1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Is brachytherapy necessary to reduce recurrence of endometrial cancer?

Posted by zhangh73 @zhangh73, May 3 11:29pm

I was diagnosed Grade 1 Stage 1A endormetrial cancer almost 3 months ago, I consult 4 doctors ( 2 oncologists, 2 radiation oncologists) about if need to do brachytherapy, they seems not recommend, but up to me to do it or not, brachy can reduce to half for the recurrent, do you think from 7% to 3-4% reduce recurrent is worthy to try, any short and long side effect for brachytherapy to show with me, is possible to get 2nd cancer years later through brachytherapy? Thanks

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 25 9:29pm
In reply to @riverland889 "No, the actual radiation did not hurt at all and yes, one of the things they..." + (show)
@riverland889

No, the actual radiation did not hurt at all and yes, one of the things they modified to help me feel better was they used a smaller cylinder. I had forgotten that. Thank you so much for responding and of course all your support. I’m still on my immunotherapy every six weeks so far so good, but we never know about the future. I take it one blessed day at a time.

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@riverland889 Thank you for responding and letting me know it was the size of the cylinder that was the issue for you. I'm happy to hear that your immunotherapy is going well. You are so right right. The future for us cannot be known and so as difficult as it is - which is the case for me - it's one day at a time.

REPLY
jeanknoll986 | @jeanknoll986 | May 26 11:36am

Thank you all for sharing here. I am scheduled for a consult with a radiation oncologist after my 4th chemo cycle in a few weeks. I have no uterus after my surgery, so if bracchy radiation, how might that go? Reading about all of these experiences has
helped me immensely with knowing what to ask etc. I am full of gratitude for all of you here!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 26 1:35pm
In reply to @jeanknoll986 "Thank you all for sharing here. I am scheduled for a consult with a radiation oncologist..." + (show)
@jeanknoll986

Thank you all for sharing here. I am scheduled for a consult with a radiation oncologist after my 4th chemo cycle in a few weeks. I have no uterus after my surgery, so if bracchy radiation, how might that go? Reading about all of these experiences has
helped me immensely with knowing what to ask etc. I am full of gratitude for all of you here!

Jump to this post

@jeanknoll986 You may have mentioned in another Discussion what your treatment has been. Did you have pelvic external radiation?

Brachytherapy is consider "internal" radiation. I had 2 treatments of brachytherapy because I had a recurrence of endometrioid adenocarcinoma on the vaginal cuff. (The recurrence was 2 years after my initial hysterectomy). When I had the hysterectomy in 2019, it was a radical procedure that removed uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix. Without a cervix this is where the surgeon makes a "cuff" at the very top end of the vagina that formerly connected to the cervix.

When you meet with your radiation oncologist I'm thinking they will explain what kind of radiation is recommended. External beam? (That's what I had where I laid on a table and big radiation device rotated above me). Brachytherapy? I had 2 treatments and the cylinder that is inserted into the vagina delivered radiation to the small area of my vaginal cuff where the recurrence was detected.

When you meet with the radiation oncologist you can ask the following although as I stated above the doctor will likely have prepared their recommendations ahead of your appointment.

1. Do you recommend external beam pelvic radiation? How many sessions?
2. Do you recommend brachytherapy (internal radiation) and if so, how many sessions and how will that work?
3. Why is radiation recommended when I've already had chemotherapy?

REPLY
1 reply
jeanknoll986 | @jeanknoll986 | May 26 2:31pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@jeanknoll986 You may have mentioned in another Discussion what your treatment has been. Did you have..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@jeanknoll986 You may have mentioned in another Discussion what your treatment has been. Did you have pelvic external radiation?

Brachytherapy is consider "internal" radiation. I had 2 treatments of brachytherapy because I had a recurrence of endometrioid adenocarcinoma on the vaginal cuff. (The recurrence was 2 years after my initial hysterectomy). When I had the hysterectomy in 2019, it was a radical procedure that removed uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and cervix. Without a cervix this is where the surgeon makes a "cuff" at the very top end of the vagina that formerly connected to the cervix.

When you meet with your radiation oncologist I'm thinking they will explain what kind of radiation is recommended. External beam? (That's what I had where I laid on a table and big radiation device rotated above me). Brachytherapy? I had 2 treatments and the cylinder that is inserted into the vagina delivered radiation to the small area of my vaginal cuff where the recurrence was detected.

When you meet with the radiation oncologist you can ask the following although as I stated above the doctor will likely have prepared their recommendations ahead of your appointment.

1. Do you recommend external beam pelvic radiation? How many sessions?
2. Do you recommend brachytherapy (internal radiation) and if so, how many sessions and how will that work?
3. Why is radiation recommended when I've already had chemotherapy?

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Thank you so much. My scenario sounds exactly like what you experienced. My
surgery was just in early Feb and I started chemo in April. My oncologist
did the surgery. From diagnosis to surgery was quick, for which I'm
grateful. However, it did not give me long to absorb the diagnosis and
reality of what it meant. Your suggestions are very helpful!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 26 6:25pm
In reply to @jeanknoll986 "Thank you so much. My scenario sounds exactly like what you experienced. My surgery was just..." + (show)
@jeanknoll986

Thank you so much. My scenario sounds exactly like what you experienced. My
surgery was just in early Feb and I started chemo in April. My oncologist
did the surgery. From diagnosis to surgery was quick, for which I'm
grateful. However, it did not give me long to absorb the diagnosis and
reality of what it meant. Your suggestions are very helpful!

Jump to this post

@jeanknoll986 I'm glad I could be helpful. Will you let me know what the radiation oncologist recommends and what you decide to do?

REPLY
1 reply
jeanknoll986 | @jeanknoll986 | May 26 8:55pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@jeanknoll986 I'm glad I could be helpful. Will you let me know what the radiation oncologist..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@jeanknoll986 I'm glad I could be helpful. Will you let me know what the radiation oncologist recommends and what you decide to do?

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For sure!

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