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Hi Edy,

I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis and your husbands. 
Unfortunately you won’t know for sure how the treatment will affect you until you have started. I was very ill during my treatment - I wouldn’t have been able to drive but would have managed a train journey I think. Other ladies who went through treatment at the same time as me seemed to manage the treatment better and had very few side effects. Wishing you all the best for your treatment. 

Hi Joix21

Thank you so much for replying, I’m sorry you had such a bad time, I don’t suppose there’s any way to find out how I might react but I’m really relieved to hear that others found it okay to be honest, I do have people willing to help me but I would prefer to do my own thing. 

Hi Edy

I just replied on your other post but have just seen this one. It’s very difficult to give a straight answer to this question as treatment affects everyone uniquely, Chemo is a long day, as it is given over several hours..I would get hooked up before 10am and finish around 4pm. Then my radiotherapy session followed that. Certainly initially in my treatment I found the effects manageable but the effects of radiotherapy are cumulative and things became more difficult as time went on. I can’t drive, so always had a lift to treatments, but there are a few things to consider. You can have lots of bladder and bowel issues with radiotherapy, and, not to put too fine a point on it, this can result in a loss of control and very sudden need to use the loo. I would not want to be on the train! Radiotherapy also can make you exhausted. But you won’t know how everything will affect you until you experience the treatment. At the start I think it would be perfectly possible to drive yourself, but you may have to reconsider as treatment continues. To be honest, if you have people willing to help, I would let them do this for you to make things easier for you. You may have very few side effects and be absolutely fine, but best to have a back up plan just in case! 

Hello again Sarah 

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I have absolutely no experience of chemo, none of my friends or relatives to my knowledge have undergone chemo either. Im shocked to be honest, I had no idea it took so long. Im going to take your advice and accept help and get organised. Thanks again 

Hi again Edy

The usual chemotherapy for first diagnosis of cervical cancer is called Cisplatin. It is given in a low dose to boost the radiotherapy, which is really the main treatment. The fact that it is low dose should mean no hair loss, and hopefully less side effects. It takes a long time overall to have the chemo at each session, but this is because you are given other infusions of fluids, anti sickness and things like magnesium. The infusion of the bag of chemo drug does not actually  take that long, but it’s everything else they give you that makes it a pretty long session. Normally you would have around 5 sessions of chemo on a weekly basis, and radiotherapy every day for around 5 weeks. 

I had no issues at all with chemo. It didn’t make me feel sick or anything, but they will give you anti sickness tablets to take after each session. It’s not painful to have it done, and I found it a very relaxing day to be honest! For me, the radiotherapy was much tougher in terms of side effects, but some ladies find it much easier than I did. Anything I can help with based on my experience, just ask. I was staged at 2b at diagnosis, and the treatment is broadly the same. 

Hello Sarah

I am so grateful to you for sharing your experience's and knowledge. You have really opened my eyes to what could be ahead and what I might expect. Practically it means I have been able to arrange all kinds of things just incase. It's so lovely to be able to talk to you Sarah, thank you so much.

Morning Edy

You are very welcome! When I was diagnosed, I knew nothing about this cancer-didn’t even know there were different types of it-and I didn’t have any support other than my partner. I wasn’t a member of any groups or forums and it often felt like a very lonely road. 

It’s over 3 years since my original diagnosis, and only after my first round of treatment finished did I feel able to reach out for some support and advice from other ladies. I joined a couple of groups and have connected with all sorts of amazingly strong and inspirational women, some of whom I’ve been lucky enough to meet in real life, and others who I keep in regular contact with. It made me want to reach out to try to help others and perhaps pass on some of the hints and tips I have learned along the way! I’ve been through various treatments and surgery, and now I’m in a much stronger position to help when ever I can. I have read of your husband’s situation and am so sorry you are both facing so much. x

Hello Sarah

I imagine you have helped lots of people talking about your experiences, including those subscribing to this feed. I know without a shadow of a doubt you have helped me. You're also a very calming influence which I love. 

I've found the most difficult thing about Cancer is the uncertainty, especially concerning my husband and so we live from one hospital appointment to another without making any long term plans. Of course covid hasn't helped but I don't think its a very healthy way to live but its the only one open to us right now. 

Morning Edy

Thank you-I’m glad to be able to help, even in a small way. I tend to be a positive person, and always look for the silver lining even when things are dark. I learned how to look for the smallest good or positive thing in a day rather than focusing on the negative-a chat with a friend on the phone, being able to sit in the garden listening to the birds. Simple things, which help calm the mind. 

Life is suddenly turned on its head with a cancer diagnosis, and I found it very difficult at the start to think of the future or make any plans. Life revolved around hospitals and appointments and results. You of course are already going through this with your husband, and I get the feeling you are a strong and resilient person who is used to being practical. This will serve you well in dealing with your own cancer now, although I can’t imagine how extra difficult things will be for you with your husband already a patient. 

Hi Edy,

I am really sorry for your diagnosis and I hope all the best for your treatment. I undertook the same treatment regime that you mentioned and from experience the 1st few weeks, I was feeling alright to travel except the days that I had chemo. But as the treatment progressed I was so tired and had bowel issues which made it impossible for me to travel alone and I had somebody to drive me and pick me up from the hospital. There is the possibility transportation to be arranged by the hospital for you. I used the service a couple of times when I was hospitalised for a couple of days during my treatment and I have seen it being used by patients. I would suggest have a word with your consultant to see if transportation can be arranged for you when you are further down the line of your treatment. 

Maria xx