How did you feel after pelvic radiation was completed?

Posted by Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5, Jan 18, 2022

I finished up radiation (photon) for endometrial cancer last week at Mayo Clinic. I had 25 sessions of external beam radiation and 2 sessions of internal (brachytherapy) radiation. I had very few side effects during radiation other than frequent urination and occasional diarrhea. Now that I'm finished with radiation and back home I'm having the following: lots of fatigue during the day that comes and goes, pelvic aching ( 3 out of 10 on the pain scale), and urinary tract-like pain on urination (not burning, more pain).

Back to my original question. How did you feel after your pelvic radiation was done? What did you do to help yourself through it? And how long did these symptoms last (the medical staff at Mayo told me 1-2 weeks)?

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@naturegirl5

The itchy bumps seem to be spreading. It's very puzzling. Does the Paget's Disease still affect you? Yes, I read a little about that and it doesn't appear connected.

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You might want to ask about testing for Extra MAmmary PAget's Disease. It usually is itchiness in the nether regions, often has a purplish color and velvety appearance. Mine was discovered by accident.

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Hello, I finished pelvic radiation about 5weeks ago. It also included 2 session of brachy therapy. I started having lower back and hip pain about 3 weeks ago. I go back for a cat scan in a couple of weeks so hopefully I will be able to rule some things out with that. It is worrisome to have pain as a cancer patient but I am trying to keep the faith.

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@sm22

Hello, I finished pelvic radiation about 5weeks ago. It also included 2 session of brachy therapy. I started having lower back and hip pain about 3 weeks ago. I go back for a cat scan in a couple of weeks so hopefully I will be able to rule some things out with that. It is worrisome to have pain as a cancer patient but I am trying to keep the faith.

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@sm22, I'm sorry to hear about this new lower back and hip pain. Has it changed at all in the past few days?

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@colleenyoung

@sm22, I'm sorry to hear about this new lower back and hip pain. Has it changed at all in the past few days?

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It varies in degrees but is always lingering. It has been helpful to hear that other radiation patients have experienced something similar.

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Would really appreciate more thoughts from others, am on my 2nd of 3 chemo treatment today, and then to have 25 external and the 2 brachy and than to have 3 more chemo, I already have arthritis so this does not make me feel very hopefully of outcome.

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@terradean

Would really appreciate more thoughts from others, am on my 2nd of 3 chemo treatment today, and then to have 25 external and the 2 brachy and than to have 3 more chemo, I already have arthritis so this does not make me feel very hopefully of outcome.

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@terradean I had the same number of radiation treatments as your treatment plan. I did not have chemotherapy. I can tell you about my experience.

I have osteoarthritis that affects my lower back. I am often quite stiff when I get up the morning but once I move around the stiffness lessens. My stretching exercises help.

It's been 10 months since I completed radiation therapy and I have had no increase in lower back pain or anywhere else.

My radiation oncologist told me that there is a possibility of fractures in the pelvic and lower back area. I found this to be frightening, of course, but my bone density scan was good (bone density actually increased as a result of taking Fosomax and weight bearing exercise).

My advice is to be sure to bring this up with your radiation oncologist when you start radiation therapy. You will meet weekly with the radiation oncologist during radiation therapy and will be asked about any and all symptoms that could be related to the radiation so they can help you minimize any severe effects.

With what I knew before I started radiation therapy I did not hesitate to follow the treatment plan.

I hope this helps give you hope. Do you have other concerns?

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@naturegirl5

@terradean I had the same number of radiation treatments as your treatment plan. I did not have chemotherapy. I can tell you about my experience.

I have osteoarthritis that affects my lower back. I am often quite stiff when I get up the morning but once I move around the stiffness lessens. My stretching exercises help.

It's been 10 months since I completed radiation therapy and I have had no increase in lower back pain or anywhere else.

My radiation oncologist told me that there is a possibility of fractures in the pelvic and lower back area. I found this to be frightening, of course, but my bone density scan was good (bone density actually increased as a result of taking Fosomax and weight bearing exercise).

My advice is to be sure to bring this up with your radiation oncologist when you start radiation therapy. You will meet weekly with the radiation oncologist during radiation therapy and will be asked about any and all symptoms that could be related to the radiation so they can help you minimize any severe effects.

With what I knew before I started radiation therapy I did not hesitate to follow the treatment plan.

I hope this helps give you hope. Do you have other concerns?

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Thank you for your suggestions, I have an appt. with the radiation Dr. on Dec. 1st and this will help. I am very worried about my intestinal track be damaged with scar tissue and narrowing.
For years starting 15 years ago I had proctitis though was told it was ulcerative colitis to start with and had to use cannas for years till insurance company told me I should only need to use for 4 to 6 weeks. So, asked Gastroenterologist and he said try stopping and had no trouble stopping, and no troubles since. Prior to stopping trouble with dysentery off an on very loose stools and gas daily. Last colonoscopy stated it was totally gone. Hate the thought of going back words with radiation.
Will be bringing that up also, because not sure they were aware of that history of mine.

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@naturegirl5

@terradean I had the same number of radiation treatments as your treatment plan. I did not have chemotherapy. I can tell you about my experience.

I have osteoarthritis that affects my lower back. I am often quite stiff when I get up the morning but once I move around the stiffness lessens. My stretching exercises help.

It's been 10 months since I completed radiation therapy and I have had no increase in lower back pain or anywhere else.

My radiation oncologist told me that there is a possibility of fractures in the pelvic and lower back area. I found this to be frightening, of course, but my bone density scan was good (bone density actually increased as a result of taking Fosomax and weight bearing exercise).

My advice is to be sure to bring this up with your radiation oncologist when you start radiation therapy. You will meet weekly with the radiation oncologist during radiation therapy and will be asked about any and all symptoms that could be related to the radiation so they can help you minimize any severe effects.

With what I knew before I started radiation therapy I did not hesitate to follow the treatment plan.

I hope this helps give you hope. Do you have other concerns?

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I also had radiation and brachytherapy and have lower back issues. I always stretched before getting out of my bed and recently my girlfriend said her doctor told her to put a heating pad on her lower back before she gets out of the bed in the morning for 15 minutes. So I tried it my what a difference no more stiffness when I get out of bed, who would have thought something so simple could help so much.

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@terradean

Thank you for your suggestions, I have an appt. with the radiation Dr. on Dec. 1st and this will help. I am very worried about my intestinal track be damaged with scar tissue and narrowing.
For years starting 15 years ago I had proctitis though was told it was ulcerative colitis to start with and had to use cannas for years till insurance company told me I should only need to use for 4 to 6 weeks. So, asked Gastroenterologist and he said try stopping and had no trouble stopping, and no troubles since. Prior to stopping trouble with dysentery off an on very loose stools and gas daily. Last colonoscopy stated it was totally gone. Hate the thought of going back words with radiation.
Will be bringing that up also, because not sure they were aware of that history of mine.

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@terradean That is a significant history involving your intestinal tract that I would think radiation oncology will want to know. That will help the radiation oncologist figure out what is best for you and minimize side effects. It's good that your appointment is coming up so soon so that you will have the answers that you need to make your decisions about radiation.

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@jeanadair123

I also had radiation and brachytherapy and have lower back issues. I always stretched before getting out of my bed and recently my girlfriend said her doctor told her to put a heating pad on her lower back before she gets out of the bed in the morning for 15 minutes. So I tried it my what a difference no more stiffness when I get out of bed, who would have thought something so simple could help so much.

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@jeanadair123 I've never thought about doing that. It also sounds relaxing as I'm waking up in the morning. Thank you sharing that suggestion.

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