Hi there I’m new today, I am late to join as my mum is already well into her treatment but I will detail so far and hope that someone can shed any positive information about what happens now.
mum has G3 endometrial cancer also in the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. She has had 3 very gruelling rounds of chemotherapy in the hope of shrinking the tumour enough for a full hysterectomy. However at the follow up MRI results yesterday she learned that while the main tumour has shrunk, there are 2 new ones lower down in the vagina. Surgery is not an option now so they have started her on hormone therapy and are planning 5 weeks of radiotherapy with internal rods at the end . (This ideally would have been done at the start but mum has ulcerative colitis and the tumour was too close to the bowel) however her options are now more limited.
The main worry is - is the radiotherapy always a success will it get rid of the tumours and if not what will happen then? She was told she can’t have any surgery after radiotherapy.
to complicate things further mum had 2 heart attacks and 3 stents fitted the week before her first chemotherapy. She’s only 66 and up until this a strong woman working a full time job.
just can’t believe it it seems like its 1 step forward and 2 steps back. 
Hello Coffeeuntilwine
Welcome to the Online Community and the Womb cancer forum.
I am very sorry to hear of your Mum's diagnosis of Endometrial cancer. I also had a grade 3 endometrial cancer last year and my treatment was surgery, then chemo and then radiotherapy. If you click on my name, my profile will come up and show the timings etc.
I am sorry that her MRI results came back showing that although the main tumour shrunk due to the chemo, that there are 2 new vaginal ones. It must be hard for you both that the gruelling chemo has not had the wanted effect. It is good though that they are looking at alternatives to the surgery and I do know of other ladies on here who have had hormonal treatments. Hopefully someone who has had them will see your post and be able to share their experience.
I had 5 weeks of external beam radiotherapy. I found it quite tiring with the travelling and did find it upset my tummy, however the radiotherapists were really supportive and were able to offer medication that helped. It is however painless as the machine does not touch your body.
My radiotherapy had a different purpose to your Mum's and was to try to prevent a recurrence. From what I understand through being on here and from talking to other people who were having treatment at the same time as myself, after radiotherapy is finished there is a short time where the radiotherapy is still working in your body. So there is normally a few weeks and then a scan is done to see if the effect that the treatment has on the cancer. There is normally an appointment to discuss/review the radiotherapy. My review appointment consisted on seeing how I was managing any side effects and a physical exam and bloods. My review took place around 4 weeks after my last radiotherapy session.
I did not have any internal radiotherapy as there were no cancer cells found in my cervix but there are many ladies on here who have had brachytherapy which is one type of internal radiotherapy. I have seen a few that have had the types with rods.
You mention Mum having Ulcerative Colitis - with the radiotherapy they will do planning scans first and they will aim to target as much as possible the cancer areas and as much as possible avoid other areas. By using a mini enema to make sure the bowel is empty and by drinking 3 glasses of water there is some protection.
I can understand that it is more complicated due to Mum's heart problems but they will take all of it into account when deciding which treatments to offer. Being only 66 and a strong woman working a fulltime job- will help her get through this treatment.
I hope this helps a bit but if there is anything else that you need or want to know please just ask. There is also the Support Line where you can speak to one of the Nurses if you feel it would be helpful. The number is below.
Lastly the Womb cancer forum has lots of lovely ladies at all different stages in their journeys with cancer and they were a great support to me during my treatment. Please do not be afraid to ask if we can help you or your Mum in anyway.
Jane
