What Kind of Radiation Did You Get for Your Gynecological Cancer?

Ask to receive steroids with the last chemo dose. It will help you recover faster from the chemo symptoms.

I had 38 radiation and 4 brachytherapy.
The radiation was easy the brachytherapy however was not. Apparently, I think it is the size of your vagina?
It was very painful for me they even gave me fentanyl and norco neither helped. I know people who had brachytherapy that it didn’t phase them at all.
I think it’s because I have not had children and my husband had prostrate cancer in 2003. Use your imagination there? 😁

They do give me 3 pills of dexamethasone, not sure if helps or not. To start day after, maybe not long enough since pain starts day 3 and last for few more days. I think make my brain slower while taking though not sure if chemo or it.

@jeanadair123 This is awful to read and I have pain reading and thinking about what you experienced during brachytherapy. I wonder if the applicator that they used was too large for your vagina? I have not had children either but I was sexually active with my partner before brachytherapy. I recall that the radiation oncologist was careful to make sure the applicator was comfortable enough for me so that I did not have pain. He also used a lot of lubricant and gave me a heads up about each step.

Yes, I imagine it could be the size of one's vagina. It's a good question to ask the radiation oncologist. Could it also depend on whether one is in an active chemotherapy regimen and/or medications? Another question to ask.

I felt significantly better on my last round of chemo when I took the steroids. I recommend that you discuss the steroid dose with your doctor. (I do not know anything about steroid dosing to reduce chemo side effects.) Please explain that you are unsure if the current dose is providing the desired result for you.

Also ask your doctor if the steroid can be affecting your mental alertness. I know first hand that the chemo can decrease your mental alertness. Mine has been ongoing even after chemo was finished.

Hang in there and pray for reduced chemo side effects!! Chemo sucks!!

With my brachtherapy I was given a pain epidural before the device was inserted. 5 treatments were done in 3 days, so it was just inserted once. Just got home yesterday and am feeling a little sore from the removal of the device and lower back pain from being pretty much flat on my back for three days.

@rainyp Were you an inpatient during those three days? This sounds like a different procedure than what I had. Mine was two treatments separated by one day as an outpatient. The applicator was inserted two times and only for the duration of the actual procedure. I am guessing this all depends on many things such as the kind of uterine cancer, the stage, and the radiation oncologist.

Yes, mine was done inpatient and I am being treated for vaginal cancer

I had no idea they had different sizes that they used for the brachytherapy, that’s something I would have liked to go. It was the worst pain ever I used to dread going everyday. I wish I had had your radiologist. Mine just kept pushing the cylinder in, I mentioned extra gel but they said we put extra on. That was the worst pain of my life other than when they did the vaginal biopsy in the gynecologist office. I always thought my pain tolerance was high but this really took its toll on me. My radiologist was good but she was not very personal very matter of fact. I wouldn’t go back.

Met the new radiation Dr. on the 8th, and am going to be setting up the 25 external radiation treatments, probably starting by beginning of January. After the form is created. Had the 3rd chemo today, Port was clogged so she ran all through vein in my arm. She finally did get port flushed. I have had 2 children so hopefully, brachy will go ok. Had to shake my head. He sent notes to my primary care, and it states he can't say I am not going to have problems with my intestine or my bladder or where will prolong my life. Really makes me wonder. I do feel am going to more than likely have more problems with their treatment plan. Thank you all for your comments. I get 2 pills of steroid to take for 3 days, after chemo that are suppose to
help with bone pain from Neulasta OnPro injection to raise white cell count. However, it also says side effect is bone pain. I used 2 pills first chemo. 3 naproxen 2nd chemo. And, then pain was gone.