Hi im 39 and a mum of 4 and was diagnosed with stage 4a incurable cervical cancer 11 months ago.
I have had chemo, radiotherapy and also brachytherapy which all ended in january, in april i got good news the treatment worked n shrank the tumors but unfortunately had a reoccurrence of cancer in july
My next step for treatment would be a hysterectomy and a total pelvic exenteration which will mean a urostomy and colostomy bag for life, which is my decision to make if I want the operation and if it can be done as the radiotherapy can make muscles.etc set like concrete, ove also been told this is only 50/50 and will not cure the cancer
Im just wondering if anyone has had the operation and has the stoma and bladder bag as I'm really struggling on my decision and would like to know how people deal with it all
Thankyou 
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Hi Angel86 and welcome to our group.
I’m really sorry to read of your diagnosis and how quickly things have progressed for you-it’s a lot to deal with both mentally and physically. I hope I might be able to help by sharing my experience.
I had stage 2b cervical cancer and went through chemo and radiation, with a result of NED. However I had a recurrence a few months later in the same place as my original tumour. My surgeon tried to perform a salvage hysterectomy, but my insides were too damaged by radiation and stuck together so it couldn’t be done safely.
I then had a total pelvic exenteration, and to be honest I wish I had gone for this first instead of trying the hysterectomy. I had to wait for my exenteration surgery as I was still healing from the attempted hysterectomy, and wasn’t in the best place physically for the exenteration.
It’s a very personal decision to have this surgery as it’s so massive, and I do know of ladies who have declined it, but I wanted to give myself every possible chance so I wanted to go ahead. I did have the total exenteration, so have a permanent colostomy and urostomy, although I was told by my colorectal surgeon that he could save my bowel as there was no cancer there, only radiation damage. I asked him to take my bowel anyway-I thought it would increase my chance of successful surgery and since I was having my bladder removed anyone I thought I’d might as well have 2 bags!
I’ve never regretted my surgery and I had it done 4.5 years ago. Yes, the recovery is very tough, I can’t deny that, but I have not had any issues related to this since then and live a very normal life. I got used to the bags quickly enough, although it was hard at first to deal with leaks etc while my stomas healed. Now they are second nature to deal with and change.
I wear the same clothes as I did before and travel abroad often-4 times this year-so I don’t let my stomas rule my life!
If I hadn’t had my surgery, I could have chosen to have chemotherapy, but that would have been palliative as when my cancer recurred it progressed very quickly.
I’m happy to answer any of your questions if I can, so please feel free to ask anything you need to.
Sarah xx
