Vaginal vault brachytherapy planning

Hi Dolly3

Im in the same position as you so I wait with interest for any responses to your query.

I had an appointment with the oncologist this week and am due to start 3 sessions of Brachytherapy from next Tuesday.

The Oncologist gave me a quick internal examination to determine the size of the applicator and a pamphlet about what to expect on the day, no mention of CT scan. It seems to depend on the hospital you attend as to what ‘service’ you receive.

I'm also interested to know if there is an option for any pain relief should it be required as some hospitals seem to offer this during the procedure.

Good luck!

J x

I will be keeping a close eye on this thread as part of my treatment plan is Brachytherapy, after my chemo and external beam radiotherapy, 2025 hasn’t been my best friend. My journey started in January, 2 more chemo infusions to do, then 5 weeks of Radiotherapy followed by the Brachytherapy, roll on 2026.

I had a mini CT scan as a separate appointment, then 2 x treatment sessions. Some hospitals do the mini CT immediately before the first treatment. If some hospitals aren’t doing a mini CT first then this is new to me and I’d suggest you check this with your CNS and perhaps ask for a brachtherapy nurse to phone you to clarify. 

Joolsy, just to say that I had absolutely no pain during my brachytherapy - it was just a tampon size applicator and was only in for about 6 minutes - 2 music tracks long! Felt a bit unusual but not really even uncomfortable.

Hi Marmitefan, thank you once again for replying. When I asked the nurse at my brachytherapy pre-assessment yesterday, she said a CT planning scan is only done for cervical cancer. 
The oncologist had checked my “cuff” at just short of six weeks and said it appeared to be healing well. She remarked at the time “that speculum seemed to fit well, so a medium”. I lhad a couple of days of bright red bleeding after that (not too heavy). 

At my appointment next week (almost ten weeks post op) the nurse will simply insert the brachytherapy and treatment will take place. Definitely no planning scan 

Hi Dolly

Sometimes there can be a difference in practice between different hospitals and sometimes changes to treatments over time. It would be interesting to see if any one who has had brachytherapy more recently - in the last year- has had the scan. 

There is some general info here. 

https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/UHS-website-2019/Patientinformation/Cancercare/Brachytherapy-vault-treatment-1314-PIL.pdf

Good luck with your treatment

Jane

Thanks Jane. Your link describes a more personalised plan with prior CT scan. My treatment centre is the Beatson Glasgow. It will be interesting to hear others’ experiences. 

I just checked - my hospital (Southampton) appears to still do a mini planning CT 

https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/UHS-website-2019/Patientinformation/Cancercare/Brachytherapy-vault-treatment-1314-PIL.pdf

I had a CT at the start of the first treatment session not at a separate appointment. All in the same room, just some slight moving from one flat surface adjacent to another, if that makes sense. Instillagel a topical gel that has both a lubricant and anaesthetic effect was used. The staff were great and very supportive. They gave me updates through the microphone as to how the time was going which I found helpful. When the session was over they said with very straight faces "just one more thing....now go for cake and coffee"!

Hi Dolly3 

I didn't have a CT before brachytherapy but a doctor did an internal exam and decided on the size of applicator to use, this happened at my first appointment then a nurse dealt with me at my second appointment. 

H