Awaiting Robotic Surgery

Hi thank you 

what was the side effects on week 4 

thanks Shirley 

Hope you are doing ok with minimal side effects.  I have received my results today. Although she is confident she has removed all the cancer, she has now graded me as a Grade 3a. The cancer had spread outside the wall of the Uterus and she has referred me for further treatment, Brachytherapy. How did you find your first treatment and what did it entail.  

Hi Shirleydana, slight feeling of bloating and a bit of urgency when needing a poo. A bit of looseness but no diarrhoea. I told my radiographer and the duty registrar came down to see me before my treatment and suggested something to help. It was manageable! 

Hi glad you got your results as I remember waiting 5 weeks due to Easter what is the grade ? And what did they predict prior to op ?

I have had two bracytherapy now and found them a lot less stressful than I anticipated, eg I thought my legs would be in stirrups no just knees bent on a bed then once they did the internal for first fitting of the applicator which was fine and they  used gel which was freezing lol they just added a wire to a small machine and I lent on the pillows watching Lorraine I did bring headphones but didn’t use, they said they can see me and wave if needed, it wasn’t like a smear test and they didn’t use any speculums or anything just her fingers ti gage  size and she was right, the next yesterday was even quicker as the correct applicator was waiting and it only lasted 7 minutes for the radiation where I felt nothing I still feel nothing now and she said It’s so localised you will probably have no side effects as things have advanced maybe tired n couple of weeks due to cell repair the worst thing right now for me is flippin tonsillitis !! Luckily  now given antibiotics yesterday 

One more to go then finished fingers crossed I started the bracy when I was 10 weeks nearly 11 good luck xx I asked someone who had it a few months ago at a gyny group locally I joined and she said not one side effect so hoping the same x

Thanks for responding so quickly (before I go for my meeting this morning) I read a version where you are put out under general anaesthetic and rods are stitched inside you and you had to lay on a bed for 20 hours...... certainly wont be looking up treatment online again. Glad you are doing ok. Week 3 post op for me today so things are moving pretty quick. Thanks for the update.  x

I heard from some ladies on the gyny group I am on that they had it 12 hours in one go overnight in hospital ! That was 10 years ago 

I had 3 x 7 minutes only xx good luck at your meeting I just looked back and saw you are grade 1 which is good as means the cells looo less abnormal xx 

Edgecumbegirl, this is why we tell people on here not to Google! The inpatient intensive version tends to be for women with cervical cancer not endometrial. The usual brachy for endometrial cancer is the short outpatient version lasting 6-7 minutes. 

Here’s a copy and paste of a post by SarahH21 from the dedicated Radiotherapy and Brachytherapy Support thread:

“The brachytherapy for ladies who have had womb cancer and their womb removed is not the same as the brachytherapy carried out for cervical cancer. For womb cancer it’s to reduce the risk of recurrence for example in the vaginal vault, but with cervical cancer it is directly targeting the tumour.

Also, for ladies with cervical cancer there are different types of brachy depending on the equipment available at the hospital you attend-low dose or high dose, so either short sessions or a longer session as an inpatient. I think it’s quite important not to have confusion between the treatments for womb and cervical cancer as they are not the same.”

Thanks for that I did wonder how far to the vaginal vault the applicator with the bracytherapy goes x only one more no side effects up to now apart from tonisiilitis lol 

Well the meeting didn't go as planned. 

My consultant has graded me at  Grade 3c1 - I have a treatment plan as follows

6 x chemotherapy 2 a day for 3 weeks (given  together) at Burnley Hospital

25 x external radio therapy  at Preston Hospital

4 Brachytherapy at The Christy Hospital Manchester

This will take place over the next 8 months. 

I expected Brachytherapy after my op but not this ( due to family history) they want to make sure it dosnt pop up somewhere else.

So here goes, wish me luck, I will be back to report in, my treatment starts within 2 weeks