Just been diagnosed

If I am honest I was an absolute wreck at the start. Just awful. The treatment plan helped me mentally as I knew I had to stay strong for it. It went really quickly however at the start I thought it would drag.

I very much still have black moments/days, and I’m feeling it massively just now waiting on results. I try to take one day at a time. I concentrate on my family and protecting my son from the pain of it as much as possible. I’ve thrown myself into fitness as well which helps me mentally. 

I still cry, still look for reassurance and still get angry like I’m sure a lot of ladies do. I have had longer to process it all than you have so don’t be hard on yourself. You need the facts from your team so you can get your head round what you need to do. 

Have you told your 10 year old? We didn’t tell Charlie until just before my treatment started. I was only 2/3weeks between diagnosis and active treatment starting so needed to tell him pretty quickly. I toyed with trying to keep it from him however I was told  the first lot of chemo would make me loose my hair so I had to tell him. On hindsight, what I know now, there was no way I could of kept it from him. 

Jen 

xxx

Carla,

All they can ever say to me is “no evidence of disease”. They removed all my cancer with good margins round everything so no evidence of disease is the best I can ever be told. My surgeon/consultant would never use the words totally clear because she doesn’t know. If I can go 5 years without the disease coming back again, I would get told I was in remission, but no doctor will ever tell me I am totally cancer free.

I have self directed follow up, so I have phone consultations every 3-4 months and can request an appointment to see her at any time. If I had any symptoms and wanted a #can, I’m sure she would order one for me.

Sarah xx

Yes, i wasnt expecting the news as when i got tumour cut out in December which i thought was a fibroid,  i got a call 17th jan to say it was cancer, he was standing there and i sort of broke down, i was in shock. Hes an old 10year old and hes been great, hes so strong i find telling him the truth a about things is better i dont like to lie to him he knows when theres something wrong. I feel like every person ive spoke to has gave me wrong information,  3 months on still got know were and stil not seen anyone face to face is just a joke xx

Ahh ok i get what you mean now. No evidence of disease, so hearing that is the best we can hope for. Am trying to keep positive x

Well, it’s the best any of my doctors will ever say! And yes, it’s the best result to get. They will be treating to cure you, to get you to no evidence of disease so hold onto that thought like Jen and I did.

I told myself that every single day. “They are treating to cure”, “I will be well again”. It really helps to try and keep positive but I do understand how hard that is at the minute when you have so little correct information and your fear and anxiety is so high. 

Sarah xxx

• Hi ladies, thought id give yous an update.  Went to hosp yesterday for first face to face app and to meet my consultant and of course he was off woth covid, my luck lol. App went ok, i have a planning scan next Thursday and then hopefully start treatment asap. 5 chemo, 25 radio, and 4 brackytherapy.  Im feeling a bit better now i have a sort of plan. I asked as it had spread to lymphnodes are we at stage 3 and she confirmed.  I hadnt thought about this in the hospital but as the day went on my hand was in agony, my knuckles,  hand quiet swollen,  same today. Im struggling to lift kettle, open bottles, squeeze mayo out of bottle and even open a door.  Have any of u had this? Its probably unrelated but my mum says it sounds like arthritis? Do u know if this can be related to cancer and should i let the doctor know x

Hi Carla

Good to hear from you and that you have a plan now.  So…stage 3- did she say which lymphnodes were affected? Jen had this so hopefully she will pop up with any advice you may need, although she had different chemo to shrink before the standard chemorads and brachy you are having. Did they not mention anything like that? It seems you have to pull every bit of information from them! 

And these “blocks of treatment” are  not happening now? I didn’t really understand that whole idea as I’d not heard of it before for anyone. 

Not sure what’s going on with your hand, but it’s not something I experienced at all so I’m not sure what could be causing it. Sounds very painful, but I hope you don’t have to add arthritis onto everything else you are dealing with. I would let your doctor know and get some advice.

Sarah xx

Right side pelvic lymphnodes, that was from pet scan 5 weeks ago. Not sure how fast they can spread. No blocks, jat the 5 weeks. The other person i spoke to obv didnt know what she was talking about lol. 

Yes hand is very uncomfortable and limiting me to do alot, finding it difficult to change wee ones nappy. Ill call doctors on monday.

How are u sarah? And what about you Jen have you had any results yet xx

I did wonder when you spoke about the blocks of treatment Carla. I think the nurse didn’t know enough about the specifics of cervical cancer treatment and assumed it might be the same as other gynae cancers. 

So the pelvic lymphnodes are the same area and not a distant spread. They will be targeted by the radiotherapy, and you’ll be having your planning scan soon to get your tiny tattoos so they zap you in exactly the right place. 

I would ask the doctor about your hand-it sounds very painful and it’s clearly making things difficult for you. 

I’m doing fine thanks…rock and roll lifestyle cuddled up in bed with my cat! Hope Jen will come by and let us know how things are going too. 

Sarah xx

Hi carlak90 I've just finished my treatment for 3c1 5 weeks of chemo 25 rounds of radiotherapy 4 sessions of bracatheralpy..won't find out till beginning of June..gonna be a long 3 month's...hope ya treatment goes well stay positive xxx