Radiotherapy support

Hi there. Thank you for the offer of info. Can you tell me how the radiotherapy impacted you and your body/side effects and if you are now having any issues long term?. 

Hi Jane

can you tell me how Radiotherapy impacted you and your body and also if you have any long term issues now?

thank you so much.

Hi Jayne23, I started a pelvic radiotherapy eating plan a couple of days before treatment started. I drove myself to and from each appointment. I was down for 25 sessions which is approx 5 weeks but mine took a bit longer as there were several bank holidays which meant days off! I had no side effects whatsoever till half way through week 4 when I noticed a bloating feeling in my tummy. I told the team, the on duty oncology registrar came to see me before my session and suggested Buscopan. That helped. I also started to have some urgency re having a poo, but though my poos were slightly loose, I never had diarrhoea. The bloating and urgency eased as my treatment finished and had gone completely by 2-3 weeks afterwards. No long term side effecfs that I’m aware of. 

That is really positive. I’ve potentially turned down the treatment due to the side effects. I know everyone doesn’t experience every symptom. 
Was your R for preventative reasons?

Very personal and don’t answer if you don’t want. Do you need to wear a dilator? If you had R around the vagina.

I would say I’m fit and healthy and want to believe the cancer has gone with the hysterectomy. Wishful thinking I know. I’m just so fearful of getting the side effects. Lymphoma was another and pelvic fractures.

you are really helpful to me at this time. I have 2 weeks left to decide.

Hi I completed preventative radiotherapy in May last year. I did experience increased bowel frequency which persisted for quite a while but it was manageable. Now usually go twice rather than once a day but that is all. I have no regrets at all - wanted to do everything I could to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Hi Jayne

i can’t see the start of your thread. Like you I agonised over the decision whether to have brachytherapy due to the worries of side effects. It is such a hard decision as no one knows how it will affect them. I am 66 and have chronic fatigue syndrome and some autoimmune issues, which heightened my concerns. I wasn’t worried about the treatment itself or short-term effects, it’s longer term ones that concern me. 
Do you mind me asking what your stage and grade of cancer was? I was 1b, grade 2, with  >50% myometrial invasion and focal LVSI. No lymph nodes were sampled. 
I had my first brachy session last week. The procedure went fine, I did have some nausea for a few days, increased bladder frequency and pelvic  pain around cuff area, which have settled. Also a bit of pain in my rectum when initially sitting down. 
I’m due my second session tomorrow.  I find it difficult not to be anxious about side effects but want to do my best to prevent recurrence. 

Thank you. 

I had st1a g1 which got upgraded to g2 post op. I have substantial(borderline) LVSI. No lymph tested.

I want to believe the cancer has gone and it doesn’t seem right treating an area that is cancer free. Reality is I know that no one can tell me either way and this is what makes the decision so difficult.

I was stage1a, upgraded to 1b post op. Is it brachytherapy only they have offered you? I send you my very best wishes whatever you decide. 

Hi, no it’s external 5 weeks Radiotherapy.

thank you so much .