I started my journey in June 2024 with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma T3N0M0. The symptom that that led to my diagnosis was mild but consistent acid reflux.
I am deemed inoperable due to underlying medical conditions. So I received definitive chemoradiotherapy for 5 weeks September-October. With follow up endoscopy and CT scans in January.
Even though the intent of my treatment was curative I knew the chances of this were slim. (I could not find compelling evidence in the literature for adenocarcinoma most data is predominantly squamous cell carcinoma).
And indeed the outcome was as I expected. A partial response. The follow-up endoscopy and CT scans revealed a significant reduction in my tumour from about 4cm to 1cm. A PET-CT scan conducted last week shows no detectable growth since January (although note measurements between CT and PET scans are not directly comparable).
So I now know I have incurable disease. But because my cancer remains localised with no evidence of spread I have been referred for brachytherapy with the intent of controlling the disease. The hope I have been given is that some patients respond well and can achieve 12 months or more of progression free survival. There are of course some patients who do not respond.
Are there any members of this forum who have received brachytherapy? I would be very interested to hear your experiences of undergoing the treatment and any outcomes. I cannot find much information about the use of brachytherapy in the OC setting.
Thank you.
