Pelvic, hip and thigh pain

[Quinedel]

I am 10 months post treatment for cervical cancer. I started with a radical hysterectomy and then 5 chemotherapy, 25 sessions of radiation and 2 branchytherapy. I've suddenly developed pelvic pain that radiates to my hips and lower back and even my legs. It's more like a burning pain. Did anyone experience this?

[Jimbo65]

Hi Quinedel, you have definitely had a journey regarding your treatment and you body is going to take time to recover from it all. Sadly radiation treatment can deteriorate bone. This maybe causing your joint/pelvic pain. I'm someone who has experienced your diagnosis and followed a similar treatment plan. I feel your pain. Ask to be referred to orthopaedics to first get the bones checked out. DO take pain killers so you can keep moving, very important to be as proactive as possible getting your body back to full strength with diet and exercise. Also as for advice on scar tissue if your hysterectomy scar is big you must gently massage it ever day to avoid internal scar tissue building up internally. This is now my concern as know one advised me to do this. My bowels and bladder don't work properly but I manage. Again you need to use the dilator weekly. It's important for your bowels as much as anything else. Your bowels and bladder need to heal and find a new position after your hysterectomy. It's early days for you and you need to be kind to yourself and appreciate you have a different body now. One free of cancer. But one that has been changed by the treatment. Don't put up with pain, and don't think "Well I've survived cancer, I should be grateful and just get on with it." NO you need to be fit and well to get over the treatment and your medical professionals are there to help you. Talk to them and get well. Wishing you all the best. X

[Perido]

Hi Quinedel

I had similar treatment to you in 2017, also for cervical cancer. Not experienced the pelvic pain you describe. You are still in the 'early days' post treatment; in the first instance I would contact your oncology team for advice,

[FierceFriend]

Hi Quinedel, I agree with Jimbo 65 to get an orthopedic referral. I had a similar treatment plan to yours and not long after completion of radiation I developed back pain that radiated down a leg. I thought I had sciatica, but after an MRI it was finally determined that I had a pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF), yet another side effect of pelvic radiation. I am taking a bisphosonate medication for osteoporosis and being very careful not to fall. It took a while, but the fracture healed and the pain disappeared. All of Jimbo’s advice is spot on. Best wishes to you for a resolution of your pain.

[Sarah_PRDA Partner]

Hi  Quinedel ,

I'm sorry to hear you are experiencing these symptoms.

The most important thing to do (as with all new-onset symptoms) is to report these symptoms to your oncology team, as recurrence should always be ruled out first.

Bone fractures can be caused by radiotherapy and these are known as Radiotherapy-Related Insufficiency Fractures (RRIF). They typically occur 3 months to 3 years after treatment. An MRI is the ideal way to diagnose these types of fractures and, I'm assuming, is likely part of your routine oncology follow up.

You can always refer your healthcare team to the PRD best practice pathway which also a section on bone symptoms (page 91). prda.org.uk/prd-best-practi...

(Please note the best practice pathway is based on UK healthcare and signposting)

Wishing you all the best

Sarah

(PRDA admin team)

[accidentalcarnivore]

when that happened to my brother in law it was a pelvic fracture. His bones became osteoporotic after radiation