Radiation side effects last longer.Especially, the pain.

My husband has said from the beginning “ make sure everyone knows it wasn’t the cancer that killed me , it was the treatments”
We can thank the very greedy pharmaceutical companies.. in my opinion

I don't get the connection. It seems to me that a greedy pharmaceutical company would make ineffective medications that made you feel good.

Presumably one makes treatment choices based on a perceived outcome. If one doesn't like the outcome, medications are one of the few things that one can change.

Now as regards to radiation vs surgery (if that is an option): Some people are afraid of one & choose the other. There can be good & bad results with either, so do your research. Personally, I opt for surgery every time. In any case, there are no guarantees, & blame does not help you.

I'm reminded of the many people that think that Luigi Mangione (who killed the UHC president) is a hero. HE IS NOT! I know this may seem political, but attacking others should not be the result of a feeling of entitlement!

Life offers no guarantees.

@readandlearn
In some cases, if the tumor is of a size that is very difficult for the surgeon to operate, the Dr may try oral medications to shrink the tumor. Still there is a possibility that a tumor may not shrink to an operable size desired by the surgeon!
That medication could have side effects, like any other medication.
It is not always up to the patient in cancer treatment to decide, what is best for him or her. Cancers are very complex.
Once you understand why radiation is a first step in some instances, you can seek a second opinion, if you like.
In my case, I had radiation and surgery. After that Chemo. Now, my cancer is stabilized. I don't know, what that means.
I am tired and I want to go home, when my Lord is ready to take me home!
Till then, I remain in Christ.
VJ

I am very sorry for your pain. Could u pls share where you had YOUR radiation, what type of cancer, stage and for how long? It would really help others who are contemplating the use of radiation in their future treatment. I am to begin radiation, possible in the next month. Suffer from Stage IV Lung adenocarsinoma. Have had chemo and immuno. All is good for now, but need to continue w/more chemo, immuno and radiation. More than likely the type which is VERY focused in one area and is NOT supposed to get out to surrounding tissues. Best to you and I will keep u in my prayers. rlf66

@rlf66
Thank you for your kind words and prayers for me.
One night, I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth. I started bleeding from my uterus heavily. I was very unprepared for that, because it was after 20 yrs of menopause, that my uterus was acting up. Anyway, the next day an Ob- Gyn examined me and said you have Cancer of Endometrial and Uterus.
The uterus, as you know is inside my pelvis along w my urinary bladder, ureters, and colon and pelvic bones, blood vessels and plenty of lymph nodes and nerves.
Lab work showed the I was in #3 stage and I have one more stage to go.
Next thing was all radiology work ups.CT,MRI and PET scans. Radiation was given, because my tumor was big and was attached to both large colon and Uterine cavity. It couldn't be separated manually by a surgeon. The tumor had to shrink.
So, I was given radiation for 25 sessions. The radiation heat charred my belly and my skin became black. It reduced the tumor alright, but damaged bladder, ureters and my kidneys developed malfunctioning.
I had severe vomiting and fatigue.
It affected my gut chemistry and I started having digestive problems, constipation and diarhea. Some days, I could not eat at all.My interventional Radiation therapy provider Dr put me on Morphine for the unbearable pain I had. I couldn't walk. My blood pressure increased to hypertensive levels. Urological problems drove to hospital based Interventional Radio thrill hosts to insert two tubes permanently on the back of my body to help kidneys drain out all urine,as I could not pee the normal way because of radiation.

Also my hysterectomy was done by remote robotics technologist who assisted my Ob-Gyn. They drilled 7-8 holes in my belly to place the robotic arms in. It was very painful.Again more Morphine added. My one gun disappeared after operating on me. Don't ask me why. It is a long story.
My lymph nodes were removed from pelvic area. My pelvic bones are still hurting. The worst pain is between my butt cheeks in scrum area.
They said those damages are inevitable, as multiple organs reside within pelvic cavity.The same thing w lungs.There is heart and ribs, etc.
All my lab results were abnormal and they couldn't fix them.I made diet changes and exercised as much as I could.My only caregiver had to help me w everything.He is 81.
It is a boring long note here.Thank you for taking time to read it.I have several issues from cancer treatment itself, as I never had any of these problems for nearly 20yrs before my fateful bleeding that night.
Any questions? Post it away.
Thanks again to everyone.May God bless me and you all.
VJ

@vijay26
I had radiation treatment some 19 years' ago, for ovarian cancer, and experienced nothing like what you've described. I had to fill my bladder ahead of each session, so as to minimise side effects, and although I experienced extreme fatigue over the course of treatment, *and* incurred radiation enteritis (resulting in ongoing loose bowels motions), there was no long lasting pain, nor effects to other body parts, and, as you can imagine... the targetted area for treatment was similar to that as it would be for uterine cancer.

Mine was a follow up to full hysterectomy and oopherectomy, and a second surgery for another tumour, after a round of chemotherapy, and I was aged in my mid 50s.

@jmcws
Like I said somewhere, each person' case is different. My ovaries and tubes were also removed along w uterus.
Did you have any question?
VJ

@vijay26
Thanks sooo much for sharing. I will attempt and ask my oncologist to give to me the strongest protocol that she feels I can tolerate. I believe in the chemo and concurrent (proton) radiation. I have been told and read it is very debilitating but usually has the best results when the treatment is finished. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Thanks, rlf66

@rlf66
You are welcome.
VJ

@rlf66 he recibido radioterapia por cáncer de mama ya hace muchos años y gracias a Dios no tuve ninguna consecuencia. Solo por falta de prevención algunas veces me olvidaba de aplicar alguna crema sobre la parte afectada por los rayos Y producía eso alguna irritación sobre la piel y tenía que dejar por unos días de aplicar los rayos. Reconozco que era culpa mía, pues no notaba ningún inconveniente después de las aplicaciones. Es bueno prevenir. No tengo ningún recuerdo negativo de esa época. No tomé mi cáncer como una tragedia Y creo que eso fue positivo.