Next steps - brachytherapy

Hi Pendle, great news about your histology results but from where on earth did you get that info about weight gain?! Hope you haven’t been googling! I’m guessing you may have as it sounds so bizarre! I was also grade 1 stage 2 post histology and had 25 x radio and 2 x brachy. The brachy was a breeze - a quick 6 mins per treatment (2 music tracks) and that was it. No side effects whatsoever except my pee feeling warm once or twice after the first treatment. I was told to expect no side effects that were different from anything I’d had during radio, and I didn’t experience any really. The most common place for recurrence is on the vagina side of where the cervix was, so I was especially keen for the carefully targeted brachy to give myself the best chance possible. Feel free to ask any questions whatsoever. For me I’m glad I had it, and even preferred it to the radio as it was so quick and easy.

I’m now just wondering if what you’ve seen was a member’s post on the group a few days ago where she was wondering if some issues she was having were down to brachy. Before my treatments I was told that possible side effects tended to be localised and in the immediate vicinity, ie vagina, bladder, urethra. That lady had a lot going on medically and the things she mentioned were not on the info I was given by my brachytherapy nurse. After you’ve met with the consultant, it’s likely that you will be referred to a brachy nurse for an explanatory chat and chance to ask questions. You could even request a phone chat with her beforehand - my CNS arranged that for me and I felt so reassured afterwards and it made my first appointment so much easier. 

I've had brachytherapy and there was an  opportunity at the initial consultation to discuss any concerns. They also gave me contact details for a different CNS in case I had queries I'd forgotten to raise. 

I think a 7.5 stone loss is an amazing achievement by the way! With all that hard work I can see why it would be important to you. 

Macmillan does have the facility to ask a nurse which is a great service. 

Sorry to be basic and blunt, but I honestly can’t see how having the top of our fannies having a a few rays shone on it for a few mins could affect metabolism etc! It’s understandable to have concerns about treatment, but I’d suggest focusing on all the positive brachy stories on here rather than one post where a lady was wondering if her symptoms were connected rather than saying that they were. There are a lot of positive accounts! 

Hi Pendle

Wow what an amazing amount of weight you have lost you should be immensely proud of yourself! I’m struggling to lose a stone and I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon with Christmas approaching. If it’s of any reassurance I am a retired radiotherapy radiographer and although it’s a long time since I worked as one I’m sure the basics are still the same. There is absolutely no need to worry about brachytherapy causing weight gain. There will probably be other side effects soreness, itching etc but there is no physical reason for weight gain. I hope the treatment goes well for you.

Linda xx

Are you referring to me? My GP and then the consultant were very clear that blood in urine and a UTI post brachytherapy are not unusual

must admit the tone sounds very dismissive indeed of my medical suff. It is also quite rude to tell everyone to stop googling.- there are very good info sites available not just MacMillan and my oncologist frequently spells out things and tells me to read up. Most of us can discriminate between useful information and sites and the rubbish out there very well! There is equally some bad info on this forum sometimes. 

Hi Tangle, no not referring to your post at all - unsure why you thought that as Pendle specifically mentioned weight gain as her main concern and that wasn’t one of yours. Your side effects were localised to the pelvic area and are included in the list of possibles that can happen. There was a post a few days ago which was entitled “Side effects Brachytherapy weight gain appetite taste” and I was extremely concerned that Pendle may have been influenced by that. As for Googling … I’ve been on this forum over three years and “don’t Google” was being stated when I arrived and has been stated by many others ever since. My CNS said the same. Sticking to Macmillan and one or two other verified sites is the best way as otherwise we can be faced with outdated, out of context or even totally wrong info. My CNS had had patients who had been swayed into decisions that had put their lives at risk through Googling. And we’ve seen it many times on this group where women have scared themselves witless. FWIW if you or anyone else think you’ve seen any bad info on here, it’s advisable to report it either using the FLAG option to to email the Community Admins.

Hi Pendle

That's great news that the cancer was contained. 

It sounds like the brachytherapy is being offered as an adjuvant treatment to try to prevent a recurrence in a place where it can be sometimes more likely to recur. There are many ladies on here who have had the treatment.

There can be some side effects and when you go to see the consultant they will be able to talk you through what will happen and be able to answer any questions. The side effects that most ladies seem to experience on here are local to the area- so perhaps a bit of bladder irritation/soreness etc. 

What an amazing achievement to lose so much weight. Well done. Weight gain is not something that would be a factor in brachytherapy as it is a localised treatment. 

Here's some info that may be of help. Yours would be the outpatient brachytherapy.

Having Internal Radiotherapy For Womb Cancer | Cancer Research UK

When having my follow up treatments, I found it helpful to write a list of questions to take with me. Perhaps consider this. I remember being told I needed further treatment and it can be a worrying time but once I knew what was going to happen and when it did feel better. 

If you wanted to talk things through first, perhaps give the Support Line a call. 

I hope your appointment goes well and good luck for the treatment.

Jane

I admit, Dr Google was my first port of call! I do try to look at reliable sources such as the NHS websites and WebMD etc and I am mindful not to use it for diagnoses.

So you had 25 radiotherapy sessions? Jeez.  Only brachytherapy has been mentioned, but I will find out more when I see the specialist next week.

I did see a post earlier where a lady had side effects.  I am looking forward, if you can describe it as that, to seeing the consultant and a brachy nurse because I am also fascinated by what is going on as well as scared because during the hysteroscopies I had there was no sign of anything near the cervix.