Many people know some of the common side effects from cancer treatment that may include weakness, fatigue, pain, and difficulty completing daily activities. However, there also may be other less known side effects as well. For patients with pelvic, abdominal, or even breast cancer, treatment may also affect bowel, bladder, and sexual function. The good thing is that pelvic floor physical therapy can help in reducing the lesser known side effects!
There can be various reasons that cancer treatment may affect bowel and bladder function or pelvic floor function. These can include scar tissue from surgery or radiation treatment, the pelvic floor muscles tensing to protect and guard against pain, hormonal changes, or atrophy that weakens the muscles. With this, you may experience pelvic pain, constipation, or urinary incontinence.
Our pelvic floor PTs will be able to evaluate your muscle function to determine the best course of treatment. This may include manual therapy to release any areas of scar tissue or tight muscles, exercise to stretch tight muscles or strengthen those that are weak, and biofeedback treatment to improve pelvic floor coordination and strength.
Although they may be lesser-known side effects, cancer treatment can negatively affect bowel, bladder, and sexual function. However, working with a pelvic floor PT during or after cancer treatment can greatly improve bowel and bladder function and decease any problems with pain. Pelvic floor PT can be a transformative part of recovery, providing a path to regaining comfort, function, and confidence after cancer treatment. Let the experts at Apex help you on your journey to health and wellness!