Pelvic Radiation treatment

[3rdNettydoon]

Previous pelvic radiotherapy risk factor for B12 deficiency20th July 2023

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have published their first ever draft guidelines for diagnosing and managing B12 deficiency:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CARE EXCELLENCE Guideline: Vitamin B12 deficiency in over 16s: diagnosis and management Draft for consultation, July 2023

We are really pleased to see that ‘previous pelvic radiotherapy’ has been is highlighted as a risk factor for developing a B12 deficiency.

We regularly hear from people, living with Pelvic Radiation Disease (PRD), who have developed a B12 deficiency. One of the symptoms of B12 deficiency reported to us most often is unexplained fatigue. It is important to remember that fatigue is not exclusive to B12 deficiency and if you do experience unexplained fatigue please do get in touch with your healthcare team. You can find a link to our symptom checklist on our resources page which you may find helpful to take with you to discuss any symptoms you are experiencing.

A list of PRD symptoms can be found on our ‘What is Pelvic Radiation Disease?‘

Just found this site: PRD. So pleased after being 'on my own' for 25+ years.

Not sure how many doctors are aware of this. Mine must not have been, even when I said my oncologist, lovely Doctor Pod, explained to me before my treatment, that I could have late effect problems.

Tell me about it!!!

Hope I've made sense here.

[Nackapan]

I didn't know that.Hope you improve soon

[wedgewood]

I hadn’t. noticed that on the list of causes for B12 deficiency.

I had pelvic radiation for cancer last year , but I was diagnosed with P.A.in 2014 . It eradicated the cancer , but I have to see my oncologist every 3 months ( in case !) Next time , I will quiz him about this .He is a very amenable chap . I suppose the radiation could damage the parietal cells which produce the Intrinsic Factor and stomach acid ?

Thanks for that information.

[Sleepybunny in reply to wedgewood]

I wondered if the radiation could affect the terminal ileum (part of gut where B12 is absorbed).

[Nackapan in reply to Sleepybunny]

My mum had radiation for ovarian cancer yesrs ago.Saved her life but damaged her bowel.

Ibs migraines ect I now believe was the start of her b12 deficiency.

On 8 weekly b12 injections as well as iron for yesrs

[3rdNettydoon in reply to Nackapan]

DidDid thethe doctdoctors knowknow aboutabout thethe radiationradiation connectionconnection?

[Ghound in reply to wedgewood]

I hope you're feeling better now, best wishes xx

[wedgewood in reply to Ghound]

Thank you so much Ghound . I am feeling very much better 👍

[3rdNettydoon in reply to wedgewood]

AlsoAlso askask aboutabout thethe linklink toto bowelbowel prproblemsprproblems. NotNot cancercancer butbut desperatedesperate diarrhoea

[wedgewood]

Yes, that could also be a possibility .

[3rdNettydoon in reply to wedgewood]

I need to read more about it.I felt a bit angry when I realised this has been known for so long. No one ever mentioned it and I had check ups for 7 years.

I am wondering now how long I've been deficient in B12. I had radiotherapy when I was 50. Was diagnosed in my 70s so could have had the deficiency for many years. I may not have gotten so many problems if they'd checked me years ago.

My reading was 74 so very low.

But, it's done and I hope this post urges many on here to ask friends n relatives, male and female, to ask for a test if they have had radiotherapy in the pelvic area.

[wedgewood in reply to 3rdNettydoon]

Yes we need all the ammunition that we can get !

[Ghound]

Hi, Sorry to hear you went through all that, best wishes xx

[3rdNettydoon]

AnyAny helphelp onon stoppistopping doubledouble typintyping???

[Lizzy86]

I have long thought this - I had radiotherapy in the pelvic area in 2005 - I now self inject once a week - I seem to remember a mention of surgery in the abdominal region was also a cause of B12d - I, like every one else, had my 10 weekly injections stopped told it was my diet! No I am not vegan and never have been. It seems they (whoever they are) are trying to criminalise us - it is so disheartening and I certainly don't have the energy to fight - now it seems we can't even get advice on where to order B12 from. Thank you for posting this - perhaps a weapon to give a bit of leverage to my doctor!

[jade_s in reply to Lizzy86]

We can still give suggestions on where to order from, if it's requested first.