Brachytherapy experiences

Hi . Welcome to our little corner of the online community. Here you'll find a lovely group of supportive ladies to hold your hand, send you hugs and be there for you.

I myself had 3 sessions of Brachytherapy 6 weeks after my TLH (Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy) I was trembling like a leaf when I arrived at the Brachytherapy Suite but the nurses and radiologist were all reassuring and calmed me down. I changed into the gown, left my bra on. They took me into the treatment room where there's a bed with an attachment towards the end. My Oncologist did a quick internal  examination to make sure the vaginal cuff had healed ok. He said all was good. He then inserted an applicator like a tampon, it has to be a snug fit, then that gets attached to the fixture on the bed. Both the nurse, Oncologist and radiographer explained what they were doing every step of the way, with the nurse actually holding my hand.

They then explained a klaxon would sound as they left the room. A few seconds later there was a clicking and whirring sound as the machine started up and 7 minutes later it was all over. I didn't feel a thing. The nurse and radiologist came back in , removed the "Tampon like applicator", helped me off the bed and I went back and got changed. I had 3 treatments in all, no problems with any though I admit when I got back to my car after my final session I sobbed for a good 15 minutes, so glad everything was finally over and that my brush with cancer was hopefully ended. I think all the emotions of the previous 4 months just took over. I did get a few funny looks from passers-by in the car park but suppose it's not a strange sight in a hospital car park in these troubled times.

A week after my second treatment I had one day suffering with bouts of diarrhoea but nothing after that. I didn't experience any Urinary problems at all. So I can confidently say for my part, apart from being a rather undignified experience, it wasn't anything particularly bad.

Hope that reassures you a little.

Sending you big hugs, B xx 

Hi B,

thank you so much for coming back to me. It’s so hard not seeing any friends or family at this time and I put a brave face on in front of everyone as I don’t want them to worry anymore about me. But once the children go to bed of an evening I really am struggling and it all came crashing down on me last night.

I am very very nervous about the brachy, I think it’s a case of once I’ve had the first one I will know then what to expect. It’s the worrying about the unknown so once I’ve done one I feel like I will feel better. 

Can I ask, did you feel tired or sick through any of it? I have 2 children under 4 so I’m worrying about not being able to look after them? 

thank you 

Hi I myself didn't feel sick nor tired but I seem to remember some other ladies felt tired. I think sickness is normally associated with chemo but then nerves can make you nauseous. 

It's true, once you've had your first brachy session you'll be fine, worrying about the unknown is so debilitating.

It's so difficult having to put on a brave face and with a couple of toddlers it must be even harder. Also not being able to have friends and family to support you during this time of anxiety doesn't help. I had to attend all my tests etc. on my own and was told on the phone by my CNS I had cancer. I had phoned to to ask if it was necessary to go all the way to Nottingham (a 2.5 hour drive) to see a consultant to be told I was going to monitored and come back in 6 months. That wasn't the case, I needed an operation - I wasn't expecting that.  

Hopefully your partner is offering support to you. I found the ladies here were more support than my hubby of over 40 years (he has the empathy of a plank)

Sending you hugs, B xx 

Hi MrsBJH, 

Thank you for coming back to me again, yeah I have a 4 year old and a 9 month old so hands are very full. Not got time for this too at the moment. I’m due to be going back from maternity leave next week and starting a new job. So will be juggling that, the kids the house and treatment. 

my main concern is that it’s all going to become too much and I’m going to burn myself out. It’s hard taking time out for myself with so much going on.

Hopefully it will all be okay, thank you 

I had three sessions of brachytherapy over a period of two weeks. The hospital staff were excellent and explained everything. Had the applicator put in at the first session and had a scan to make sure it was in the right place. The sessions themselves were about 10 minutes and apart from hearing the noise of the machine it was absolutely fine. Felt a bit tired afterwards but no other ill effects. Good luck and hope yours goes well

Hi , welcome to our world! I too, like MrsBJH and Galanthophile had three sessions of brachy, each lasting 7 minutes, and spread over a week last December.

I was very nervous about having the treatment and had almost talked myself out of going to the hospital for the first session. However, I decided to proceed and can say it was all very straightforward, with the oncologist, radiographers, and nurses all being very supportive during my visits. They answered all my questions, checked that my scars from surgery had healed ok, and made sure I was comfortable throughout. I took along my own CD to listen to during the time I was alone in the room with the machine.

The first session was the longest, about 50 minutes in total, to allow for vaginal examination and correct sizing of the applicator - the others are shorter with the final one lasting only 20 minutes. At the final session I was given a set of dilators to use regularly (our centre stipulates daily for four weeks, starting a couple of weeks after brachy finishes, then once a week for life). I had no side effects other than being a bit tired (probably due to my anxiety).

Wishing you well, Dreamweaver x

Hi Sophie, like the others I also had three sessions of brachytherapy last October, after my hysterectomy.  I was really scared of the unknown too, and almost decided not to have it.  But a chat with my oncologist made my mind up.  I had one session per week for three weeks. My first one was quite long, about two hours as I had a ct scan to make sure everything was in the correct position - but not all hospitals do this. The nurses, radiologist and oncologist were all very kind and supportive and tried to make everything as dignified as possible!  Once the 'application tube' is inserted they all leave the room, like when you have an x-Ray. They usually have a means of communicating with you, but it can feel quite lonely lying  there all by yourself. I didn’t take a cd, but they had one playing anyway - it was the Fisherman’s Friends singing sea shanties, so I did rather wish I had thought to take one in with me!! The machine whirs a bit, and in fact I nearly went to sleep. The  radiation source - which you don’t see- is only about the size of a grain of rice my oncologist told me.  My other two sessions were much quicker, the actual radiation therapy only lasted for about five minutes each time.  I did feel quite tired when I got home, but was fine the next day and didn’t have any side effects. It was explained to me that brachytherapy is a very targeted therapy, much more so than ordinary radiotherapy and thus side effects are less likely for most people.  I hope yours goes OK, you will feel much happier once you’ve had the first one and know the routine.  Wishing you all the best,

Viv 

I had 2 brachy sessions 7 months after the key hole surgery which was followed by 6 cycles of chemo and 23 normal RT. I didnt know what to expect but having gone through the very toxic chemo and then the all other  RT I wasn't too worried.  If I recall there was only 48 hours between each of my brachy sessions in December 2016. The final Brachy being on christmas eve - then is was much like MrsBJH described.  the diarrhoea is a known side effect of RT so i was already on medication to get me through he other sessions, but it didnt bother me too much

Hi, I also had full histerectomy  in March and going to have 3 brachy sections next week.  I am really worried about the side effects - immediate and later.  How do you feel now after few months after the treatment? Many thanks

It’s now two years since I had the brachytherapy and I now have problems with bowel urgency which only surfaced some time afterwards. Lymphoedema in my legs which is a result of the removal of lymph nodes. At first it’s all about the surgery and radiotherapy but I do think the medical teams should talk more about long term side effects. By all means talk to your nurse specialist for advice.