By: Carrie Yaeger, PT, DPT, PRPC
Life after ovarian cancer may come with mixed emotions. Relief from beating cancer. Fear of recurrence. Worry and uncertainty about the symptoms you are now experiencing. Navigating life after cancer isn’t always straightforward. Familiar spaces can feel unfamiliar, including your own body.
Pelvic floor therapy can help you thrive after surviving ovarian cancer. There are many unknowns, and adding another provider to your list can feel daunting. However, having a strong team of providers is important, and pelvic floor therapists are on your team to support you.
Learn more about Pelvic Health Rehabilitation in Ovarian Cancer: How Physical Therapy Can Help with Treatment on the Spooner blog.
Being proactive and seeking out pelvic floor therapy after ovarian cancer can equip you to understand what is to be expected after treatment and what needs to be addressed further. Specifically, pelvic floor therapy can help you with any tissue changes you may experience post-treatment, the function of your pelvic floor post-surgery, and the return to safe activity.
- If you underwent radiation or chemotherapy with your ovarian cancer treatment, you may have experienced some tissue changes. General radiation can cause increased tissue density and tightness. Chemo can cause secondary vaginal dryness and irritation. Alongside this, your hormones have most likely been impacted by any treatment that you have received. Your hormones are linked to your mood, sleep, nutrition, mobility and overall function.
Pelvic floor therapy can help assess any tissue changes that have occurred and how that may be impacting overall functionality. This can range from mobility to bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Pelvic floor therapists can also offer suggestions on diet, lifestyle modification, or other topical or alternative treatments to help you in survivorship.
- 2) Navigating the function of your pelvic floor post-gynecologic surgeries:
- Swelling and adhesions are often the greatest concern following surgery. These can affect mobility, strength, and other daily activities. Any changes that occur in the abdominopelvic region can affect bowel, bladder, and sexual function, as well as overall stability and mobility.
Therapy can help you navigate these changes, address tissue dysfunction, and provide safe activities to help you stay active and healthy without impacting the integrity of your surgery.
- 3) Returning to safe activity:
- Often, little information is provided after surgery. So, we are here to help you navigate any questions you might have regarding the changes that are occurring in your body and how to safely return to activity.
A common side effect of any cancer related treatment is fatigue. We are on your team to help you progressively get back to safe exercise and movement, which ultimately helps improve mood, depression, sleep and quality of life.
If you have had ovarian cancer, having a Spooner pelvic health therapist on your team can help you thrive after treatment. Schedule an appointment today!