Radiation or not after surgery for endometrial cancer?

Posted by marceyw @marceyw, Feb 4 9:49pm

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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@naturegirl5

@jeanadair123 From this post it looks like you had an appointment with your oncologist on March 27th or 28th? What did you find out and is there a plan to address hour stomach issues? Are your symptoms due to the radiation therapy you had?

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I explained my situation to my oncologist and how worried I was about pancreatic and stomach cancer? He reassured me that the CT and Pet Scan would have shown the pancreatic. I am having a colonoscopy and an endoscopy on Tuesday to see what the issue is? Since we don’t know what is causing this? He said it could be proctitus but to wait until I get my colon and endoscope results if all is well we we discuss further causes for my problems? My girlfriend just had a colonoscopy and her gastroenterologist checked for microscopic colitis it’s swelling of the large intestine so I shall ask my gastroenterologist who I love dearly to take a biopsy. Will update Wednesday or after I can my pathology reports.

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@tg24

I too was just diagnosed with stage one. CT scan showed no abnormality.
I haven't even heard from the oncologist. worried about prognosis. Whether hysterectomy will be enough.
also wasn't told if I should avoid exercise.
am interested to know if there are questions people wish they'd known to ask as they began treatment.

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Hello, @tg24. I had a radical hysterectomy for endometroid adenocarcinoma in 2019 including oopherectomy and sapinectomy. I was staged 1a, Figo Grade 1. was told to avoid exercise other than walking for a few weeks. I also was told not pick up anything heavier than a grocery bad for that time period.

Have you heard from your oncologist since the hysterectomy so you know what the pathology showed? Do you know kind of endometrial cancer you were diagnosed with? When was the hysterectomy? Did you talk with your oncologist about whether any other treatment is recommended?

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@jeanadair123

I had radiation and brachytherapy. I found the brachytherapy to be very painful not everyone has this issue I think it must depend on whether you are sexually active and have given birth. I was neither since my husband had prostrate cancer in 2003. I had severe pain and bleeding when I had a bowel movement after the initial radiation and before the brachytherapy . December 31st 2023 I had blood when I had a BM a lot, contacted gastroenterologist and was told if I continued to have it to call him. I didn’t. Yet I noticed when I wiped I had a smearing of pink in my bowel area and I hadn’t had a BM. Called my gastroenterologist and he recommended I see a colorectal surgeon to check me out. On the morning of the appointment I had some bleeding. The specialist used two scopes and didn’t see any blood at all or any issues. He said it could probably be proctitus caused by the radiation. COULD didn’t say absolutely. So I contacted my gastroenterologist and I am scheduled for a endoscopy and colonoscopy in December the last one was done in 2022 just to be sure?
I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow so I want his thoughts on additional tests since I now have stomach issues and I am paranoid that it could be cancer again, I have had 3. I had a pet scan and a Ct last year but as I already know things can be missed. Sorry! I got carried away. If you have additional questions just ask.?

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@jeanadair123 From this post it looks like you had an appointment with your oncologist on March 27th or 28th? What did you find out and is there a plan to address hour stomach issues? Are your symptoms due to the radiation therapy you had?

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I too was just diagnosed with stage one. CT scan showed no abnormality.
I haven't even heard from the oncologist. worried about prognosis. Whether hysterectomy will be enough.
also wasn't told if I should avoid exercise.
am interested to know if there are questions people wish they'd known to ask as they began treatment.

REPLY

I had radiation and brachytherapy. I found the brachytherapy to be very painful not everyone has this issue I think it must depend on whether you are sexually active and have given birth. I was neither since my husband had prostrate cancer in 2003. I had severe pain and bleeding when I had a bowel movement after the initial radiation and before the brachytherapy . December 31st 2023 I had blood when I had a BM a lot, contacted gastroenterologist and was told if I continued to have it to call him. I didn’t. Yet I noticed when I wiped I had a smearing of pink in my bowel area and I hadn’t had a BM. Called my gastroenterologist and he recommended I see a colorectal surgeon to check me out. On the morning of the appointment I had some bleeding. The specialist used two scopes and didn’t see any blood at all or any issues. He said it could probably be proctitus caused by the radiation. COULD didn’t say absolutely. So I contacted my gastroenterologist and I am scheduled for a endoscopy and colonoscopy in December the last one was done in 2022 just to be sure?
I have an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow so I want his thoughts on additional tests since I now have stomach issues and I am paranoid that it could be cancer again, I have had 3. I had a pet scan and a Ct last year but as I already know things can be missed. Sorry! I got carried away. If you have additional questions just ask.?

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@marceyw I'm circling back to ask what you decided to do. Did you decide on the brachytherapy? Or did you get another opinion?

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Hello, MarceyW I had 2 rounds of vaginabrachy. The applicator is a white cylinder, somewhat painful going in, but must fit very snugly against you, is the logic. I don’t remember being offered local anesthetic. Otherwise, I was taken good care of. The radiation beam is one inch all around the cylinder, so it very localized. I got through it fine, but around 11 pm crazy itching started. I mean, enough to send you to the hospital. I’m still not sure why, I may have had a reaction to either the radiation (likely) or one of the creams, one of which may have been hydrocortisone based. The itching stopped about 3-4 hours later, then I was fine. I believe it was worse during the second vaginabrachy. It’s something you myst do to protect yourself from further cancer, so better get it done. I also had 28 sessions if true beam radiation on my pelvis, 2 small chemos if cisplatin and 4 large chemos of carboplatin and paxclitaxil. Good luck, ok 😉

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@jc100

I had 3 brachytherapy sessions with no side effects. This treatment is to reduce endometrial cancer recurrence at the vaginal cuff.

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I too had three brachytherapy treatments and found it to be easy and have not had any side effects

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I had 3 brachytherapy sessions with no side effects. This treatment is to reduce endometrial cancer recurrence at the vaginal cuff.

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I had 3 radiation treatments at Abbott Northwestern. I had no side effects from this treatment and haven't had any symptoms of any kind since. All my checkups have been negative.

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