Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma: What treatments did you have?

I just returned from Mayo for labs and the initial CT scan after chemo and radiation. Luckily, I have no evidence of disease. It has been four months since surgery and I am progressing well, but still have some side effects that hopefully will resolve in time. These are neuropathy (even with the cold gloves and slippers) some incontinence and some bowel oddities. After the 4th chemo, I am very fatigued, out of breath and have no stamina but with time these things should resolve. My surgery was uneventful and I am recovering nicely. I am so grateful that I came to Mayo for a second opinion, surgery, and have been treated by a terrific team who know how to treat UPSC. Now I am in survivorship mode and on to the next stage of my life.

Hi @goldengirl2 and others, Chiming in with my experience. I'm five years and a few months out from dx of UPSC. Had surgery w/ Da Vinci robot and a superb, skilled, kind surgeon here in Virginia, followed by a 'sandwich regime': three rounds chemo Taxol/ Carboplatin, 25 sessions of external radiation and 3 sessions of brachytherapy internal rad, 3 final sessions of chemo. At one point in 2013 it was suggested by a consulting oncologist that external radiation might not be necessary in addition to all the rest, but my surgeon recommended I hit it with everything and so I did. I'm completely NED and we celebrated the five-year mark this spring (my family). Some of the side effects I think are by this time considered permanent: neuropathy (chemo-induced in feet) and digestive changes (rad-induced). It was a pretty scary experience certainly, my tumor was 90% through uterine wall but no lymph node involvement. The standard of care changes a bit over time and I try to keep up somewhat with the literature (am too new here to post links, it's not allowed for me, but there are some good recent ones found easily on google by inputting UPSC and looking in the last year) but by no means qualified to weigh in medically. Just a survivor's experience. Best of luck to you. If I can answer any questions please just ask.

Hi @goldengirl2 and others, Chiming in with my experience. I'm five years and a few months out from dx of UPSC. Had surgery w/ Da Vinci robot and a superb, skilled, kind surgeon here in Virginia, followed by a 'sandwich regime': three rounds chemo Taxol/ Carboplatin, 25 sessions of external radiation and 3 sessions of brachytherapy internal rad, 3 final sessions of chemo. At one point in 2013 it was suggested by a consulting oncologist that external radiation might not be necessary in addition to all the rest, but my surgeon recommended I hit it with everything and so I did. I'm completely NED and we celebrated the five-year mark this spring (my family). Some of the side effects I think are by this time considered permanent: neuropathy (chemo-induced in feet) and digestive changes (rad-induced). It was a pretty scary experience certainly, my tumor was 90% through uterine wall but no lymph node involvement. The standard of care changes a bit over time and I try to keep up somewhat with the literature (am too new here to post links, it's not allowed for me, but there are some good recent ones found easily on google by inputting UPSC and looking in the last year) but by no means qualified to weigh in medically. Just a survivor's experience. Best of luck to you. If I can answer any questions please just ask.

Welcome, @bjkingape. You will be able to post links soon. We block links for new registrants to help block spammers. However, I reviewed the link you wanted to post. Here it is:

- SGO 2018: No Benefit of Adding Vaginal Brachytherapy to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Uterine Cancer https://www.practiceupdate.com/content/sgo-2018-no-benefit-of-adding-vaginal-brachytherapy-to-adjuvant-chemotherapy-for-early-stage-uterine-cancer/65991
Please note that this article is behind a registration obligation. You have to register (for free) to access the information.

What are the rad induced digestive changes? It’s these things I’m worried about...

What are the rad induced digestive changes? It’s these things I’m worried about...

I wrote a really long reply but I don't see it here... it seemed to be here last night..?

Glad things are going well for you bluemeade7! It’s scary at first isn’t it? I found it desoncerting to be told we dont really know if this chemo works for you or not ....What chemo drugs did you have for 4 rounds? And did radiation involve whole abdomen? Will the incontinence and odd bowel stuff resolve and did you have radiation after surgery, and chemo? My 6th round definitely left me with neuropathy in my feet but nowhere else and only this round so I hope it goes away as its like walking with a plank of wood at the bottom of my legs...quite weird and no sensation to hot or cold. Amazing what they can do with surgery now leaving little marks instead of major scars..and super short recovery time..physically that is, mentally it does take a bit to come to terms with it all.

Yes I live in British Columbia. They are suggesting WART and along the paa aortic lymph nodes, not brachytherapy. I just finished my last chemo and this may be the next step in January. Adjuvant , like the chemo. I will read the article thank you so much. Knowledge is powere I am finding out the hard way through this whole process of advocating for yourself...