Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma: What treatments did you have?

Wishing my friends in this group joy in our healing as we turn the pages on 2020. I send all best wishes for 2021!

@embeth99, I wish you the best for 2021, too. I think we're all looking forward to seeing 2020 in our rearview mirrors.

How are you?

Anyone can share with me about Adenocarcinoma uterine that I have been diagnosed after biopsy.. I feel I'm about to have a panig attack.

I had 5 radiation treatments in May 2021 after a total hysterectomy. About a month later I began to have bouts of diarrhea. It has gotten better but it's been 10 months since the last brachytherapy and I still have loose stools almost every day along with the urgent need to go to the bathroom. It has gotten better but my doctor says it is very uncommon to have this long term side effect. Does anyone else still have this problem? Thanks

Hi @gormie, loose stools and urgent need is a common side effect after radiation for a gynecologic cancer. But I can see you're concerned about still dealing with this 10 months after radiation. I'm tagging @bluemeade7 @naturegirl5 @embeth99 @goldengirl2 @polkagal @ejrdevries @ejohn @rose53 to bring them into this discussion and get their experiences and tips.

Gormie, you may also be interested in this related discussion:
- How did you feel after pelvic radiation was completed? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-did-you-feel-after-pelvic-radiation-was-completed/

Many thanks, I'll be very interested to connect with them.
Bev

I think what you're saying is it's not uncommon even 10 months out to still deal with loose stools and strong urge. I'm lucky as I had grade 2 stage 1A cancer with no involvement anywhere else. It was caught very early I think. Only 13% involvement burrowing into the uterus. I'm being treated at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and think the radiologist and whole department are wonderful. But it's still worrisome when they are surprised I'm still having the stool issues. Off for a CT scan tomorrow just to take a look.
Cheers,
Bev

@gormie I was diagnosed with endometroid adenocarcinoma Grade 1, Stage 1a in 2019. My cancer care team is at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and in 2021 a recurrence was found in a physical exam. I had 25 external beam radiation treatments followed by 2 high intensity brachytherapy treatments. I did have a few bouts of diarrhea during the treatment but not afterward. The radiation oncology team told me that I could have lasting symptoms including diarrhea for many months after the treatment ended as that sometimes happens.

Did you have external beam radiation to the pelvic area or were all 5 of your treatments brachytherapy? My cancer care team told me I might have some mild discomfort and bleeding for a day or two. I had neither of those but I did have a puzzling itchy skin rash on my forearms and legs that lasted for about a month. The radiation oncology nurse said that the rash was unrelated but since I'd never had anything like that before (although I do have allergies) I wonder about that. I'm going to bring it up again at my next visit in April.

I can imagine how distressing it would be this many months out from your treatment to still have diarrhea so it's good you've been in touch with your care team and will have a CT scan today (or tomorrow?). I'm sending you positive thoughts that the CT scan is negative and your team helps you to figure out the next step. They sound very responsive and thorough.

Hi @gormie. I was diagnosed with high-grade papillary serous uterine carcinoma Stage1a, Grade 3, Type 2 in the summer of 2018 at age 58. Well really 59, because I had surgery a day after my 59th birthday - total robotic abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral saplingo-oophorectomy, removal of omentum, & 19 lymph nodes. My lymph nodes all looked good, but I did have some "trace" amounts in my pelvic washings. One month after surgery, I had a port put in, then the day after that I began chemotherapy - Carboplatin & Taxol every 3 weeks for 6 treatments. One week after my 1st chemo treatment, I began Brachytherapy - I had 5 of these, every other day for 2 weeks, directed at my vaginal cuff. These were completed before I had my 2nd round of chemo. I really had no side effects from the Brachytherapy, other than minimal spotting after the 1st treatment. I did not have issues with nausea or diarrhea however, at the time I was also on a lot of anti-nausea meds for the chemo. Maybe that had something to do with it? I have been NED 3 years now and have not noticed any long-term side effects. It is hard not to worry "why me" when you are hearing that this is unusual or typically does not happen. But just because it IS happening to you does not necessarily mean you should worry more. We are all different! What is important is to listen to your doctors, try to figure out what you can do about it, and advocate for yourself - and it sounds like you are doing all of these. I am sorry this is happening to you. This whole cancer thing is a different level of scary and some moments it feels like you are all alone, no matter how many may be around you. But you are not alone, everyone here gets it and is willing to listen and offer support and suggestions. So lean on us, we are here 🙂