pelvic radiation, after effects

From what I've been reading in other discussion groups, it's definitely not just you. Have you talked about this with your radiation oncologist or your plain-old oncologist?

I'd already had physical therapy for my back before I got cancer, and now my therapist works with me on post-surgical stuff etc. She is encouraging me to take tai chi to help my flagging energy & general malaise. I'll let you know if it helps - once I get it together to return the tai chi instructor's call!

I'm a 27 year veteran of radiation therapy. I still have problems with tightness and discomfort, especially with sex. I have the aches and pains, not sure if it's arthritis or the radiation, but after all these years still have problems with bladder after having radiation for anal cancer.

Wow! I quess I am not alone. I was beginning to feel that way. I read so many experiences of people who never skipped a beat during and after pelvic radiation, that I was feeling kind of whiny.
I started having the tightness in my hips either during or shortly after radiation. I mean crossing my legs or putting socks on became a chore. Then in October, I started having pain in my hips and lower back. Luckily, my Doc is great and listens to me. First he wanted to make sure it was not a recurrence in the bones. I had a bone scan and then a biopsy which came back negative. But the pain just got worse whenever I moved. As long as I don't move, it does not hurt. If I walk, stand or bend over too much, I can hardly move.
My great Doc sent me for an MRI which showed edema, but was pretty much inconclusive. So he sent me to an ortho Doc. Now they are watching me for bone necrosis caused by the radiation. An x-ray showed a spot that may be starting. I go back in June for more x-rays. The ortho also says I just have radiation damage to the muscles, etc that may or may not get better.
Thank you all for posting. I was feeling very alone in all of this. I feel like I should be back to normal by now, but I am not.
Sharon

SharonEL said:

Wow! I quess I am not alone. I was beginning to feel that way. I read so many experiences of people who never skipped a beat during and after pelvic radiation, that I was feeling kind of whiny.
I started having the tightness in my hips either during or shortly after radiation. I mean crossing my legs or putting socks on became a chore. Then in October, I started having pain in my hips and lower back. Luckily, my Doc is great and listens to me. First he wanted to make sure it was not a recurrence in the bones. I had a bone scan and then a biopsy which came back negative. But the pain just got worse whenever I moved. As long as I don't move, it does not hurt. If I walk, stand or bend over too much, I can hardly move.
My great Doc sent me for an MRI which showed edema, but was pretty much inconclusive. So he sent me to an ortho Doc. Now they are watching me for bone necrosis caused by the radiation. An x-ray showed a spot that may be starting. I go back in June for more x-rays. The ortho also says I just have radiation damage to the muscles, etc that may or may not get better.
Thank you all for posting. I was feeling very alone in all of this. I feel like I should be back to normal by now, but I am not.
Sharon

pelvic pain
I am so grateful for this site; it has helped me understand that I’m not crazy.
Thank you to everyone who has posted
Bird

kellygr said:

Not crazy either
And very much thankful. I am looking for someone that had pelvic radiation and has Stomach/food issues.

Hi Kelly
Yes my brother had pelvic radiation and is suffering issues and in hospital now, food problems and weight loss. I have left a post earlier today re his problems.

Hi Blujae
I am a 20 year survivor of non hodgkins lymphoma and was radiated to the abdomen and pelvis once after diagnosis and thena again less than 2 years later on recurrance. At recurrance I had a bone marrow transplant using my own marrow and total body radiation again but less to the pelvis and abdomen due to the first exposure.

I have suffered many late effects from both the chemo and radiation and have been diagnosed with: damge to my heart from a chemo drug, early arthritis they feel from the radiation(osteo), fibromyalgia, possibly chronic fatigue syndrome, nerve neuropathy in feet and hands is being investigated but that's going to come back positive as I have constant tingling and pain in them all, chemobrain, chronic infections and the list goes one.

I never used to have any stomach issues but I have noticed more upset stomachs than not and recently they found a cyst and node on my right ovary that they are watching but so far feel is benign. I have had a kidney stone attack not long ago and while in my bladder trying to remove it the comment was that there was scar tissue in there that is what they see with radiation cases. Hmmm.

Just watch for symptoms that are new or odd to you on your way through life after cancer treatments, it depends on lots of things as to whether you will be affected by long term effects or not. What kind of chemo you had, how much radiation and where, meds you were or are on, lots of factors affect how your body will function afterwards.

Sometimes there is a high price to pay for a cure but I got to be here to watch my kids grow up so you can't argue with that. All the best. Blessings, Bluerose

Long Term effects
I was checking long term effects myself. I finished chemo Feb 2011 and finished radiaion April 2011. It is now Nov 2012. I still get tired out. I still can feel the buzzing of radiation in my outer hip thigh at times. Sensative to touch and massage.

The worst thing though to the pelvic radiation is suddenly I could not eat fresh uncooked fruit. Strawberries and apples made me very sick and stomach pains and intestinal pains. Strawberries were the worst. I thought I was dying. Salmanilla poisoning or something. It was awful. Twice so I know that is what it was. Once when eating a wrap with fresh veges and some type of lettuce. I remember that in the info packet it said that I may not be able to eat fresh fruits and veges. But I never dreamed it would begin so late and be so bad. I walk and exercise daily. In my late 50's I stiffen up. Or is it the radiation? IDK.
Both maybe. I am not as strong as I used to be. But I live life pretty normally but just have to watch fresh foods. Here I think I am eating so healthy and it makes me so ill.

I also feel aches and crampiness that feels like menstral cramps. Can't be with total hysterectomy. But my Dr said it was my intestines. So my pelvic radiation seems to have really effected my intestines and stomach. ...blujae...it takes time to get stronger from going through all that you did. Take a high potency vitamin. I take VM 75 from solgar. High in the B vitamins. Helps a lot. Also make sure you get good night sleeps. That was my problem I would stay up too late and sleep is so healing. Take plenty of calcium to fight against the effects against your bones. 1000 mg a day. Helps your sleep too. I take one at bedtime @ night and one with breakfast. Don't overdo it so you can get stronger.

I get strong and then I'm not. I go back and forth.

Radiation itself felt like it was killing me. It got so bad the Dr cancelled the last 2 treatments. I was dehydrated and the nurses were trying to keep me out of the hospital. My white blood cells were very low. Chemo nurses seem to be ready for this but the radiation Dr and nurses were clueless like I'm the only one it ever happened to. I could barely walk. I was so sick. Thank God the Dr was smart enough to stop when he did. And smart enough to send me back to the chemo nurses. I think they add extra treatments because they just don't know when to stop. I felt radiation was worse than chemo. I felt lied to because they told me radiation was a peice of cake. Both were horrible. I thank God He helps me every day. I am determined to live a normal life and I am. I have a lot to live for and am happy. Right after I started recovering I lost my 23 yr old daughter last year. 2011 was the year from hell for me. I write about it all in my book, "Joy in the Midst of Pain" by Diane Czekala But God brought me through! On Amazon.com

dczekala said:

Long Term effects
I was checking long term effects myself. I finished chemo Feb 2011 and finished radiaion April 2011. It is now Nov 2012. I still get tired out. I still can feel the buzzing of radiation in my outer hip thigh at times. Sensative to touch and massage.

The worst thing though to the pelvic radiation is suddenly I could not eat fresh uncooked fruit. Strawberries and apples made me very sick and stomach pains and intestinal pains. Strawberries were the worst. I thought I was dying. Salmanilla poisoning or something. It was awful. Twice so I know that is what it was. Once when eating a wrap with fresh veges and some type of lettuce. I remember that in the info packet it said that I may not be able to eat fresh fruits and veges. But I never dreamed it would begin so late and be so bad. I walk and exercise daily. In my late 50's I stiffen up. Or is it the radiation? IDK.
Both maybe. I am not as strong as I used to be. But I live life pretty normally but just have to watch fresh foods. Here I think I am eating so healthy and it makes me so ill.

I also feel aches and crampiness that feels like menstral cramps. Can't be with total hysterectomy. But my Dr said it was my intestines. So my pelvic radiation seems to have really effected my intestines and stomach. ...blujae...it takes time to get stronger from going through all that you did. Take a high potency vitamin. I take VM 75 from solgar. High in the B vitamins. Helps a lot. Also make sure you get good night sleeps. That was my problem I would stay up too late and sleep is so healing. Take plenty of calcium to fight against the effects against your bones. 1000 mg a day. Helps your sleep too. I take one at bedtime @ night and one with breakfast. Don't overdo it so you can get stronger.

I get strong and then I'm not. I go back and forth.

Radiation itself felt like it was killing me. It got so bad the Dr cancelled the last 2 treatments. I was dehydrated and the nurses were trying to keep me out of the hospital. My white blood cells were very low. Chemo nurses seem to be ready for this but the radiation Dr and nurses were clueless like I'm the only one it ever happened to. I could barely walk. I was so sick. Thank God the Dr was smart enough to stop when he did. And smart enough to send me back to the chemo nurses. I think they add extra treatments because they just don't know when to stop. I felt radiation was worse than chemo. I felt lied to because they told me radiation was a peice of cake. Both were horrible. I thank God He helps me every day. I am determined to live a normal life and I am. I have a lot to live for and am happy. Right after I started recovering I lost my 23 yr old daughter last year. 2011 was the year from hell for me. I write about it all in my book, "Joy in the Midst of Pain" by Diane Czekala But God brought me through! On Amazon.com

Pelvic Radiation

My gosh, I did not realize this site was here.  I have visited ACS many times, but never looked for posts on the after effects of pelvic radiation.  I see I am not alone.  

I was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in 2008 and received internal beam radiation, which really caused no problems.  However, the cancer returned in 2011 and I had 5 weeks (5 days a week) of pelvic radiation.  It was awful.  The radiologist had to stop treatment twice because my skin was cracking open and bleeding, not to mention stomach pains, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.  I guess I thought the second radiation would be like the first one, but I was wrong.  

I finished my treatment in January 2012 and I still have side effects.  I have non-stop vaginal discharge, I cannot eat certain foods (mainly roughage) unless I have a bathroom nearby.  My oncologist tells me the side effects will dissapte in two to three years.  Hope he is correct.  I have vaginal atrophy which requires the use of a vaginal dialator three times a week just to keep the vaginal canal open since apparently the radiation shortens the vagina.  

I had a total hysterectomy in the early 1980s and never expected to have any further problems, but lo and behold, I was wrong on that point.  

I try to exercise on a daily basis and live as normally as I can, but between the aches and pains and fatigue, it is really hard to push myself.  Just taking things day by day and hoping for the best.  

Cookie804 said:

Pelvic Radiation

My gosh, I did not realize this site was here.  I have visited ACS many times, but never looked for posts on the after effects of pelvic radiation.  I see I am not alone.  

I was diagnosed with vaginal cancer in 2008 and received internal beam radiation, which really caused no problems.  However, the cancer returned in 2011 and I had 5 weeks (5 days a week) of pelvic radiation.  It was awful.  The radiologist had to stop treatment twice because my skin was cracking open and bleeding, not to mention stomach pains, diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue.  I guess I thought the second radiation would be like the first one, but I was wrong.  

I finished my treatment in January 2012 and I still have side effects.  I have non-stop vaginal discharge, I cannot eat certain foods (mainly roughage) unless I have a bathroom nearby.  My oncologist tells me the side effects will dissapte in two to three years.  Hope he is correct.  I have vaginal atrophy which requires the use of a vaginal dialator three times a week just to keep the vaginal canal open since apparently the radiation shortens the vagina.  

I had a total hysterectomy in the early 1980s and never expected to have any further problems, but lo and behold, I was wrong on that point.  

I try to exercise on a daily basis and live as normally as I can, but between the aches and pains and fatigue, it is really hard to push myself.  Just taking things day by day and hoping for the best.  

radiation side effects

Cookie, I had 6 weeks of pelvic radiation, with 3rd degree burns, flesh falling off me in chunks, it was pretty bad.Got done in January. I too have had diarrhea, violent and unpredictable for two months afterwards. I thought I was going to have it for as long as the scar tissue on my bowels kept water from being absorbed out of my stool. But I was watching a TV show and they mentioned benificial bacteria in the lower intestines, the light went on. I went out and got yoghurt with two live cultures and a week later the diarrhea was cured! Hope this helps. Keep your spirits up and bless you.

Not feeling so alone

As a result of radiation for uterine cancer I have Lymphedema in my left leg... This started straight after treatment finished.. I have now been diagnosed 12 years later with lumbar Plexopathy.. Damage to the nerves in the pelvis.. I had noticed over the last two years things going wrong.. Pins and needles, numbness, walking slower and slower, difficulty walking up a slope, difficulty climbing stairs, loss of balance and tripping over..it was a very gradual change and I blamed the Lymphoedema for the syptoms... But they got worse... Fortunately no pain... I was diagnosed two weeks ago by a neurologist.. I am having more tests to confirm diagnosis... They say this is very rare and can start between 1 year and 30 years later!!! So rare they do not tell you it is a side effect!!! Till you have it..