I was treated with chemotherapy (taxol and carboplatin 1 infusion per week x 4 mos) and radiation & chemotherapy (cisplatin + 35 external and 5 internal) for vaginal cancer that was originally thought to be unknown primary. Dx. was September of 2006 and after many, many checks, no cancer has ever been found elsewhere. I had a 4cm tumor in my middle right vaginal wall - it also looked like one lymph node in the inguinal chain was involved. No one would stage the cancer, however, when I pushed my oncologist, she said "well, I suppose we would have to call it stage III b/c of the lymph node involvement".
My last treatment was radiation in April. At the end of the treatment plan I was declared cancer-free. The tumor has completely resolved. I am in active remission. I have had checkups every three months (so far a total of 2, one in June and one in September). The pap smears and biopsies obtained from the tumor site are clear. I am scheduled for my next follow up in January. So far, only one CAT scan has been performed, about three weeks after treatment stopped in April although there were many imaging studies taken before treatment began as well as other diagnostic tests, colonoscopy, GI studies, LEEP, etc.
BUT, here's the problem. I have fairly constant pain in my thighs, buttocks, and abdomen (this is the area that was treated with radiation). This pain is often around a level 5 of 10. It is pain that seems to be muscular or pain in tissue. I also have fibromyalgia and it is like that type of pain. Sometimes, for a day or two, it improves but generally it is bothering me most of the time. I asked the radiation oncologist and he says that "it wasn't him". I talked with the gyn oncologist and she says that "it wasn't her". Which I guess rules out the chemo and radiation although I think that is what is causing it - one or the other. Or perhaps these treatments simply have aggravated and worsened the fibro.
Does anyone have any similar experience or is there a doctor or nurse out there who can recommend what to do?
Thanks...hoping to hear from someone!