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Radiation or not after surgery for endometrial cancer?

Posted by marceyw @marceyw, Feb 4, 2024

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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cookercooker | @cookercooker | Jan 18 11:33am
In reply to @inquirer "@mom1955 I have same cancer and had a hysterectomy last summer just like you. I saw..." + (show)
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@mom1955 I have same cancer and had a hysterectomy last summer just like you. I saw 3 oncologist at 3 major cancer centers to determine whether chemo and radiation were warranted. From that, I learned that the biggest determination for chemo and radiaton is whether any of the stage 1 cancer cells had broken through the lining into the muscular layer. If it did, spread through the lymphatic and/or blood is more likely. The more it has penetrated that layer, the more treatment is warranted.

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@inquirer it also depends on whether you've had previous radiation to the area. If so, like me, radiation was not advised. Systemic therapy alone did the trick. My stage was IIIC.

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mom1955 | @mom1955 | Jan 18 1:06pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@mom1955 May I ask the kind of cancer that was diagnosed and the Stage? There are..." + (show)
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@mom1955 May I ask the kind of cancer that was diagnosed and the Stage? There are different kinds of endometrial cancers and some are more aggressive than others.

I had a recurrence of endometrioid adenocarcinoma two years after my hysterectomy. This is not an aggressive cancer and scanning (PET/MRI) determined that that no cancer was present in other parts of my body. My recurrence was local (vaginal cuff). The recommendation that I followed was radiation therapy. I had external beam radiation to the pelvic area (25 treatments) and 2 internal (brachytherapy) to the vaginal cuff where the recurrence was found. The external beam treatment were scheduled daily during the weekdays.

The radiation oncologist and nurses spent considerable time with me going through any and all side effects I might expect. I had some fatigue but it wasn't debilitating. I had some diarrhea. I had no side effects from the brachytherapy.

Because the radiation therapy causes lasting changes I use a vaginal lubricant (non-estrogen) and a dilator to keep the tissue healthy.

When do you next see the radiation oncologist? If you do not already know you can ask the kind of radiation treatment (internal? external?).

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@naturegirl5 I had uterine cancer stage 1a. the radiation Doctors keep saying after chemo I have %85 percent that the cancer is gone but if I get radiation then it will be more like %95 percent. I am 70 years old so I am not sure the difference makes a difference. I would be getting the Brachy radiation. I can not decide. My daughter wants me to do it.

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inquirer | @inquirer | Jan 18 4:45pm
In reply to @cookercooker "@inquirer it also depends on whether you've had previous radiation to the area. If so, like..." + (show)
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@inquirer it also depends on whether you've had previous radiation to the area. If so, like me, radiation was not advised. Systemic therapy alone did the trick. My stage was IIIC.

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@cookercooker So happy it did the trick for you! Hoping you have continued success! I had neither chemo nor radiation. Oncologists were split on whether either would be of benefit. I had to then just guess at the best approach. My ultimate decision is scary.

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Jan 18 7:49pm
In reply to @mom1955 "@naturegirl5 I had uterine cancer stage 1a. the radiation Doctors keep saying after chemo I have..." + (show)
Profile picture for mom1955 @mom1955

@naturegirl5 I had uterine cancer stage 1a. the radiation Doctors keep saying after chemo I have %85 percent that the cancer is gone but if I get radiation then it will be more like %95 percent. I am 70 years old so I am not sure the difference makes a difference. I would be getting the Brachy radiation. I can not decide. My daughter wants me to do it.

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@mom1955 Since you are on the fence for brachytherapy, do you want to get another opinion? That may help you to decide.

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round2 | @round2 | Jan 19 10:54am
In reply to @mom1955 "@naturegirl5 I had uterine cancer stage 1a. the radiation Doctors keep saying after chemo I have..." + (show)
Profile picture for mom1955 @mom1955

@naturegirl5 I had uterine cancer stage 1a. the radiation Doctors keep saying after chemo I have %85 percent that the cancer is gone but if I get radiation then it will be more like %95 percent. I am 70 years old so I am not sure the difference makes a difference. I would be getting the Brachy radiation. I can not decide. My daughter wants me to do it.

Jump to this post

@mom1955 I’m 68 and just completed 3 brachytherapy treatments. No pain during the treatments—slight discomfort in the afternoons. A little fatigue the next day. Would do it again in a heartbeat to get more protection. During my diagnostic phase for endometrial cancer two other docs said I might get brachytherapy so I felt comfortable saying yes. Best wishes for whatever you decide to do.

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