Hi all, did you see the news recently about the Interlace trial which is using already existing treatment with a diffferent delivery pattern which achieves a 35% higher success rate for cervical cancer.
You have an induction course of 6 weeks of chemotherapy (carbo/taxel) then straight into chemo(cisplatin)/radio for 5 weeks. This was my regime then 2 weeks of brachytherapy.
I do remember my consultant saying there was new research and because of it, I would be having the maximum treatment they can give. My stage was 2B.
Is this the usual treatment plan that everyone has? I feel so lucky that on my last MRI, just after radio/chemo finished, the consultant and radiographer could not see any trace of the tumor. I’m wondering if it could be partly contributed to the induction chemo?
When I was diagnosed in 2018, I was offered the Interlace trial and didn’t take it. I really wish I had, but my consultant didn’t explain it to me-just handed me a leaflet and I felt I didn’t know enough about the potential benefits to go ahead, so I decided to go straight to chemoradiation.
The results of the trial have been very good, and I’m seeing it coming through as standard treatment now which is great! I had a recurrence 9 months after treatment ended, but I was also unable to have brachytherapy so I think that no induction chemo and no brachytherapy proved to be an unfortunate double whammy for me.
I wish induction chemo had been the standard treatment for stage 2b when I had my diagnosis, as things might have turned out better for me, but I try not to spend too much time looking backwards.
Sarah xx
Oh Sarah, that’s so unfortunate, I’m sorry to hear about that. There is a certain amount of luck and being in the right place at the right time with many things in life, it seems. It must have been a very difficult time to go through having a reoccurrence so soon after the first.
I agree, we must look forward, looking back is not good for us although it’s difficult not to sometimes.
Thank you for your reply, it gives me more information to work out the treatment that I had.
Tanya x
Hello!
This is the treatment that I am having. I am diagnosed with stage 2B also.
My first treatment was today (well Friday), it was fine and at the time I had no reactions and was feeling as normal as can be afterwards.
This seems to be the standard treatment at my Hospital trust.
Although now I am wide awake as the nausea has kicked in, anti sickness meds just taken so hoping it will ease so I can get some rest :/
Hi Moomoo31 and welcome to our group.
It can be helpful to take the anti sickness meds as prescribed even if you don’t feel nauseous as it’s easier to prevent sickness than try to deal with it once it’s started.
I found the steroids kept me awake rather than feeling nauseous, so if you’re taking them it might affect your sleep too.
I hope your treatment goes smoothly for you, but please feel free to ask any questions as you go along and I’m sure there will be help and support from others.
Sarah xx
Hi Moomoo, so good to hear it’s standard practice now and good to hear it’s what you are on. It’s a tough regime if you’re having 5 weeks of radiotherapy with weekly cisplatin after the initial 6 weeks of chemo. I decided not to take the steroids and my consultant was supportive of that but the odd occasion I needed something more to help me through, I took a quarter of the dose but on the day of chemo I had the usual high dose of steroids via IV and I couldn’t sleep! Since finishing all the treatment though, I have slept so well and so deeply, better than before, I hope that happens to you too. I’m sending you all my best wishes that the treatment goes well for you and you have a good outcome. If you have any questions that I might be able to help with regarding treatment or anything at all please do message me as it’s so recently that I went through it x
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