Newly Diagnosed: FIGO 2 Uterine Cancer: What does this mean?

Yes, I had 6 I believe treatments of bracytherapy. No side effects at all. Good luck!!

My cancer was Stage 1A with positive pelvic washing. I had a complete hysterectomy, and they recommended brachytherapy as a follow-up treatment to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

I have decided to decline the brachytherapy/radiation treatment because of the research about the risk of injury to the vagina, bladder, and bowels.

Has anyone else refused radiation treatment after a low to mid-risk endometrial cancer diagnosis?

Thank you

Dependjng on your health and other circumstances, that may have been a wise decision. There are no gaurantees with any treatment.

You should make what you believe is the right decision for yourself. But I was wondering where you saw that there was a risk to the bladder and bowels from vaginal brachytherapy. I didn't see that when I researched it. Side effects like those can be caused by external beam radiation. I also have not had any noticeable side effects from brachytherapy myself. They do recommend that you use a vaginal dilator afterwards to prevent hardening and shrinkage of the vagina, but I haven't found that to be much of an inconvenience.

I had uterine cancer and it was exactly diagnosed like yours. I am having 4 chemotherapy treatments and 5 brachytherapy treatments. Since we both have the same diagnosis I want you to know I am having these treatments because the Oncologist said that when they take the uterus through the vagina they can’t be sure that some cells didn’t “flake” off. I am doing fantastic.!!!!! I hope you do more research and I can only hope you come to a different conclusion.

The information came from the National Institute for Health.

@sherill2023 - thank you for sharing your story. I will be sending you lots of positive energy. I have not heard of someone having chemotherapy for stage 1A. What was your FIGO score for your tumor? My doctor said my options were monitoring or monitory with brachytherapy since my cancer is considered low-risk.

@gratefulcat As @val64 wrote you should make the decision that is the right one for you. I don’t know of anyone in our Support Group that refused radiation treatment for a low-to mid-risk endometrial cancer. I checked back through our Support Group and did not find anyone however I encourage you to do the same. You may find a discussion that is helpful to you.

I had external pelvic radiation (25 treatments) and 2 vaginal brachytherapy for a recurrence of endometrial cancer (endometrioid adenocarcinoma, FIGO 1, Stage 1a). The cancer was considered low grade and non agressive. I write this because not all cancers are alike. So the recommendations that are made and the decisions a person makes depends on the kind of cancer and how agressive it is.

During external pelvic radiation I had a few instances of diarrhea but that cleared up within a few weeks after I completed the treatments. I was informed that I also might have bladder problems that would feel like a UTI during external pelvic radiation and that occurred briefly. Mostly I was fatigued. It was recommended that I use a vaginal moisturizer and a dilator after brachytherapy which I’ve continued to do.

I am 16 months “out” from the radiation treatments and have had no lasting effects from radiation.

Here is a discussion that you may find relevant to your question.

How did you feel after pelvic radiation was completed?

— https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-did-you-feel-after-pelvic-radiation-was-completed/

He said this is prophylactic just in case. I am really happy to make sure no cells hopefully escaped during surgery

didn’t escape