ALIGN RT - new development in radiotherapy

Hi KT89, what happened with me is that my consultant told me it was recommended that I had radio and brachy. A couple of weeks later I had an appointment with an oncologist who explained the plan, the possible side effects and offered me the consent form to sign. A couple of weeks after that I had a mini CT for planning. And even my radio started a month later. Apparently my hospital’s guidelines was to start radio within 12 weeks of the op, and mine was approx 10 weeks. I was annoyed and upset that I needed treatment, but was determined to minimise my risk of recurrence. 

Are you expected to sign the consent form at your appointment with the oncologist or are you able to have some time to decide?

I recall being told I could think about it but personally I felt so much better after chatting and asking questions with my oncologist that I just wanted to get things moving asap. 

This is the way I looked at it when I asked my oncologist for the recurrence stats. I was told much the same as you: that out of 100 women, without treatment 15 are likely to have recurrence and with treatment 11 less. The stats are general, so that suggested to me that those 15 would be more likely to be those with higher risk potential, ie those with higher grade cancers or stages higher than 1a, so as mine was stage 2 (albeit a technical stage 2) I decided I wanted to reduce my risk of being one of the 15.

Hi MarmiteFan59 

Thank you for sharing this. I'm seeing my Consultant Gynaecologist tomorrow. I am assuming it is to discuss - and get consent for adjuvant therapy.

I hope I have as much clarity of information as you did.

Different hospitals may do things in different ways but at mine the initial mention of radio and brachy was with the gynae consultant and the main discussion re treatment (and consent) was done with the oncology consultant. 

I hadn’t heard of those odds but they actually are very favourable re having the radiotherapy. Pretty much everyone in medical profession I spoke to stressed how successful radiotherapy is as an adjunct treatment. 

How did your appointment go today if you want to share? I've been thinking of you.

I expect that they can drape some paper over you if you’re uncomfortable. My knickers were always pulled down for the treatment and I just never thought about it. After examinations, tests and surgeries I became rather immune. 

For external radiotherapy??