Hi everyone. New here. I was diagnosed with stage 3C1 at the beginning of January. Still waiting for treatment to begin (should have been this Wednesday, but has been put back for a week). Is it usual to have a very heavy foul smelling discharge? This started about 3 weeks ago, eases for a while, then starts again. Blood test showed it’s not an infection. If anyone has had this, did it go away once treatment was finished?
Hi Chorister and welcome to our group.
I was stage 2b at original diagnosis and had a lot of watery discharge and very heavy bleeding, but nothing foul smelling. You haven’t said which treatment you are starting on, but my first line treatment was chemoradiation and my discharge and bleeding stopped 2 weeks into treatment.
If you can give us a little more information about the treatment you are having, I’m sure that ladies at the same stage will be able to give you some advice about their treatment experiences.
Sarah xx
That sounds a very standard plan-exactly the same as was planned for me. Hopefully the radiotherapy will reduce or stop your symptoms, but you’ll be reviewed weekly during treatment by your consultant, so you can ask questions or bring up any concerns then. How are you feeling about starting treatment? Many of us have gone through it, so will be happy to share with you.
Sarah xx
Hi Chorister
We are all different in how we react-some of us have similar side effects, but we can’t predict how we’ll be. I was never sick once during treatment, nor nauseous for example, but others can be. I was given anti sickness meds at my first chemo though, and had anti sickness medicine via my drip at chemo sessions.
I think everyone is anxious about brachytherapy, but that is the final bit of treatment, and some weeks away so focus on getting through the chemoradiation first taking one day at a time.
I had to attend a&e during treatment, but not connected with my cancer. I had a card to show at reception stating I was on chemo, so I was put in a side room away from everyone else, and then taken to another room on my own with my partner where I was put on a drip for a few hours for fluids (I had burnt my leg quite badly). I never caught any colds etc, and my treatment was during the winter. But while on treatment try to avoid mixing with big groups of people and wear a mask when you’re out to try and minimise the risk of catching anything.
Try not to anticipate things in advance which might not happen as that gives you extra worry to try and manage when you have enough to worry about! With radiotherapy I found the side effects cumulative as time went on, but went through the first 3 weeks with no issues at all other than tiredness. I did have side effects start in week 3 with cystitis and diarrhoea, but spoke up in my review meetings and was given plenty things to help.
Sarah xx
Just try to keep thinking positively that you can get through this. The treatment is intense, no doubt about that, but it is over a relatively short period of time and can be very successful.
I told myself every day when I woke up that I would be well, and kept repeating that mantra very regularly. When I was having radiotherapy, lying on the table, I used to visualise the rays (which of course you can’t see) destroying my cancer. Anything that helps get you through will be good for you.
Sarah xx
