Pelvic Health and Cancer Rehabilitation Christchurch & Rangiora

At Active Health, two of our cancer rehabilitation physiotherapists are also experienced pelvic health physiotherapists, making them well placed to support you with these concerns alongside your wider cancer rehabilitation care.

Cancer and its treatments can affect pelvic health in a number of ways – impacting bowel, bladder and sexual function. Treatment for pelvic cancers such as gynaecological, prostate, bladder or bowel cancer can directly alter the structure and function of the pelvic organs and pelvic floor muscles. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy can affect the body as a whole, including pelvic health. Some cancer treatments can also induce early menopause in women, leading to pelvic health symptoms related to oestrogen changes.

These symptoms are more common than many people realise – and importantly, pelvic health physiotherapy can successfully treat many of them, helping to reduce their impact on your day-to-day life and wellbeing.

Common pelvic health symptoms and conditions we treat in cancer rehabilitation:

• Bladder or bowel leakage
• Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel
• Bladder or bowel urgency and/or frequency
• Overactive bladder syndrome
• Constipation
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Genital pain or pain with intercourse, tampon use or gynaecologic exams
• Vaginal stenosis (tightening/shortening of the vagina)
• Menopause-related vulvovaginal symptoms
• Pelvic pain
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pelvic floor muscle weakness or tension
• Scar tissue or adhesions – abdominal or pelvic floor/perineum