Cervical cancer

Hi Buff,  I finished my treatment in March and still have discharge.  Waiting for the scan and results is very hard but as I say, the radiotherapy does continue to work so the first scan you have won't be the final result.  Your upset tummy and other issues should begin to settle down but it can take a little while.  Drink plenty of water.  It is hard when you finish treatment and are suddenly out there on your own after being surrounded by medical staff day in day out for the last  five/six weeks. I started on the tiny dilator about four weeks after treatment finished and then when I was ready to move up to the next one, used the tiny one for the first few minutes then changed it to the next one.  Hope you are feeling better soon but give your body chance to recover from what is a pretty brutal few weeks of treatment and try not to worry.  My treatment appears to have worked pretty well.  Please keep us posted as to how you are getting on xxx 

Hi Buff and welcome to the group

You are not long out of treatment, so it does take some time for things to settle after this-you’ve been through a lot, remember.

You haven’t mentioned what stage you were, so you may want to add some details to your profile which makes it easier for us to see what you’ve had when answering questions. It’s normal to wait 3 months after for your first mri as the radiotherapy does continue to work for a time in your body, and earlier scanning would not be beneficial in giving your final result. The waiting is very hard though.

I was stage 2b and had chemo and radiotherapy and I did get a Ned(no evidence of disease) result after my 3 month scan, but for many ladies they may require a further scan if something is still there. Don’t despair if this is the case for you. I did have a recurrence within a few months but would stress that I was unlucky and treatment is normally very successful for most women. 

I used the dilators until my recurrence was found, but didn’t have any discharge so don’t have experience of that, but I know it’s common. At your point in the process I would still have been on the smallest size of dilator.

You are still recovering, so take it easy and don’t be too hard on yourself and expect too much too soon. Let us know how you get on, and keep posting if you need any help and support.

Sarah xx

• Hi Sarah, thankyou for your reply I have stage 2b cervical cancer .yes it has been quite difficult of late felt bit down and sad ,and because I look well , people think that I'm ok now asking when I back to work as if everything's back to normal .I do have a positive out look but struggle when it come to say how I'm feeling as put on a brave front the hole way through my treatment etc. I guesso one knows what  you have been through unless they have experienced  it them self and when you look fine can't see what's going on inside . I'm sorry to here yours came back but hope you are gettinbetter now .thankyou again for your reply 

Hi snobird thankyou for your reply and your positive fed back it helps to hear how you are getting on with dilator yes I use the small one a the min which does  seem to make me loose more discharge which seems quite watery and its a pale brown yellowish colour ,but I do still feel quite raw inside still .I'm hoping this will improve  in time .

Hi Buff

People really have no idea-it’s not their fault but they just cannot understand what it’s like for us. I always, all the time, said I was fine, and in hindsight that didn’t serve me well at all. People assumed I was actually fine, when a lot of the time I actually wasn’t. I would be more honest if I had my time again! I didn’t want people to pity me, and I didn’t want to appear weak.

However, the result of that for me was that everyone assumed I was “cured” and there is no-one who even bothers to ask how I am now, apart from a couple of close friends. It’s led to a really lonely life for me I have to say. Looking fine doesn’t mean you are fine, either physically or mentally. 

Sarah xx