Brachytherapy side effects

Hi Dolly 3

I had 3 brachy sessions in June last year ,one in one week then two the following week .To be honest I had no problems at all with my bowels or bladder and didnt feel as if Id had it done .

It was over quickly and I was on my way home hope everything goes ok with yours 

Hi Dolly3, I had 25 x radio and 2 x brachy in 2022. Side effects are only “possible”, not a given. They have to explain the possibles, but a number of us have none at all. Apart from it feeling a bit warm when I had a wee (after my first treatment) - which didn’t last - I had no side effects from the brachy whatsoever. And since the most common place for recurrence is the underside of where the cervix used to be, I was especially glad I’d had the treatment.

Hi Dolly

Having lymphatic/vascular invasion would suggest that adjuvant treatment is needed. LVSI means that some tiny cancer cells have been found in the vessels leading from the cancer/womb. I also had LVSI- I remember being told that in time, in some ladies it could mean that the cancer cells could potentially travel around the body and set up elsewhere. It does not mean that this will definitely happen- but it is a chance. I was told that it is better to try to mop up any of these stray cells while they are still so tiny that they are not visible on scans- than to risk them causing a recurrence- which will be harder to treat. 

It is natural to be concerned about side effects when being offered a follow up treatment. I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However in the time I have been on here it has become clear that most ladies who are only offered brachytherapy have very few longer terms effects. The longer term effects on bladder and bowel tend to be from the external beam radiotherapy that I had. 

I was told that for most ladies the more common areas of recurrence are in the vagina/vaginal vault area and the lymph nodes/pelvic- especially where there are LVSI. That is why these are the areas that are checked during check ups. There can of course be recurrences in different areas but it is the area around the vaginal vault that can be more common. 

For me due to the LVSI I was recommended to have external beam radiotherapy to mop up any stray cells in my pelvis. I was not recommended to have brachytherapy as no cancer cells were found in my cervix. I was given chemotherapy due to the LVSI and the idea was to mop up any stray cells whole body wise. 

I would recommend you talk it through with your CNS but be reassured that most ladies on here find it is a tolerable treatment with only minimal effects at the time. I have not come across anyone on here who has late effects from only brachytherapy- it tends to be the external beam radiotherapy. 

Jane

Hi Dolly 3  I had 3 sessions of brachytherapy 6 weeks ago, I get occasional bladder irritation and I became constipated which I control with diet . It’s difficult to say whether either are a direct result of the brachytherapy but either way not a major problem . I put a post up a few weeks ago about the whole brachytherapy experience . 

Thank you so much. I’ve been finding it a difficult decision, trying to weigh up the risks of having/not having brachytherapy. 

Do you mind me asking when you say bladder irritation, does that mean having to go more often? Thanks again. 

Hi yes I need to go more often and niggly feeling in bladder but not a uti. I too had reservations about going ahead with brachytherapy but decided better to cover all bases. The dilators you use afterwards are a bit of a pain ( not literally) . 

Hi Dolly3

I had four rounds of brachytherapy last May - my final assessment after my operation was stage 1a grade 1, I too had some LVSI present. I was also hesitant at first about having any treatment having read the possible long term side effects. I had the choice of opting to have no further treatment, have brachytherapy or going for the external radiotherapy. I finally chose the brachytherapy, when the consultant showed me the percentages of the side effects actually occurring it seemed a whole lot less scary. I have had no side effects since my treatment last year apart from one mild uti last August.  I have had regular check ups since then and ct scans which has been very reassuring.  The procedure itself is a quick and relatively painless I used to catch the train to the hospital and was soon back on the train home. I remember I even ran to catch one! Hope this helps you with your decision.

You've put it very well. I'm exactly the same after brachytherapy last year. 

Hi Clem

Do you mean you have ongoing bladder issues too? 
thanks.