Why does it hurt to have sex after pelvic cancer surgery?

Patient's question:

Why does it hurt to have sex after pelvic cancer surgery? Five years ago, I had a total hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Now I have pelvic cancer, and the examination showed it was in the late stage with metastasis. Surgery was not an option, and chemotherapy couldn't be done either, so radiation therapy was recommended. The patient refused, and they can't tolerate traditional Chinese medicine. How do you think about trying traditional Chinese medicine? It would be best if it could relieve the pain.

Doctor's answer:

Symptoms of Pelvic Cancer
Uterine Bleeding: Irregular vaginal bleeding before and after menopause is a primary symptom of pelvic cancer. The bleeding is usually light to moderate in amount and rarely heavy. Pelvic cancer patients generally do not experience contact bleeding. In advanced stages, the bleeding may contain tissue resembling decaying meat.
Symptoms of Pelvic Cancer
Vaginal Discharge: Since adenocarcinoma grows within the uterine cavity, the risk of infection is lower compared to cervical cancer. Therefore, in the early stages, only a small amount of bloody leukorrhea may be present. However, as infection and necrosis develop, a large amount of foul-smelling purulent blood discharge may occur. Sometimes the discharge may contain small fragments of cancerous tissue. If the cervical cavity becomes purulent, it may cause fever, abdominal pain, and leukocytosis. The general condition of the patient also deteriorates rapidly.