Pelvic Pain

[Raptor99]

My wife also had radiation for rectal cancer about 10yrs ago and was radiated through both hips the rectum and the vagina. She now has pain in the lower region of her vagina and it comes and goes but lately has gotten worse.

The pain varies from a very bruised feeling and at times with some pain radiating down the legs. At other times she has a sensation of feeling like she has fine cactus needles on the surface of the skin where her vaginal hair is. She can't hardly stand to have anything touching it when it gets this way.

She has checked with her doctors and was told that its probably from the radiation and that it affects people in different ways. We are at our wits end to find out how she can get some relief from this. We can't hardly travel anywhere because she can't stand to sit for any period of time. When she does sit she needs to sit on a hard care becasue a softer one pushes up on her vaginal area causing the discomfort. Any thoughts or anyone else having this problem?? We would appreciate any help we can get to get her some relief. Thank you!!!


This discussion is related to Late effects of Pelvic and Vaginal Radiation.

[katarina777]

This is an older post so I do not know if anyone will read my comment. This is also my first visit here.
I got IBC about 4 years ago, a little loner, and by now it has spread to brain, liver, lungs, (most likely), and most recently to my spine. My back really hurt and it took about a week before I was sure this was not from an injury. A combination bone/CT scan confirmed several lesions, especially in my lumbar spine.

After reading some earlier posts relating to areas that are lower than mine are, i.e.-vaginal, rectal  and bladder cancer, I find it interesting and helpful that I experience almost all of the same symptoms as the others, like weakness in legs, pelvic and around the bladder pain, etc.

This has become worse in a chronic way since I had radiation to mostly my lumber spine, and on the next day after finishing the radiation, I started chemo (ixempra).

I had been on Abraxane before and it was perfect and I felt great but it did not last and within a few weeks my tumor marker went from 350 to 1345.

Are my symptoms so similar because the radiation falls outside the area that is being treated to some extent?

I was hoping that maybe my liver would benefit from a few radiation sparks.

I also have the neuropathy, and this leads me to one serious question. I understand that high blood sugars cause neuropathy, or at least make symptoms way worse. I have had type 1 diabetes for 35 years.

Nobody at my cancer center is the least bit interested when I tell them that  chemo has made my blood sugars totally out of control, and/or cancer.

Most all staff don't even know I have diabetes and there is no point of getting help for blood sugar help as there is no understandable pattern to blood sugars often running beyond 700 in spite of extra checks, and increased insulin, and at other times I require practically no insulin at all because my blood sugars are so low.

it's a good thing I have been managing my diabetes for all these years by myself, and can be of more help to myself than anyone else, just because it's my body and I can at least check my blood sugars many times during day and night, and even then it's practically impossible. But how do others deal with cancer, cancer treatment and diabetes who hardly know anything about the subject and neither do cancer doctors?


Would someone be able to explain something to me about this crazy process and my helplessness in doing much about it? and it's not the Decadron that I am concerned about as I did not need to have it at all with the abraxane, and now only t for one pre-medication before the infusion every three weeks.

I would very much to learn more about this and also if this is very common, and possibly related to chemo, or cancer, and also the location of the cancer, or else..

Thanks, KATRIN

[mle134]

I have similar issues from brachytherapy for endometrial cancer.   I was told that some relief can be found through pelvic floor physical therapy, but the pain can be so horrible I cannot find the courage to go try it.  I do show problems with pudendal nerve latency which might be the causative factor from the radiatin damage.

I did get some help with a physical therapy technique called myofascial release, with the theory being that radiation creates scarring in the "fascia" or internal structure that holds your body "together" underneath the skin.  It did not help any of the parathesias or weakness or incontinence issues, but it did help some general pain issues.

I wish there was somewhere where a person could go to be evaluated with this specific issues and get some consensus of care!!!  Hoping your wife gets relief.