Anyone had pelvic exenteration surgery for cervical cancer?

Posted by afowler876 @afowler876, May 4, 2023

Has anyone had a pelvic exenteration surgery for cervical cancer? If so was the recovery hard.

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@tatersinger

Hi, Bev. I am hoping by now that you have had your surgery. I had total pelvic exenteration here in Tampa, FL at Moffitt Cancer Inst. on Sept. 28th, 2015. I am thus far cancer-free! My vaginal cancer (which was originally Stage I cervical cancer--long story) recurred twice, and necessitated the PE. Like you, my mass had caused obstruction of urine output. In my case, it had wrapped itself around my left ureter and was partially blocking my rectum. I have now been a "double-bagger" for over nine years. My first year was very tough on me emotionally and physically, as I have also had rheumatoid arthritis since 1989. Know that this surgery does not define you! Please let us know how you're doing. Deb

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@tatersinger Thank you for your kind note to @bevmarant. Welcome to the Gynecological Cancer Support Group. I want to offer my congratulations on living a cancer free life for 10 years. This provides hope for us all. Thank you also for sharing that the changes you experienced as a result of the surgery were initially very difficult for you but you've adjusted over the years. This is very encouraging.

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@naturegirl5

@tatersinger Thank you for your kind note to @bevmarant. Welcome to the Gynecological Cancer Support Group. I want to offer my congratulations on living a cancer free life for 10 years. This provides hope for us all. Thank you also for sharing that the changes you experienced as a result of the surgery were initially very difficult for you but you've adjusted over the years. This is very encouraging.

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Absolutely! You have no idea how strong you can be, until you have no choice but to be strong. I am more than happy to chat with anyone who wants or needs to discuss Pelvic Exenteration surgery or ostomies. I have a lot of experience to offer.

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@tatersinger

Absolutely! You have no idea how strong you can be, until you have no choice but to be strong. I am more than happy to chat with anyone who wants or needs to discuss Pelvic Exenteration surgery or ostomies. I have a lot of experience to offer.

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@tatersinger You are so right. When someone says to me that they see how strong I am and that they could never get through whatever it is I'm going through I say to them "Yes, you will.
You won't know until you are faced with something yourself". It's very true. Thank you for your experience that you are offering.

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@tatersinger

Hi, Bev. I am hoping by now that you have had your surgery. I had total pelvic exenteration here in Tampa, FL at Moffitt Cancer Inst. on Sept. 28th, 2015. I am thus far cancer-free! My vaginal cancer (which was originally Stage I cervical cancer--long story) recurred twice, and necessitated the PE. Like you, my mass had caused obstruction of urine output. In my case, it had wrapped itself around my left ureter and was partially blocking my rectum. I have now been a "double-bagger" for over nine years. My first year was very tough on me emotionally and physically, as I have also had rheumatoid arthritis since 1989. Know that this surgery does not define you! Please let us know how you're doing. Deb

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Thank you for sharing your story. I’m so glad to hear you are cancer free for 10 years. It gives me hope! I completed my surgery 3.5 months ago and I am doing well. Fortunate not to have any big complications from the surgery. The first two months were the hardest bc I wasn’t able to sit. I had alot of help from family and now I’m back to driving and sitting pretty much donut cushion free again. I was fortunate to only need a urostomy but going into surgery I knew I might have needed both. A small blessing for me. I would love the opportunity to talk with you about your management of the urostomy. I think there is a way to do so privately. Maybe someone could advise how to do such.

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