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Radiation or not after surgery for endometrial cancer?
I was diagnosed with early stage endometrial cancer at Christmas. Had complete hysterectomy on 1/9/24. There was no cancer in the sentinel lymph nodes, ovaries or tubes. My doctor is suggesting brachytherapy to cut my 10% chance of recurrence to 5%. I’m concerned about the side effects. Has anyone been thru this and what are the possible side affects of this type of radiation? Dr said I don’t have the harmful P53 gene but do have a gene that would qualify me for immunotherapy if it were to come back. Really torn about what to do next. Would like to think I could fight the return with diet and lifestyle. Ideas and experiences appreciated.
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I had a robotic hysterectomy in 2009, no issues really.
In 2017 I had recurrence in my vaginal cuff many radiation treatments a 5 brachytherapy. I was told that unless you have an active sex life one needs to use a dilator, I have been using one ever since my brachytherapy although I am now down to 2 times a week much better than every day when I first had it. Just make sure you have a doctor that always uses a speculum as that was one of the issues I faced it appears when some doctors feel after many years cancer free that the risk is so low they don’t need to use one, which is fine if they could guarantee your cancer will never return?
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3 ReactionsIt is one of the best blessings to have. Wait for that first time when he walks in the door. You won't forget it! For me it was Grammy!!
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2 Reactions@greatgrandma2025 - just to say I am a great grandma since 9/24 and never realized how fun it could be! He’s the cutest little guy! 🤗
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4 ReactionsI had 5......three upper, on in navel and 2 lower
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2 ReactionsI’ll throw in my 2 cents as well about the robotic surgery. It went surprisingly well and I was home the same night. All I had to deal with was constipation from the anesthesia and some days of sore abdominal muscles that made getting up from bed uncomfortable.
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3 Reactions@naturegirl5
Yes, I had ?2 or 3 tiny puncture on my abdomen. Isn’t it amazing!
Glad to know your results were disease free!
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3 Reactions@wisco50 This is good to know. That you for posting your success here. Like you I had a radical hysterectomy and my only incisions were for the laparoscope and to remove sentinel nodes for testing. I was out of the hospital by the end of the day. I just returned from a gyn followup surveillance exam and all is NED (no evidence of disease). I'm grateful for the excellent care I received at Mayo when I had the hysterectomy and for these follow-up exams.
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5 Reactions@wisco50
Adding an addendum - I was a hospital RN, got 2 GYN opinions from well respected MDs where I worked and I knew the people who referred me to one who did surgery and other one was a female gyn I had worked with extensively.
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4 Reactions@cherylfromknoxvillet
Just FYI had borderline suspicious high grade endometrial abnormalities in 2003. Had a vaginal hysterectomy (my ovaries were already gone due to cystic problems) that fall. Spent less than 24 hrs in hospital - my surgery was later that day or I would have asked to go that evening!
Easiest surgery I have ever had and my only discomfort was my chronic back pain exacerbated by surgery position.
Everything was negative and I have had no further issues after many years of gyn followup visits.
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6 Reactions@greatgrandma2025
That is superb advice, and it's exactly what I've been doing to protect myself in regard to OB-GYNs and postmenopausal bleeding, which 90% of the time has a benign (noncancerous) cause, such as uterine and/or cervical polyps, and 99% of the time, they are completely harmless. Yet doctors try to terrify women into thinking that postmenopausal bleeding is likely due to endometrial cancer, which is the cause of postmenopausal bleeding only 10% of the time. Or even if doctors have determined that uterine and/or cervical polyps are the source of the bleeding, they want to do D&C hysteroscopy, often under general anesthesia. Any surgical procedure carries risk, which often exceeds the risk of doing nothing. Fortunately, I have a Ph.D. in Science and Medical Communication, and I know how to do research!