3C1 with 5 lymph nodes involved. I started the INTERLACE protocol with induction chemo on the 7th of October. I had an MRI on 14th November which was the last week of induction chemo. My consultant just told me that the tumor has had a complete response and lymph nodes shrunk with just induction chemo! This is the best case outcome from induction as was initially told stable disease is the expection, partial response maybe possible and complete response is unlikely but the most desirable outcome.
Comsiderations- I know I'm not out of the woods yet and stil CRT is the curative part of treatment which is still going ahead. Chemo induction, which is essentially INTERLACE is meant to target micro metastatic tumors not picked up by scans. They target fast deciding cells and so if there is vascularity in the tumor and it is actively deviding, you've got a good chance of seeing some response. Of course everyone responds differently but given how varied this tumor is, please consider and ask for the INTERLACE protocol - it should be the gold standard if it isn't already.
Hi NoraB67a03b
Thats really great news for you! I hope you’re feeling well and ready for the next stage.
We’ve had some really good discussion in the group recently about the Interlace Trial, and it’s good to read your experience of the induction chemo has been so positive.
I wish you well with the next stage of your treatment-if you’ve got any questions as you go along just ask away. Lots of us have done the concurrent chemo and radio and come through the other side.
Sarah xx
Thank you Sarah! I've started CRT today and feeling the nausea already but ready for the next step for sure.
Yes, definitely, to your point - CRT is the curative part of treatment as induction is meant for micrometastasis. CRT is what directly targets the cancer. Apart from the micrometastasis, there is a chance INTERLACE could also provide an initial blow to the cancer and then CRT for the main treatment. I'm glad there is a discussion around this here in the forum.
I'm sure to have some questions regarding radiotherapy. I found the blog on things you wish you had known before starting radiotherapy very very useful and very grateful for everyone who shared their experience.
Wishing everyone here well whatever the treatment plan and finger crossed for the best outcomes 
️
I was given anti sickness meds at the start of my treatment-did you get any given to you yet? I I found it better to take them in anticipation rather than when sickness starts, but didn’t find nausea and/or sickness a real side effect for me going through my treatment. More tiredness, and then other side effects began when I was 3 weeks in.
This is a link to the thread about the Interlace trial in case you haven’t seen it before. Lots of interesting discussion about it.
Sarah xx
Hi Yennifer, I totally understand why you’re weighing this up. Everyone responds differently, and to caveat my response - I’m 37, stage 3C1 with pelvic lymph node involvement. What happened to me won’t necessarily happen to someone else.
The 7% is basically the difference between around 72% of people still here at 5 years with standard treatment of CRT (that’s cisplatin chemo + radiotherapy) and brachytherapy alone, versus around 79–80% of people still here at 5 years if they have induction chemo beforehand. For me personally, that felt worth trying, even knowing it meant the possibility of tougher treatment.
I actually tolerated induction chemo better than CRT. Induction gave me mild nausea that was well controlled by anti-sickness meds, I was very gassy, and I had predictable body aches on day 4 (after steroids). I also had mild neuropathy (only in my right hand/foot) which stopped once induction was over, and I’ve basically become menopausal so now I get hot flushes, which is ongoing.
CRT (cisplatin + radiotherapy) was harder on me than induction. Cisplatin caused grade 2 ototoxicity for me (tinitis) so they reduced my dose slightly. I also needed magnesium and potassium infusions but week 2 (added about 2 hours more on chemo day), I needed G-CSF injections when my neutrophils dropped to 1 (from 2.2) at week 3, and I eventually needed blood transfusions by the end because my platelets fell. Radiotherapy itself brought daily underlying nausea (omeprazole helped with the acid reflux), tiredness from week 2, disrupted sleep from steroids and bladder-filling protocols, and cystitis from week 3 which I’m still dealing with now 2 weeks after CRT. I'm sure the induction chemo and CRT together definitely amplified things, especially as my radiotherapy field was wide due to nodal involvement and close to where blood cells are produced in the bone.
I cold-capped for induction chemo and took the hair care seriously! During induction chemo I kept most of my hair. About two weeks into CRT it really started shedding (lots, but evenly). I have thick curly hair so it’s still not very noticeable. I’d guess I’ve kept about 65–70%. My consultant thinks it’s unlikely I’ll lose all of it and said shedding up to 12 weeks after chemo is normal. I’m 7 weeks post-induction and still losing some despite doing everything “right”, which is frustrating, but I guess everyone is different. My eyebrows are thinning now and so are my eyelashes. Not sure if I will lose them entirely and I hope I manage to keep sometime to style with!
As for the weight gain - I gained about 12kg during treatment, likely steroid appetite + water retention. Again, not everyone gets that, but I did, so mentioning it. I'm looking into getting a PT to help with an exercise plan.
I just finished brachy yesterday and have my first follow-up in 12 weeks. Fingers crossed! Personally, that 7–8% difference felt meaningful to me. CRT + brachy alone is still a really effective treatment, so whichever people choose they are not choosing a “worse” option, just the one that aligns with their circumstances and what feels right for them.
Wishing you all the very best on your first day and I hope treatment is as kind to you as possible - You got this! 
