What should I do if I have vaginal pain after pelvic cancer surgery?

Patient's question:

Five years ago, the patient underwent a complete hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Now, it has progressed to pelvic cancer. The examination revealed late-stage disease with metastasis, and surgery is no longer an option. Chemotherapy is also not feasible, so radiation therapy is the only choice. However, the patient refuses it. The patient cannot tolerate traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is considering trying it instead. The best outcome would be pain relief. So, how should the patient manage vaginal pain after pelvic cancer surgery?

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, there may be only a small amount of bloody leukorrhea. However, as infection and necrosis develop, a large amount of foul-smelling purulent bloody 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.