychological issues such as anxiety and depression may appear short term or long term. For information and tips about each issue and what to do about them, click on the link.
  • Anxiety 
  • Depression. 
  • Fear
  • For information about other emotions or feelings that may appear, and what to do about them, click here.
• "Radiation recall" may cause the treated area to become sore. If you receive chemotherapy in the future, you may experience “radiation recall” depending on the specific drug used To learn about radiation recall, click here.
• Skin change: 
  • The radiated area may continue to be sensitive for a good while. 
  • If the color and texture of your skin change, your doctor can let you know if it will revert to closer to what it was before the treatment .

Men

• Erectile function: 
  • If you experience erectile dysfunction during treatment, it may continue. Erectile dysfunction can go on for 2 – 5 years. For a small percentage of men, it may become permanent. 
  • To learn about erectile dysfunction and what can be done about it temporarily or permanently, click here. 
• Orgasms:  After radiation therapy, there may be a change in the orgasmic ejaculate sensation (how you feel when you cum).
  • The ejaculation is often described as different than that was encountered prior to the treatment.
  • There will be ejaculation of seminal fluid.  However, there will be a permanent decrease in semen volume.

Contact your cancer doctor if:

• You experience any of the above conditions and the tips provided in related documents don’t help.
• If any of the conditions are so severe that they interfere with your daily living.
• Unexpected symptoms appear. Also let your primary care doctor know about these symptoms in case they do not relate to colorectal cancer.

Also contact your cancer doctor if experience any of the symptoms listed in the section: “If These Symptoms Appear, Contact Your Doctor” 

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