What Kind of Radiation Did You Get for Your Gynecological Cancer?

Posted by Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5, Sep 29, 2022

I was diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma (Stage 1a, FIGO Grade 1) in 2019. I was treated for a recurrence in late 2021 with radiation therapy. I had 25 external beam treatments and 2 brachytherapy treatments. I'll share more details about the lengthy preparation and the actual treatments in a separate post below.

I know of members here who have had or are going to have radiation treatments. Would you like to share your radiation treatments and experiences with one another? This is a great way to support one another.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

@rainyp

I do have an achiness in my lower back, hips and legs. Ive been blaming it on lack of excercise, I do stil have vaginal burning and pain so its difficult to get things done. Other then that I am also just over one month out of treatment ending, which was 5 weekks internal radiation. 5 chemo once a week and 5 internal radiation. Except for the vaginal irritation ( I do treat with creams and pain meds) I feel good. The fatique is gone, I am eating again. I do urinate more frequently, but bowels are regular and with a softener are easy. Scans are scheduled for the 17th. So we will see whats next.

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Question, internal are you saying you had 5 brachy internal a week apart? Try a heating pad before getting up seems to make bones in hips and lower back feel better. Vaginal, so far have used Replens and works for up to 3 days for me for the external radiation. Time will tell about the brachy.
I am so tired of having to have a full bladder for the 25 external radiation, my bladder is so glad for the 2 days off a week, and will be very glad next week when not pour 50 oz of water down me after noon each day till 3:15 appt.

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@terradean

The appts I have from walking in door to leaving is half hr to 40 minutes when they are backed up. External, your bladder has to be pretty full before they will start or they will wait awhile till fuller. My last one friday seemed pretty short. was outdoor 10 minutes sooner than any.
I am to have 25 external, will have number 10 on Monday. Mondays are my day off so have those appts, early 8:35 am, feel off for about 4 hrs after them, since working others are at 3:20 checkin and I don't notice any effects because go home eat dindin and falling aslepp in recliner get up later and go to bed. Normally except tuesday when see Dr. out by 4 to 4:10pm, tuesday was around 5. Though this last friday was out 3:50pm, Will have 2 brachy after external, was told 1st appt will be around 2 hrs and second around 1 hr though treatment time is only around 8 minutes from what the lady said. Then will have 3 more chemo 3 weeks apart. Carbo/Taxol both times. Last Chemo appt. date will take 11 months from first time I had starting bleeding one afternoon leaving work when sat down in vehicle seat, a gush. Was told will be in remission when all treatments are complete. Makes me wonder how they know that.
I want a vacation from Dr.'s when this is over.

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Well, Friday was 24th treatment and Monday, last 25th last external radiation, can't say I enjoyed any of the last 5 weeks. The girl stated when I was leaving, see how fast it went by, I giggled Ha. All I can say, I am so glad I don't have to leave work early 4 days a weeks, hurrah. Won't miss diarrhea days, did find the Imodium gel tablets worked the best. Skin will be glad no more irritation, getting very irritated Next, Brachy on Monday the 13th, and following friday last Brachy. Not looking forward to it at all. Am seeing the Chemo Dr. on Monday, my port woke me up 2 nights this last week aching. They flushed it so has felt better but no blood so am going to see him, so they can decide what to do since didn't work last time had chemo either. Oh, and was told by radiation Dr. see you in 3 months, I said week after week, month after month and only alittle while after last chemo treatment. Seems like never ending.
More after the brachy, have been given directions about dilatators. So, scare tissue doesn't build up and cause pain for future exams or if I ever want to have sex again.

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@knitlady

How long did the radiation treatments last?

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The appts I have from walking in door to leaving is half hr to 40 minutes when they are backed up. External, your bladder has to be pretty full before they will start or they will wait awhile till fuller. My last one friday seemed pretty short. was outdoor 10 minutes sooner than any.
I am to have 25 external, will have number 10 on Monday. Mondays are my day off so have those appts, early 8:35 am, feel off for about 4 hrs after them, since working others are at 3:20 checkin and I don't notice any effects because go home eat dindin and falling aslepp in recliner get up later and go to bed. Normally except tuesday when see Dr. out by 4 to 4:10pm, tuesday was around 5. Though this last friday was out 3:50pm, Will have 2 brachy after external, was told 1st appt will be around 2 hrs and second around 1 hr though treatment time is only around 8 minutes from what the lady said. Then will have 3 more chemo 3 weeks apart. Carbo/Taxol both times. Last Chemo appt. date will take 11 months from first time I had starting bleeding one afternoon leaving work when sat down in vehicle seat, a gush. Was told will be in remission when all treatments are complete. Makes me wonder how they know that.
I want a vacation from Dr.'s when this is over.

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How long did the radiation treatments last?

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Praying all works out for you.

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@cmb2022

@terradean I was asked about pain several times also, but never had any during the treatments. I finished just about a month ago and started having achyness/pain in my low back, hips and legs about a week ago. I have been reading and that is a common side effect of pelvic radiation and for most people it says it normally subsides after a couple of weeks. Other than the headaches I felt good in the first few weeks, but as time progressed I did feel very tired, weak and had diarrhea quite a bit. I am still a bit tired but no longer feel weak and rarely have diarrhea now. Take care! I am praying for you!

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I do have an achiness in my lower back, hips and legs. Ive been blaming it on lack of excercise, I do stil have vaginal burning and pain so its difficult to get things done. Other then that I am also just over one month out of treatment ending, which was 5 weekks internal radiation. 5 chemo once a week and 5 internal radiation. Except for the vaginal irritation ( I do treat with creams and pain meds) I feel good. The fatique is gone, I am eating again. I do urinate more frequently, but bowels are regular and with a softener are easy. Scans are scheduled for the 17th. So we will see whats next.

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@terradean

Woke up at 2:30 last night with left arm aching, so used tens unit on my neck, then went back to sleep woke up not hurting, everything came out of me quickly. So Imodium, it was that ended it for the day. Seem to be ok tonight after another treatment. Hopefully, won't have same problem in morning. And, will sleep all night. I am hoping will not have pain. I have never been that thrilled about this all this treatment, though everyone keeps telling me I need to do. After being in pain from mid-May till end of August before hysterectomy I just do not want to go back to pain. Am hoping this can go as smoothly as possible.

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@terradean
Hang in there. For me the days went by quickly. It really is an overwhelming process and I didn't have chemo, so I can only imagine that you are exhausted and ready for this to be over I worked the entire time and drove about an hour each way so the trips were exhausting and then I would go to work each day. If the diarrhea persists my Dr also recommended a low fiber diet and as long as I followed that mine was more tolerable. I just started adding back in most fruits and veggies in the past couple of weeks. Take care and hopefully today will be a good day!

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Woke up at 2:30 last night with left arm aching, so used tens unit on my neck, then went back to sleep woke up not hurting, everything came out of me quickly. So Imodium, it was that ended it for the day. Seem to be ok tonight after another treatment. Hopefully, won't have same problem in morning. And, will sleep all night. I am hoping will not have pain. I have never been that thrilled about this all this treatment, though everyone keeps telling me I need to do. After being in pain from mid-May till end of August before hysterectomy I just do not want to go back to pain. Am hoping this can go as smoothly as possible.

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@terradean

Question, did you have any pain with the treatments. When meeting with Dr. yesterday he mentioned you will have pain. I am not sure why this is being mentioned. But, not the first time I have heard it. I mentioned having a headache after first radiation, and feeling off for about 4hrs., that was a 11 am appt., this week was a 8:35 appt., didn't really notice as much. However, yesterday after leaving I was feeling achy at my 3:20 appt. He asked about my stomach and whether having nausea, I am eating fine though still feels somewhat irritated since last chemo appt. or maybe both. Am using tens unit on my back right now is achy.

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@terradean I was asked about pain several times also, but never had any during the treatments. I finished just about a month ago and started having achyness/pain in my low back, hips and legs about a week ago. I have been reading and that is a common side effect of pelvic radiation and for most people it says it normally subsides after a couple of weeks. Other than the headaches I felt good in the first few weeks, but as time progressed I did feel very tired, weak and had diarrhea quite a bit. I am still a bit tired but no longer feel weak and rarely have diarrhea now. Take care! I am praying for you!

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@cmb2022

@terradean
I recently finished radiation at my first weekly appointment with the Radiation Oncologist I met a very kind retired doctor who was filling in and I mentioned that I was experiencing headaches daily after my treatment. He said have some coffee and I said I wasn't a fan he said have some tea then. I did each day and that helped. I always had the earliest appointment each day and worked the entire time. A nap would have been nice, but it was good to keep as active as possible. I had 28 external treatments and 3 brachytherapy ones. On the day after the final external treatment I woke up with a very small burn that quickly healed. I had plenty of fatigue and diarrhea. Immodium was definitely my friend. Take care and be kind to yourself. Rest when you can and very soon you will be all done.

Jump to this post

Question, did you have any pain with the treatments. When meeting with Dr. yesterday he mentioned you will have pain. I am not sure why this is being mentioned. But, not the first time I have heard it. I mentioned having a headache after first radiation, and feeling off for about 4hrs., that was a 11 am appt., this week was a 8:35 appt., didn't really notice as much. However, yesterday after leaving I was feeling achy at my 3:20 appt. He asked about my stomach and whether having nausea, I am eating fine though still feels somewhat irritated since last chemo appt. or maybe both. Am using tens unit on my back right now is achy.

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