ALIGN RT - new development in radiotherapy

Hi B74 

That's a good point. Everything happened so quickly re the op itself.

I have some LVSI, so the longer I wait for radiotherapy, the longer those errant cells are hanging around in my pelvis - free to do goodness knows what. I am anxious about waiting.

Does the LVSI mean the lymph nodes have been compromised? Sorry for my ignorance.

Lympho vascular space invasion.

I am stage 1b grade 2.

But during the post op closer look at my womb etc, some cancer cells were found in the lymph or blood vessels leaving my womb. So my cancer was not contained.

Ok, sorry to hear that, I was classed as 1b grade 3 but they removed the sentinel lymph nodes and found these to be clear. 

I don't know - and I don't think - lymph nodes were taken out. That is why I am worried about the LVSI being found in vessels leaving my womb.

You just wonder what is currently going on while I wait for radiotherapy to start. I am not an anxious person usually so I am surprised by how I am feeling.

I am very pleased for you that your nodes are clear. It sounds very good news.

Yes, although that's why I am not sure about the radiotherapy, they say that there is a 15% chance of recurrence without the radiotherapy and 4% chance of recurrence if I have the 25 sessions of external radiotherapy and 2 brachytherapy treatments.... 

Decisions, decisions. I will be guided by what Consultant Gynaecologist says on Thursday. Thank you for your replies this morning. I don't feel so alone with all this. 

Ditto, I think this whole situation has thrown me into the most extreme state of isolation ever, not helped by the restrictions caused by the hysterectomy recovery .

I know. Everyone's story is so different. Add to that the different advice in different areas. The good thing about this forum is we share our experiences and help each other. 

I had LVSI too. With my radiotherapy- I first saw the consultant for a consents appointment- she went through the treatment and side effects and talked about why it was needed. I had a chance to ask questions. This was just before my last chemo cycle. I saw the consultant on the Monday. I had a phone call from radiographer on the Thursday asking me to come in for a planning appointment on the Friday. On the Friday I had to give myself an enema (those mini ones) and after I had been I then had to drink 3 cups of water. I then had a CT scan. I had to take off my trousers only. Then came the tattoo dots. I had my last chemo on the following Monday. And about a week later had a list of 25 appointments. The radiotherapy started about 3 weeks after the last chemo. They need a couple of weeks to look at the scans and plan the treatment.

There may be some difference between hospitals but I would think most would do an oncologist appointment to talk through the treatment and to get consent and then this would be followed up by the planning CT. Then a couple of weeks where they work out the treatment/doses etc.