Pelvic Floor Therapy: A Critical Tool for Many Cancer Patients

Surgery and radiation, as well as chemotherapy, are common cancer treatments. These often have side-effects such as fatigue, weakness, and other sensitive side effects that impact daily functioning and, as a result, are typically less known. For patients with a type of cancer that impacts their pelvic area such as pelvic or abdominal cancers, or those cancers that affect their endometrial, prostate, ovaries, and bladder, treatment can impact their bladder, bowel movements, and sexual functioning. That’s where pelvic floor therapy comes in.

What is the Pelvic Floor?

Both men and women have pelvic floor. If you think of your core as a canister, the diaphragm will be located at the top, and the pelvic floor is the bottom. It is basically a group of muscles that surround the anus and urethra (this is where urine is released). If you lack strength or coordination in any area, that issue will compromise your core stability, which may lead to issues. Some of these problems may include urinary and stool leakage, pain in your back, and pain in your pelvic area.

What is Pelvic Physical Therapy?

This is a treatment that you can receive to help improve function in your pelvic floor. If your type of cancer affects your core, then look for an Adelaide cancer centre that offers this service. Pelvic floor therapy targets your body’s core, with the goal to strengthen that area. Therapy and Kegel exercises—which involve contracting and holding as well as releasing the pelvic floor muscles—are among the most popular ways to treat the condition.

What Else Might Help with the Treatment?

For patients who have incontinence issues along with other urinary symptoms, it’s best to avoid certain drinks, especially those that contain alcohol and caffeine, as these may irritate the lining in the bladder. If that happens, it will only worsen the incontinence and urinary problems. What helps, though, is learning relaxation strategies, mental distraction techniques, and breathing exercises. These all contribute to a calmer nervous system, which in turn, relaxes the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles can tense up, which affects functioning, so relaxing these muscles help ease any problems with a patient’s pelvic floor.

How Do We Look for Treatment?

Consider the reputation of the facility. Look for a cancer treatment service centre near you. Many also offer services like supportive care therapies, usually in the form of support groups and counselling. Look into those options as they might provide help and assistance in how to address problems related to having cancer and how it impacts your health, sex life, and overall well-being.

How Does Supportive Care Help?

Cancer brings a lot of changes to one’s life and health. Seeking out treatment isn’t often enough. Combining treatment with the opportunity to address the emotional and mental concerns that come up improve a patient’s quality of life. Many are especially uncomfortable in bringing up issues, and having an environment where they could discuss those problems comfort them and add to their peace of mind, both critical to helping them achieve better overall health.