Care of Cancer Patients With Bowel Injury Caused by Radiation Therapy to the Pelvis

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Has undergone radical pelvic radiotherapy with curative intent to the prostate, bladder, vulva, vagina, cervix, endometrium, anus, or rectum OR para-aortic irradiation for a tumor at any of these primary sites, including the testes, \> 6 months ago * Has new-onset, troublesome gastrointestinal symptoms that developed \> 6 months after completion of pelvic radiotherapy * Does not require immediate gastroenterological assessment, as deemed by the clinical oncologist * Recruited directly from radiotherapy follow-up clinics at the Royal Marsden Hospital PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Life expectancy \> 1 year PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics