Pelvic Healing After Cancer
Too many patients are not referred to pelvic health following cancer treatments. Unfortunately, radiation, surgery, and chemotherapies can have a profound impact on pelvic health and sexual health. Some treatments include removal of pelvic organs including the colon, bladder, uterus, ovaries, testicles, and prostate. In addition, the pelvis may go through transitions such a early menopause.
Cancer is hard enough— navigating pelvic health during and after treatment deserves support from a professional. Here are some common complaints:
Bladder changes may occur either due to a neobladder , urostomy, prolonged catheterization, prostatectomy, or radiation to the pelvis. Common complaints are difficulty releasing a stream of urine, urgency (rushing to pee), increased frequency of peeing, pain with peeing, leakage of urine.
Vaginal Pain may occur with radiation, or early onset menopause from hysterectomies. The vaginal tissues may become dry, hypertrophied, sensitive to touch and prone to tearing. Sex play including both vulva focused and vaginal focused touch may become painful. I often see trauma from fighting and surviving invasive surgeries impacting sexual relations between partners.
Testicular and penile pain, pain with erection or difficulty with erection/ejaculation may be experienced after treatments.
Bowel changes may occur as the colon adapts to changes within the pelvis. Common complaints are slowed motility, difficulty emptying, soiling or leakage, urgency, or changes in frequency.
Here’s how physical therapy interventions support pelvic healing:
Treatments may include scar tissue management, fascial mobility with manual therapies, pain management, bladder or bowel retraining, pelvic muscle training, trauma response integration, sex-ed, movements/exercises to support whole body mobility, balance, and regulation, etc. To read more about the specific interventions I offer or on my advanced training, read here.
Mostly, I want you to know, your pelvic health is important. Healing is available to you. There are resources for you and your love ones as you navigate the hardships that often come with cancer treatments.
You are so precious and loved and you deserve to feel peace and pleasure in your pelvis.
