Radiation or No Radiation?

Posted by dianavl @dianavl, Jun 28 5:48pm

After my latest recurrence of endometrial cancer, my GynOnc set me up for Brachy radiation. My recurrence happened in Feb. It's been 20 weeks now and I still haven't started because when I was supposed to start, after having done the simulation, it turns out that the device wasn't in far enough because of atrophy. They sent me home to use dilators for 2 weeks. I came back and the simulation was successful, and I was scheduled to start this past Tuesday, (6/25). I get there, signed in, and was listening to voicemail as I waited, and had a voicemail from them telling me they were pushing treatment back another week!! She said the treatment wasn't ready yet and the doctor didn't feel comfortable rushing it. Mind you, it's been 20 weeks! I saw that the most someone should wait for treatment is 62 days. I'm wondering if I should just forget about doing the radiation. I'm really worried about the risks to my bladder and bowels. This is my 2nd recurrence. All together I've had a hysterectomy, chemo 2x, and 20 external radiation treatments. I've also been through 3 other GynOncs. I feel like I have zero advocates. Any opinions?

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gisellef | @gisellef | Jun 29 7:13am

Thank you for sharing your story. It makes no sense to me that you would have had your radiation moved because “the doc didn’t feel comfortable rushing it”. Yet you have been left waiting for 20 weeks. If you have a new date in a week’s time I would suggest going through the process. You are unlikely to be able to get treatment elsewhere any sooner. However, if there are further delays, find another clinic that can treat you right away. Keep fingers crossed that this was just a hiccup in the process. All the best!

dianavl | @dianavl | Jun 29 3:23pm

In reply to @gisellef "Thank you for sharing your story. It makes no sense to me that you would have..." + (show)

I kinda answered my own question, and have decided to change doctors. I found out where my former doctor practices and he's taking new patients. (He left the practice I was previously going to) He was awesome. I know it will further delay treatment, but I really didn't want radiation of any type again. I felt like I was steamrolled into doing it. The RadOnc doctor was okay-ish but I really didn't gel with my GynOnc. Thanks for answering! 😉

gisellef | @gisellef | Jun 29 3:33pm

Glad you are getting another opinion-especially from someone with whom you have trust and a level of comfort.
It just doesn’t seem right for a patient to be in limbo for a long time. My experience is that if it doesn’t seem right, find a better practitioner and do so with haste. Hope you get what’s best for your recovery! Best wishes.

dianavl | @dianavl | Jun 29 4:20pm

In reply to @gisellef "Glad you are getting another opinion-especially from someone with whom you have trust and a level..." + (show)

Thank you so much! I think it's horrible that practitioners are making cancer even more horrible to deal with than it already is!

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