Hi!
12 weeks post treatment for stage 3c1.Had anyone else suffered with hip and lower back ache and general ‘ twinges ‘ in the pelvic region? Have also developed sciatica and my oncologist didn’t seem concerned , in fact was quite blasé with a short email answer saying my upcoming Scan should help reassure as I was paranoid about these symptoms . Fast forward two weeks and am still anxious so I emailed my nurse and she said she would chase the scan. No mention of if these symptoms are normal or any kind of reassurance whatsover. So this is why I’m here . If this is normal and all part of the healing process it would make me feel a bit better and alleviate my anxiety. I’ve had no other issues and any symptoms I had before have all gone , was also told before my brachytherapy that the tumour had shrunk and lymph nodes looked normal which is what I needed to hear at the time but you can’t help but be paranoid when the aftercare is non existent and you’re just expected to live your life as normal al after treatment .
Hi Delliea
I suffered from hip and back pain before my diagnosis, and ever since, and have had sciatica in the past.
When I was diagnosed originally, my consultant causally mentioned there was an anomaly discovered on my right hip in the mri scan, but he didn’t know what it was. This really scared me, but I chose to get on with treatment and put this on the back burner.
My hip pain did not improve after treatment, and the anomaly on the scan was still present. By then I was aware that pelvic radiotherapy can cause tiny “insufficiency fractures” in the bones in that area, so I asked him if he thought this could be the reason, but he said it wasn’t. I wish I had asked for further investigations at the time instead of being dismissed.
It took me 6 years after this of being in pain to go to my gp for help and it was then discovered from my notes that osteoarthritis had been identified on a subsequent scan, but no-one had told me. He ordered multiple X-rays and those showed a significant deterioration, and showed this was now in both hips, my knees and lower back. I wish had had spoken up at the time of my diagnosis and asked for more testing at that point. I now find myself unable to have the hip replacement I need because of other factors which have made it too dangerous for me. (Chemo had provoked a pulmonary embolism, I developed chronic kidney disease and diabetes after my pelvic exenteration surgery, and had a stroke).
If I’d pushed for testing I could have had a hip replacement some years ago, and not now be registered disabled and requiring a wheelchair to leave the house. If I were you, I’d recommend you push for an explanation for your hip and back pain if nothing shows up on your post treatment scan. It’s hard not to be paranoid after what we go through with treatment, and surgery in my case, and although I was probably just very unlucky I was very glad at least to be told the reason for my pain, and had confirmation that it wasn’t bone metastases. I have no pain in my pelvic area even after my extensive surgery, and no other issues caused by my cancer or my recurrence. Just keep speaking up about your issues.
Sarah xx
