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
Hi Granny55 and welcome to our group.
I did the daily radiotherapy with weekly chemo and personally I wouldn’t have coped with public transport daily. I was exhausted by it, and had bad diarrhoea from week 3. I also live 1.5 hours from the hospital. The actual treatment itself was tolerable.
Some ladies cope better, and you could try the public transport and see how it goes for you, especially if you are not far from the hospital.
However, it might be a good idea to have a back up plan in place in case you find it too much-have you got friends or family who could take you if needed? If not, the hospital might have transport available-some hospitals have a support network of volunteer drivers who do this.
You won’t really know how the treatment will affect you personally until you actually start it and we all have different experiences.
Sarah xx
Hi Granny55
I took public transport for the 5 weeks of chemo-radiation - i really did not feel well at the end of my chemo days and the next day so i found those journeys the hardest, and when i traveled too and from the hospital in rush hour which often doubled the journey time and meant the buses were packed (and i then became worried about picking up infections etc)
Like SarahH21 said, everyone responds differently to treatment and it may be a case of seeing how you get on, i would let the team know that you will be using public transport, and if rush hour could create an extra layer stress like it did for me see if you can request your radiotherapy appointments at a time that suits you best - although my chemo and radiotherapy day inevitably meant rush hour was unavoidable.
Thinking of you, its tough but will go quickly, one day at a time! i had a little mantra i told myself in the not so good moments 'this too shall pass' and it did
Hi Sarah
Thankyou for taking the time to reply and for your advise.
I have looked into if I can get financial help etc . As I’m now retired and get my pension unfortunately I’m not entitled to anything as I don’t get universal credit or pension credit . I do have my freedom pass which is great as I can use it on all London transport etc . Thanks for the insite on my up and coming treatment and what you experience .hopefully it will not be to bad but we’re all different . If it means beating this awful disease it is worth it .
many thanks val x
Hi mochimoo
thankyou for your reply .
i will certainly take your advise and see if I can get my rads done in between rush hour . I’m glad you’ve finished this part of your treatment and are on road to recovery. I will take it one day at a time and be positive and as you’ve said it does come to an end. Thankyou for your kind words val
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