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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.

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dlgbb | @dlgbb | May 5, 2025
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@dlgbb Oh!! Are these bells and gongs the ones you rang at the facility when you..." + (show)
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@dlgbb Oh!! Are these bells and gongs the ones you rang at the facility when you finished your last radiation session? These are terrific pictures. You look so happy and with good reason! My bell at Mayo Clinic was considerably smaller and I did enjoy the applause and cheers from staff and other patients when I rang the bell.

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@naturegirl5
Yes! The chimes are in the radiation department, and the gong is in the central courtyard for all patients of the hospital. It felt so good!!! I am wearing my Medicine Hat Tigers jersey, as we are hopefully on our way to the Memorial Cup! The Arthur J E Childs Comprehensive Cancer Centre is absolutely beautiful, and the care has been wonderful. I am so grateful.

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 5, 2025
In reply to @dlgbb "@naturegirl5 Celebration time!" + (show)
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@naturegirl5
Celebration time!

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@dlgbb Oh!! Are these bells and gongs the ones you rang at the facility when you finished your last radiation session? These are terrific pictures. You look so happy and with good reason! My bell at Mayo Clinic was considerably smaller and I did enjoy the applause and cheers from staff and other patients when I rang the bell.

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tdfraze | @tdfraze | May 5, 2025
In reply to @dlgbb "Hi there! In January 2025 I was diagnosed with stage 1a grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer..." + (show)
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Hi there!
In January 2025 I was diagnosed with stage 1a grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer with substantial lymphovascular space invasion, but with the Pole mutation. I had surgery for the removal of uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, lymph nodes for testing), and finished 25 external beam radiation treatments last week. I have been told that the Pole mutation is associated with very good outcomes, so think positively! Wishing you the best.

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Yes, I was told that mutation they think response to treatment better. I know ultimately God knows our need, and he uses others talents/knowledge to help their fellow man get through tough times. I am stage 3 I guess, idk grade, I just know they told me about the "pole" factor. I'm
trying to not panic, because God prevented me from dying many times by miracles many times this last half year, and he's not gonna leave me now. All those life threatening health issues, we're coming from this disease, the tumors. They were all taken out, and now it's about prevention as you know too I'm sure.

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dlgbb | @dlgbb | May 5, 2025
In reply to @naturegirl5 "Hi Diana,@dlgbb Just three days left and counting? Red is my favorite color. Not because I..." + (show)
Profile picture for Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5

Hi Diana,@dlgbb
Just three days left and counting?

Red is my favorite color. Not because I am a Flames fan either. I just love the color so to see all those flaming red jerseys on the ice of a powerhouse hockey team would be quite the sight. And then your friends surprise you with hot air balloon ride tickets!! Now, that's a homecoming gift. There is a hot air balloon festival in Vermont that I went to a few times. I loved seeing those gorgeous colors in the air and watching the process of getting the hot air balloons in the air. and coming back down. It felt like something out of the 19th century. And of course it is.

I am hoping, too, that the cardiology appointment goes well in May. As the weather warms up we are all just itching to get outside and even more so for you and your activities that you enjoy. In my experience I was fatigued for a few weeks after I finished radiation therapy. I would say it took me a good month or two to get my energy back. I don't recall having much diarrhea after the radiation therapy ended. I listened to my body and did not push myself too much. My radiation therapy ended in mid-January which is a time I would be doing winter sports but that winter I did not. I went back to the gym and continued my workouts to slowly build up my energy and endurance again.

Thank you for asking after me. It's been 3 years since I finished radiation therapy so my appointments now are every 6 months (previously the appointments were every 4 months). My next appointments will be just 4 weeks away in May. I live in a small town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan so I continue to get my speciality care at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. When the weather is pleasant we break up the drive to and from Minnesota by staying overnight near a wildlife refuge. I can hike and go birding to my heart's content before we continue on to Mayo Clinic.

I so appreciate your posts. You have helped others understand and learn about the gynecological radiation therapy journey. You get to know the providers and techs who work in the radiation therapy setting and form a sort of community with them. And other patients who have appointments at the same time as you.

I'd like to "tag" @dlgbb, you, Diana, to come back here and support others who are trying to figure their way through the endometrial cancer that you and I have and are experiencing.

Please let me know when you get back home and how your recovery goes, OK?

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@naturegirl5
Hi Helen!
I have been done my treatments for a week now, and am already starting to feel some energy coming back. Mornings are great! I have gone back to line dancing, begun doing yard work, and have done some bike riding. Afternoons are low energy, usually spent reading and napping. Evenings are nice and relaxing, usually watching hockey! Other than fatigue, my stomach is still the biggest issue, but yesterday felt a bit better. I am very careful about timing meals and outings. I have started to reintroduce some forbidden foods back. I have noticed some pain in my hip bones and pelvic area, but I was warned that this could happen. If anything, movement and exercise help. I am just so happy to be home. Good luck with your May appointment, and please feel free to tag me as you see fit.

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dlgbb | @dlgbb | May 5, 2025
In reply to @tdfraze "Pole Mutation noted on my Path Report" + (show)
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Pole Mutation noted on my Path Report

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Hi there!
In January 2025 I was diagnosed with stage 1a grade 3 endometrioid endometrial cancer with substantial lymphovascular space invasion, but with the Pole mutation. I had surgery for the removal of uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, lymph nodes for testing), and finished 25 external beam radiation treatments last week. I have been told that the Pole mutation is associated with very good outcomes, so think positively! Wishing you the best.

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irenemargaret | @irenemargaret | May 4, 2025
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@irenemargaret This is such good news after the surgery, chemo and internal brachytherapy. That's a lot..." + (show)
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@irenemargaret This is such good news after the surgery, chemo and internal brachytherapy. That's a lot of treatment. And then, after your recent blood work you will visit your gyn oncologist every 3 months. Yes, wonderful, and so far, so good. Bravo!!

How are you feeling today?

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I’m doing very well….finally being “done” for a while is a blessing for sure. Here’s hoping, in my case and everyone here that we are all done!

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 4, 2025

@irenemargaret This is such good news after the surgery, chemo and internal brachytherapy. That's a lot of treatment. And then, after your recent blood work you will visit your gyn oncologist every 3 months. Yes, wonderful, and so far, so good. Bravo!!

How are you feeling today?

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irenemargaret | @irenemargaret | May 4, 2025
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@tdfraze Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect and our Gynecological Cancers Support Group. I was diagnosed with..." + (show)
Profile picture for Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5

@tdfraze Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect and our Gynecological Cancers Support Group. I was diagnosed with endometroid adenocarcinoma FIGO Grade 1, Stage 1a in 2019. In 2019 I had a radical hysterectomy with additional removal of ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix. I did not have any other treatment at that time. No radiation therapy or chemotherapy. I had a recurrence in 2021 found by physical exam by my nurse practitioner. I then had 5 weeks of external radiation therapy and 2 sessions of brachytherapy. I have had no recurrences since then or any evidence of disease.

When were you diagnosed and what treatment have you had or what is planned. How are you feeling?

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I had the same total hysterectomy, including lymph nodes…..that were clear,
A week after surgery, I started my six infusions of chemo…no port….these were three weeks apart.
A week after my last chemo, I had five sessions of internal brachytherapy.
As of Friday blood work was good and I start my three month plan to visit my oncologist gynecologist along with blood work.
So far, so good!

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Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 3, 2025
In reply to @tdfraze "Pole Mutation noted on my Path Report" + (show)
Profile picture for tdfraze @tdfraze

Pole Mutation noted on my Path Report

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@tdfraze What a terrible journey you've been on. Now that you've had surgery and gained back some weight are you feeling any better.

Here is some information that may be helpful to you in interpreting your pathology report.
Grade is used in gynecological cancers to characterize the appearance of the cells (from the biopsy that are sent to pathology). Stage is used in cancer to refer to whether or not the cancer has spread to other organs or places in the body.

Here is very good website that explains Grade and Stage in Gynecological Cancers:

American Cancer Society: Endometrial Cancer, Stages and Grades

-- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/endometrial-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/staging.html

Will you be starting radiation therapy starting the week of May 6?

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