Adjuvant Brachytherapy, side effects and dosage for brachytherapy only

Hi Bridgepond89. I've just posted this similar text in another post.

I had 3 sessions of Brachytherapy. Thursday, Tuesday and Thursday 6 weeks after my hysterectomy. This was an optional offer as  "belt and braces" to prevent recurrence. I was stage 1b, grade 3 serous. Lymph Nodes = 0, No LVSI 

If you read my bio and the situation I'm in now you'll realise I wish I'd been offered chemotherapy at the outset.

With Brachytherapy what will happen is you will be measured for a "snug" fitting applicator. They will fit this and it will be attached to the bed. The nurses will leave the room. You'll hear a klaxon sound after they leave the room then some whirring and clicking and basically silence. After about 5 minutes the clicking and whirring will resume the klaxon will sound and the nurses will come back in. They'll detach the applicator and help you off the bed, then you get changed and go home. Some ladies had music played to them, some even took their own music with them!

It's quite painless, just undignified and the nurses understand your fears and reassure you. Some ladies experienced fatigue, I didn't. I did experience some changes in bowel habits, diarrhoea on occasion.

On a humorous note after my last treatment when I got back in my car I thought I'd experienced bladder incontinence but it was the heated seats in my car had come on and I hadn't noticed!

Hugs, Barb xx

Hi Bridgepond89. It’s good to hear that you’ve got through your chemo. One brave lady doing all this by yourself!

I was having my brachytherapy at the same time as Barb. I had my op in August 2020 and my brachytherapy started in October. I was Grade 1 Stage 1b, and I had one session per week for three weeks. Like Barb said, doesn’t hurt, just a tad undignified. In my case I had a CT scan at my first session, so my appointment lasted about two hours in all, altho the actual brachytherapy only took about five minutes.. Before my op I’d only had an ultrasound scan, so I presume they were just checking the applicator was in the right place etc. my other two appointments were about half an hour, again brachytherapy only for about five minutes. The nurses wheeled me in on a trolley so that I could see all the machinery and not be too scared, in fact the brachytherapy machine looked like a filing cabinet from what I could see of it!  I was very reassured when the radiologist explained the radioactive source is about the size of a grain of rice. And they said most ladies don’t get side effects from brachytherapy as it is a very targeted treatment. I did feel quite tired when I got home after each session, but was fine the day after.

I’m glad to  say I haven’t suffered any side effects really. I have experienced my bladder not completely emptying when I go to the loo, but that is easy to cope with - and it could be to do with old age as much as anything else!. I am now on three monthly checks, most of them have been telephone consults cos of Covid. Hope this helps,

Viv x

Hi, I found the brachytherapy ok. Fatigue afterwards but not too bad. I found the worst period for me was after the treatment ended because the emotional side really hit me. Do reach out for help if you find this too. Maggie’s we’re great for me. Good luck

I forgot that bit. When I got back to my after the last session I just sat in the car and cried and cried. I think it was the emotional pressure cooker going off and the relief that everything was all over. I got a few strange looks but nobody stopped to ask if I was ok. I suppose that's a normal sight in a hospital car park.

Hugs, Barb xx

Hi Barbs, I'm sorry for the late reply. I was so sorry to hear you were not offered the chemo as part of the belt and braces procedures. Thank you for explaining your experience of the procedure for brachytherapy. The radiologist consultant gave me quite a comprehensive description of the brachtherapy so my apologies for asking for you and others to describe the procedure. I realise, I am more curios about after the treatment, in terms of lasting effects. I appreciate everyone is different and therefore experiences the after effects subjectively. I think I am more swayed to having rather than not having. The fatigue isn't helping and I need to have answer as the not knowing what to decide is contributing to my stress. Big hugs to you R xx

Hi Viv, thank you for your reply, as I was saying in my reply to Barbs message, I'm swayed to have it, I'm not sure how long I have to decide as I have been suffering from cancer fatigue as diagnosed by my CNS nurse a couple of weeks ago, apparently it's quite common after chemo and procedures etc...But, having to make another decision about another procedure, I would normally run away from in normal circumstances and I suppose that is the crux, this not normal circumstances. I have the email address of the radiotherapist's secretary so that I can ask some questions, so I will find out when I have to make a decision. I did not have the energy to decide even last week, I think I feel a bit overwhelmed and needed some time post chemo to get some much needed rest. I feel as though I have been on high alert for months and months. I will see if there is any more information I might want to consider, but I think I'm of the persuasion to have the brachytherapy. Yes, you have been really helpful. Thank you again, R xxx

Hi Galathophile, I think I've been feeling some emotional responses and fatigue already, and the difficulty I've been experiencing with the lack of energy to make a decision has been so tiring, that I totally appreciate the waves of emotion you experienced after such a procedure without yet experiencing it yet myself. Thank you for the encouragement to reach out for support too. R xx

Hi Brdgepond89 sorry for delay in responding to your post but your story is so like mine.  I too had a total hysterectomy and apronectomy in December 20 and my cancer was grade 3 stage 1a. I also went through this on my own as I live alone. The drains from my operation came out early and I struggled with leakage for a few weeks after the op.  I had belt and braces chemo (6 sessions), radiotherapy (23 sessions) and brachytherapy (2) sessions.  Brachytherapy was the easiest of the therapies to get through just very undignified. I knew that the brachytherapy was the end of my treatment and I was so relieved to get it all over and done with and get back to normal life.  My last treatment was August 2021.  I still get tired easily but the peripheral neuropathy has gone and my hair is growing back.

Good luck with the next stage in your treatment.