1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Survivorship: anyone else struggling?

Posted by aardvark2118 @aardvark2118, Aug 12, 2023

Anyone else just starting the survivorship journey and scared? Diagnosed with endometrial cancer in November. Surgery in December. Chemo January to May. Radiation and brachytherapy just ended. Now am felling on my own to monitor my health and scared to lose all the support I’ve had these past months. I read one book that describes survivorship as the true potential fir torture exists. Trying to find the new normal amidst surveillance. Anyone else struggling with this?

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cmb2022 | @cmb2022 | Aug 19, 2023
In reply to @cancerback "My rant as a so far surviving cancer patient is about friends and family telling me..." + (show)
@cancerback

My rant as a so far surviving cancer patient is about friends and family telling me how good I look every time they see me. The fact that I weigh about 30 pounds less than I started with probably helps and that my hair came back in n a nice wavy silvery shade of white. I guess @esikora 's comment about the "cancer patient" is what causes people to be surprised when you don't look like you are at death's door. But, unfortunately, how you look on the outside doesn't correspond with what is happening inside. I am 4 months past my last cancer treatment (stopped due to neuropathy) for metastatic cervical adenocarcinoma and my cancer is stable so far but, barring a miracle, I know it will return and I fear that looking good makes people think that I will be fine.

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@cancerback
I also am told that I look great even now, 8 months after my last treatment. I wonder if people don't know what else to say. It is certainly a journey we would never choose for ourselves to go through. I am glad you are doing well. Hope you have a nice weekend!

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cancerback | @cancerback | Aug 19, 2023
In reply to @cmb2022 "@cancerback I also am told that I look great even now, 8 months after my last..." + (show)
@cmb2022

@cancerback
I also am told that I look great even now, 8 months after my last treatment. I wonder if people don't know what else to say. It is certainly a journey we would never choose for ourselves to go through. I am glad you are doing well. Hope you have a nice weekend!

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Thanks! It sounds like you had a new cancer, not a recurrence, so you may well be on the road to recovery. I had 4 years of no evidence of disease before I had a recurrence. I wish you luck.

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cmb2022 | @cmb2022 | Aug 19, 2023
In reply to @cancerback "Thanks! It sounds like you had a new cancer, not a recurrence, so you may well..." + (show)
@cancerback

Thanks! It sounds like you had a new cancer, not a recurrence, so you may well be on the road to recovery. I had 4 years of no evidence of disease before I had a recurrence. I wish you luck.

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I was originally diagnosed in Feb of 2022 and told that it was all contained to my uterus (no treatments at that time), but had a reoccurance in September of that same year.

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jomamapb | @jomamapb | Aug 20, 2023
In reply to @cmb2022 "I was originally diagnosed in Feb of 2022 and told that it was all contained to..." + (show)
@cmb2022

I was originally diagnosed in Feb of 2022 and told that it was all contained to my uterus (no treatments at that time), but had a reoccurance in September of that same year.

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Where did your cancer show up in September 2022 and what treatments did you have?

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cmb2022 | @cmb2022 | Aug 20, 2023
In reply to @jomamapb "Where did your cancer show up in September 2022 and what treatments did you have?" + (show)
@jomamapb

Where did your cancer show up in September 2022 and what treatments did you have?

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@jomamapb, I had an 8mm tumor on the vaginal cuff. It was found during a surveillance exam (every 3 months). My gynecological oncologist at first thought it was scar tissue and biopsied it. He was quite surprised when he called me a couple of days later. I had 28 external and 3 brachytherapy radiation treatments. I finished just before Christmas last year.

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jomamapb | @jomamapb | Aug 20, 2023

Thank you. I will be sure to ask my urogynecologist next exam. My next gyne oncologist visit is in 4 months.

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jomamapb | @jomamapb | Aug 21, 2023

Have you had any long term side effects due to the 28 external radiation treatments or brachytherapy?

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cmb2022 | @cmb2022 | Aug 21, 2023
In reply to @jomamapb "Have you had any long term side effects due to the 28 external radiation treatments or..." + (show)
@jomamapb

Have you had any long term side effects due to the 28 external radiation treatments or brachytherapy?

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@jomamapb

I have some occasional back pain that I never had before. My radiation oncologist doesn't think it is linked to the treatments. I am almost 50 so who knows.

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jomamapb | @jomamapb | Aug 22, 2023

So no effects on your gastrointestinal tract or bladder?

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cmb2022 | @cmb2022 | Aug 23, 2023
In reply to @jomamapb "So no effects on your gastrointestinal tract or bladder?" + (show)
@jomamapb

So no effects on your gastrointestinal tract or bladder?

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@jomamapb
Not really. I do seem to need to urinate a little more frequently and have had a couple UTI's and I never had one prior to the treatments. I had diarrhea quite frequently during the treatment process and for way over a month at completion, but that is no longer an issue.

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