Treatment plan

Aww what your feeling is totally normal, i am sorry to hear that your stage went up and you need extra treatment. I haven’t had radiotherapy but from what I have heard from other ladies that keeping your fluids up will be a big help. I wonder if anyone can drive you to the hospital so you don’t worry about the fatigue. Other then that i do hope your recovering well from the surgery and i am sure others will soon pop up to give you some advice about radiotherapy I know a few have had it, glad you have very supportive family and friends this really does help.

sending you a big bear hug 

Hi Belle,

I can understand your disappointment and frustration. Until they get in there they are really not sure what is going on.

My husband had 7 weeks of radiotherapy for throat cancer after an operation. Although he had a rough time he is still around 14 years later, so worth it in the end. As he put it 'Think of the alternative. It doesn't bear thinking about'.

You will get through this, you can do this! xxxxxxx 

Hi I am sorry that you have found you need radiotherapy.  That happened to me too as I was told I had LVSI and needed 25 sessions of external radiotherapy and 2 sessions of brachytherapy.  I know exactly how you feel, I was shocked when I was told, I thought that as the tumour was contained within my womb and hadn't gone more than halfway through that that was it!  Sadly no.  I dreaded the thought of the treatment as I suffer from M.E. and Fibromyalgia so am exhausted all the time before I even started!  However, I managed and you will too! My husband drove me every day as I can't manage with public transport.  We had a 5 hour round trip every day and yes it was exhausting and I did and still do have side effects/damage but I felt I had no choice.  I made myself a chart to put on the wall in front of where I sit to watch TV and crossed off each day with a big cross and could see that I was getting through the treatment and found that helped a lot.

I am sure once treatment starts you will be surprised how quickly it seems to pass and it becomes daily routine for a while, and of course, you get weekends off to have a little break!  I was and still am surprised that I managed it with my other health issues but I did.

Hugs, Lesley xx

Hi Belle56

I can imagine how disappointed you are to hear you need 5 weeks of radiotherapy. I was told 1a, grade 1 but histology revealed 1b, grade 3. Surgeons can't tell what's what until it's been through histology. Just wish they wouldn't hazard a guess! So we get through the stress of anticipating the op, getting over it then back down in the dumps when we need more treatment. So many ladies have conquered this mountain, as will you. 

No apologies needed for the self.pity, this has got to be the most emotional time you'll ever go through, but you've great supporting family and friends, and all of us here of course.

Onwards and upwards, stay positive and have a good Christmas, Barb xx 

Hi

I'm sorry you've had this disappointment to face - I think the consultants sometimes want to give us information on stage/grade at an early stage: they know that waiting for results is so emotionally draining. But being told one thing and then another later can really be even harder to bear. Please don't blame yourself for feeling as you do, it's only natural that you are. I hope that your treatment goes well: the NHS staff I've met really do seem to have our best interests at heart.

My surgeon pre-booked my op before I'd had CT/MRI scans as a biopsy had suggested Grade 1 / Stage 1a (possibly 1b) endometrial cancer. However, after scans, the diagnosis became Grade 2 / Stage 1b, which meant my surgery was moved to a different hospital and the date moved to more than two weeks later. I did feel quite confused by the change, and much more worried by the potential outcomes, as I was also told I needed to have lymph nodes removed. In my case, there was also to be three sessions of brachytherapy (internal radiotherapy). All the staff in both hospitals have been great - and my treatment was completed on Friday last week. I've been told side effects may or may not appear, either in short-term or longer-term - I think that is the worry of radiotherapy.

Take care, stay safe,
Dx

Thank you I will make that chart to cross off as I think that will help. It is also encouraging to know that even with your' other illness you managed to get through it. 

Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope you continue to recover and have no side effects.

Hi Belle, 

I was also upgraded to Stage 2 n will have external n internal radiotherapy. I am very worried. Would u mind telling me more about your experience? 

Many thanks!

Best wishes, 

Chui

Hi Chui. I've tagged so she'll hopefully see your message and reply to you.

Hugs, Barb x

Hello Chui 

I was initally shocked when told I would need further treatment but I just stayed positive and faced a day at a time. The staff were great and very sensitive. I was given scans prior to radiotherapy starting and shown around the treatment area. I had to drink as much as possible about 700mls of water before treatment every day and wait 40 mins roughly for bladder to fill so that takes willpower but you get used to it. They need the bladder to be full before they can do the treatment. I attended Monday to Friday for several weeks. The actual treatment is not painful or uncomfortable, it is the side effects that were unpleasant but not everyone gets them so you just wait and see. They started to get to me on week two so it was quite hard. I drove myself to the hospital the first couple of weeks and would have managed a bit longer but my family insisted on driving as my treatment progressed but they had to just drop me at the door and come back for me one or two hours later. One of the side effects is fatigue and tiredness so eventually I had to nap for up to one hour every day when I came home. The thing is after surgery you just get better every week but with the radiotherapy you feel worse every week however it is time limited and you need to believe it is helping erradicate any cells that are left in the area. You will get through it and looking back it doesnt seem that bad.