Vaginal Brachytherapy

Hi Jomar66, welcome to the forum. Like you I had all my bits removed last August ( grade 1 and Stage 1b) and was offered three sessions of brachytherapy as a belt and braces backup, which finished last November. I didn’t get my dilators until February! Hate the flipping things, but necessary to use them. I was given a tube of lube to use with  them, but as I suffered with vaginal dryness I also use a moisturiser called Sylk, which your GP can proscribe.  Some of us naughty girls here have invested in battery operated toys, which are much more fun than the hard plastic dilators!!

The brachytherapy is a very targeted treatment according to my oncologist, and doesn’t cause so many side effects as external radiotherapy. I have found that my bladder doesn’t always completely empty when I go to the loo and I quite often feel the need to go again shortly after, so I now sit a bit longer! That’s the only effect I’ve noticed. 

The brachytherapy was rather undignified, but didn’t hurt a bit, and the staff do their utmost to make you feel calm and comfortable, so I wish you luck for the sessions.

Viv x

Hi and welcome to the group. I had my treatmens the same time as Viv Jigsaw33 last year and we concurred not painful just undignified. I force myself to use the dreaded dilators , confess not as much as I should do but got an internal coming up next month! Also more fun from the buzzy toys.

I was given Optilube as a lubricating gel you can get it at a Chemist but I have it on prescription or Sylk is also recommended.

I did have a few bouts of diarrhoea after my Brachy but nearly a year later I have noticed a slight change in my bowel habits. Sometimes I wake in the early hours with a pain in my tummy. I go to the loo and sometimes a fart (excuse the crudity) will do the trick, other times I have an evacuation. Years ago it was like, get up, out of bed and gravity took over, went to the loo, had a movement and that was that.

I will mention it to my consultant when I see him next month.

It’s always helpful to others if you write a little something (or a lot) about yourself and your journey to date. You can enter it into your profile (click on your username and select “Profile”) It’s helpful to other members with a similar diagnosis who can then hopefully answer your questions. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. You can amend or update it at any time. If you’re not sure what to write, just click on my username.

Sending hugs, Barb x

Thanks for the replies Jigsaw33 and MrsBJH makes me feel a bit better first treatment tomorrow morning then 2 next week. Hoping to return to work on 04/10/21.

Can't really talk to my friends and family because they try to make light of it I think they are trying to make me feel better. But to me it  feels almost like they think it's only stage 2 what's the fuss about some minor treatment then it's all over.

Don't get me wrong I am being  positive but just wish I could tell those closest to me how worried I am

Jo x

Hi . Bite the bullet and tell them how you feel. Strange the way family and friends do make light of it - my hubby calls me a drama queen. I think it's basically they're terrified and don't want to show it!

Barb x

Jo, we all know how you feel here. Friends and family always try to gee you up and look on the bright side, they are trying to be helpful and positive, but they are not the ones going through it, and can’t conceive of the panic that goes though you.  I am a year on from my op now, and just have 3 monthly checks.  Out of the three checks I’ve had two have been telephone consults. So all hospitals differ in their methods.

By the way, the radiation source is about the size of a grain of rice according to my oncologist. I dunno if you’ve ever watched The    Simpson’s cartoon  but I was imagining something the size of the piece that Homer tosses away at the end of work, so I found that information very comforting! Also, I was warned that my first session would be a long appointment as I had to have a ct scan first, but others here didn’t have this. Once they put the applicator tube in the session usually only lasts about 5 minutes and is over before you know it. The drone of the machine always made me feel quite sleepy! I did feel quite tired after the session but was fine again by the next day. So take care of yourself and it will soon be all over.

Viv.x

Hi Jomar,

I'm the third of the trio who had brachytherapy towards the end of last year. I was diagnosed as Stage 1b Grade 2 and had hysterectomy and 14 lymph nodes removed, followed up by 3 x 7-minute brachy sessions about 6 or 7 weeks after surgery. In the Northampton unit you can take along your own CD to listen to while you're alone in the room with the grain of rice - helps drown out some of the mechanical noises, warning klaxon, etc. I had worked myself into a right tizz beforehand, almost declining to take the treatment based on potential side-effects. However, to date I think I've had no effects I can say are related to radiation - tummy pains I put down to my innards rearranging themselves in the newly vacated space in my pelvis, and I've never had great bladder control since I had a couple of bouts of cystitis when younger. I do practice my pelvic floor exercises several times a day to improve this and limit the risk of prolapse in future. With dilators, I was told to use them every day for four weeks after the brachytherapy and once weekly for rest of my life. However, I am active sexually so only use the dilators occasionally and usually only if I haven't had sex for a week (TMI). I sometimes have a very pale pink mucus at the top of the dilator but my oncologist says this is to be expected as the radiation causes the vaginal wall to thin and become more brittle, making it prone to bleeding slightly when stretched..

Wishing you all the best,
Dx

At my recent check up the oncologist said I could stop using the dilators at 18 months 

That makes 7 months to go for me 

Barb x

I was originally told that I would have to use the dilators for about 18 months, and here I am 4 years later having been told I now have to use them for life!

I finished my brachytherapy treatment 2 weeks ago side effects not kicked in yet. Was told to leave it until 4 weeks after treatment then start using the dilator. Appreciate all the advice from this group fingers crossed all will be OK x