First brachytherapy treatment

Hi Senga, will be thinking of you tomorrow.

I was in the same position as you last year - I had three brachytherapy sessions on 11, 15, and 18 December. I was so worried about the treatment that I nearly talked myself out of it, but the staff were really great at putting me at my ease, and had arranged for a consultant to check healing of my vaginal cuff on the day of first session. The treatment itself is not painful - undignified and slightly uncomfortable lying on the table with legs akimbo while applicator is inserted and machine beeps at you for 6-8 minutes. You are alone while this happens but always in communication with staff. First session is longest as the staff explain the procedure and check which applicator is best suited to your anatomy.

At the end of the final session you will be given a set of dilators (plastic dildos in a discreet bag!) to take home and insert daily/weekly for at least 18 months post-brachy. These are intended to keep the vagina open (as radiation can damage vaginal wall tissue and result in healing that makes future examinations difficult).

In my case, I was recommended to use the dilators daily for four weeks (starting a couple of weeks after the brachy) and then weekly for life (or rely on sex instead!). So far, so good - I've been fortunate in having little to no adverse effects other than slightly less bladder control but that is improving.

Good luck with your treatment, and enjoy the festive season.

Best wishes,
Dx

Hi Senga20. I can't add anything to what Dreamweaver wrote as we went through the same treatment last year. Some ladies were offered music, I wasn't but it was all over so quick I didn't notice.

Hugs, Barb xx

Hi Dreamweaver I was originally told that I would need to use the dilators for about 18 months, but 4 years on I have been told to use them for life.  I had quite an uncomfortable 4 year check up a couple of weeks ago, and although I have been using them, perhaps not as regularly as I need to, she said they don't recommend stopping unless you are active in other ways!

Senga20 I hope all went well with your first session.  I found it nowhere near as bad as I had built it up to be in my head.  The appointment they made for me was 2 hours but I was out in about 45 minutes and the next one much quicker as no CT scan needed.  Thinking of you xx

Thank you Poppysmum27. First session went well not as bad as imagined taking 2 hours.

• Arrived and greeted by a lovely, friendly nurse who explained the procedures and possible side effects before i signed consent form.
• I was taken for a CT scan. I was made comfortable on the scanner bed before i was examined and applicator fitted,  then scanned. Applicator removed until I got my next treatment. Friendly doctor came and spoke to me going over treatment again and CT result.
• I then went to get my brachytherapy treatment.  I was made comfortable on the bed and applicator fitted again. My treatment lasted 8 minutes and as i lay there i looked at the ceiling which had a similated window  with a blue sky and a tree with flowers and the branches and clouds were moving it was quite relaxing.
• Overall the treatment was not as bad as i had anticipated and painless. My next two sessions will only my treatment time. The nurses were so good keeping  me covered up to protect my dignity. The nurse and doctor did explain i would have to use a dilator but i feel its a small price to pay and have been lucky as my diagnosis could have been more serious.