Radiation or not after surgery for endometrial cancer?

@dlgbb I hope your 6 week follow-up goes well. Do you have some questions written that you can ask your oncologist? You have good questions here that you can start with and in your place these are questions I would be asking. I'd also ask about the mitral valve prolapse and if that is something to be considered in your cancer care treatment. I'm 73-years-old and it seems like every time I'm ahead something new shows up to address. And I need to see yet another specialist. Sound familiar?

Will you please come back here and let me know what you learn at your appointment tomorrow?

Tomorrow is my 6 week surgical follow-up after total hysterectomy, removal of fallopian tubes, ovaries, and lymph node testing. I have not spoken to my oncologist yet about results, but have been able to see them online. I am so nervous about what follow up is going to be, because of results that are both good and bad. I have a grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma. Only minimal spread to myometrial wall (11%), but substantial lymphovascular invasion. I know both those thing are indicators for recurrence and poor prognosis. On the other hand, I have tested positive pathogentic POLE mutation, which is great news! I am just wondering if the "good" compensates for the "bad", and if there will be follow-up, like radiation. I have read that with POLEmut, the recommendation is to back off further treatment. I am just anxious and want to move on, but also feel nervous about potentially doing nothing further. Yesterday I also had a echocardiogram to check for what looks like a flailing mitro valve prolapse. Everytime there is light at the end of the tunnel, something else. Geesh.

i am sorry for what have been through.

When I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer Grade 3, I had a complete hysterectomy. After the surgery, in my follow up appointment with my GYN-Oncologist, I was informed that chemotherapy followed by brachytherapy was the recommended course of treatment for me. I wanted to know, if I found chemotherapy to be too difficult could I stop. I was told Yes, but that I should have the brachytherapy.
I thought about it and it made sense to me to have the brachytherapy since it was through that area that the uterus was removed. I also felt that I would be second guessing myself if I did not have the brachytherapy and the cancer came back.
I completed both the chemotherapy and the brachytherapy in December 2023 and do have to use a dilator to prevent scarring.
It has been 14 months since I completed all treatment and I have follow up appointments, with a CA125 blood test and a physical examination, every three months. All appointments to date show no evidence of disease.
I hope you make an informed decision based on good medical advice and what you feel is best for you.

Go for the radiation! Although I don't know much about brachytherapy, I do know that it is better than external beam radiation: less chance of killing off healthy surrounding tissues. Just wondering why you wouldn't be getting chemo as well.
As for diet and healthy lifestyle, while everyone should follow the regime the effects on cancer may be minimal. Cancer is complicated, operating at the DNA level, so I don't imagine that eating cruciferous veggies and other purported cancer-antagonistic foods would be potent enough to mitigate the course of the disease.
Having said that, there are natural foods and supplements (like pectin) that can ameliorate the effects of radiation.
Hope this helps.

I had three brachytherapy sessions, and there were no side effects. I was diagnosed with aggressive endometrial cancer, and I wanted to do everything to prevent it from recurring. I wish you a good recovery, but do discuss it more with your doctors.

My inclination is to follow your doctor’s advice. Endometrial cancer can return—even when you are diagnosed at very early stages. I would at least try the radiation therapy if in your position. Much easier to get through this now than to deal with the possibility of a recurrence, as you may not notice the symptoms until much later.
Whatever you decide I wish you well in your recovery and return to good health.

Excellent. My family member was fine with her 4 week radiation schedule until the end of the third week.
All the best to all those currently in treatment.

Treatment decisions are rarely easy but personal priorities certainly are important. At nearly 84, quality of life was my driving force. I’m comfortable with my choice of 3 brachytherapy treatments. We have to choose what feels right and not second guess ourselves.

@naturegirl5 Hi Helen, YES i get that compliment often. For years I was even id at casinos because i looked 18 at 30. I'm a short lady 4"11 and a healthy weight. Like you, i think it has to do with genes, in that regards I think that we are very lucky, 😊.

Back to our Big C issue, if i was in my 80's i wouldn't be giving this so much thought but in my 60's and two young grandsons it scares me a lot to miss on their future lives too soon.

I will keep hope up, check ups and stay as healthy as possible 🙏
Thanks for your kind words, it helped me feel good and your advice helped me too. Take care of yourself and good luck to you and everyone else here looking for info or a word of comfort....i read almost all the posts. Regards, irma