ONCOLOGY ISSUES: My pelvic pain doesn’t go away, could this be a sign of cancer?

I received an email last week from Rose, one of my readers. This is what she had to say:

Hello doc, a year ago, I was diagnosed with large ovarian cyst on my left ovary. Thereafter, I got pregnant, unfortunately I miscarried the baby at four months. I have been suffering with endless pelvic pain since then. I have been consulting the doctors quite often for a number of internal examinations, tests and scans of my pelvis and everything has been clear so far. But still, this pain doesn’t go away. The situation has gotten worse, in fact. The pain is now during and after sex and the pain is constantly there and I feel it every time.

The last time I visited my general physician, he told me that it’s unlikely that I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and neither it’s pelvic inflammatory disease. In fact, he said, the cause is still under investigation. I’m due for another scan next week and if that comes up clear again, I’ll be referred to a gynaecologist. The fact that doctors haven’t yet found what is causing the pain, it worries me. Could this be cancer that doctors are missing?

Like Rose, I understand that every woman dreads upon that pelvic pain. The notion that pelvic pain, especially, if it lasts for quite sometime is cancer, is one of the myths probably arising from fear and lack of information. Well, every time we talk about gynaecological cancers, we see pelvic pain as one of its main symptoms. YES IT IS! However, there can be plenty of medical reasons behind pelvic pain apart from cancer.

So what causes pelvic pain?

Many different conditions such as endometriosis, chronic urinary tract infection, fibroids, chronic pelvic inflammatory diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and even psychological factors can cause chronic pelvic pain. You may have one or more of them.

All can have similar symptoms, and that often makes it hard to figure out the source of the pain. The main symptom is pain that lasts for more than six months, but there are usually other symptoms as well. Understanding your symptoms can help you and your doctor begin to pinpoint the cause or causes of your chronic pelvic pain.

Does Rose have anything to worry?

For any woman to go through pelvic pain especially after a miscarriage (like Rose did) is worrisome. It can be confusing to figure out if something might be serious with Rose but surely she does have something to worry based on the fact that she has been experiencing pelvic pain for quite some time. I urge Rose not to miss cancer screening as she is recommended.

Pelvic pain in women can sometimes mean cancer and most especially ovarian cancer. That’s why we always advise women to go through cancer screenings at least once every six months.