Radiation or not after surgery for endometrial cancer?
I was diagnosed with early stage endometrial cancer at Christmas. Had complete hysterectomy on 1/9/24. There was no cancer in the sentinel lymph nodes, ovaries or tubes. My doctor is suggesting brachytherapy to cut my 10% chance of recurrence to 5%. I’m concerned about the side effects. Has anyone been thru this and what are the possible side affects of this type of radiation? Dr said I don’t have the harmful P53 gene but do have a gene that would qualify me for immunotherapy if it were to come back. Really torn about what to do next. Would like to think I could fight the return with diet and lifestyle. Ideas and experiences appreciated.
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OMG! This is the perfect example of why it's important to advocate for ourselves. It was logical, simply common sense, for doctors to examine your vaginal area yet you still had to fight for it (and save your own life!). For my hystorectomy, I fought for open surgery. Had to travel distances and even fly from California to New York to find oncologists who would do it. After the surgery, the surgeon said it was a good thing I insisted on open surgery because if they had done it robotically, the cancer likely would have spilled into my abdomen. We must continue to follow our instincts and go with our gutt feelings. Thank you, for that story.
I'm having the robotic surgery and it's easier on the body than cutting you open.
I did not have open surgery. Mine was five little port holes for the arms of the robot to go in.
Thank you for yours also.
I find I am constantly exhausted from dealing with this, I have had cancer 3 times, uterus, recurrence vaginal cuff and breast. My husband has has prostrate, recurrence twice currently going through it again and lung cancer. But we manage to keep fighting on. My friends don’t understand that I think about C they should live a day in my life. Amazingly though we are both healthy. Although my husband has the beginning of MCI. I just live one day at a time and we enjoy each other and life.
Keep fighting! I'm trying to create an environment in my body where cancer is less likely to grow so take supplements. I want to avoid "snake oil" as I know nothing will be a cure, but I combed through sites like this and found what PEOPLE WITH NO RECURRENCES take. No one knows if the supplements truly played a role, but I see hope and generated a very extensive list; reducing it to a few based on peoples experiences and my own research. Until a cure is found, let's share and empower each other to fight from all possible fronts.
What does branch therapy mean? Is that is what's recommended before or after a full hysterectomy, to lower risk of reoccurrence?
Brachytherapy is internal radiation. In my case an applicator was used to place a high dose radiation “seed” at the location of the vaginal cuff to lower the chances of recurrence as often times this is where a recurrence occurs. The brachytherapy is targeted so as to spare other organs. You first have a CT simulation to identify the location. The entire procedure takes minutes and is a little uncomfortable but not painful I had three treatments following external beam radiation and chemotherapy fir stage 3 endometrial cancer
I concur that the set up is weird, but not painful. The enclosed radiation room with the well-protected tech was a bit surreal, but I played word games in my head to manage the anxiety.
Best of luck!
Ok thank you!
I'm reading on here most had 3 brach. therapies, I only had 2 brach, 28 external radiations for/stage 3 endometrial cancer w/POLE mutation. I asked why I hear most have 3 brach treatments it seems and I only had 2. Doctor said was cause I did more external which is harder he stated. ...any thoughts