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

This is what happened when I had external radiation therapy at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. I was instructed to start drinking water about 45 minutes to 1 hour before each radiation therapy session. My bladder was supposed to be full for each session as a full bladder protects organs from radiation. In fact, if my bladder was not full enough which the radiation therapists could see on CT - a CT was taken before every radiation session - then they told me and I drank more water.

My name was called from the waiting from in Radiation Oncology and since I had already been informed which dressing area to go to, I went there, changed into my gown, and then waited for the radiation therapists to come and get me. This was generally 5-10 minutes after I changed which worked out well because my bladder was very full. I then went to the external radiation beam room where they asked my name and birthdate and then I laid on the table with my legs in the cradle that was made for me earlier, and that was my only job. Lay down and lay still. There was music playing and I was usually asked what kind of music I liked. Then the radiation therapists (there were always two) positioned me on the table with the use of some lights. They left the room, first ran the CT to check if my bladder was full and then recorded the images as the radiation oncologist looked at the CTs every day. The external beam machine rotated over me and I often zoned out almost falling asleep some days. After the radiation was completed, the external beam machine stopped and I waited until the radiation therapists came to get me. They helped me from the table. I always went to the bathroom first as my bladder was full and then I changed in the dressing room. The radiation session was complete.

I had 25 external radiation beam treatments. After those were completed I had 2 brachytherapy (internal radiation) treatments that I will write about in another post.

I had few side effects from the radiation. I had the expected side effects although mine were minor according to the nurse and the radiation oncologist. I had a few bouts of diarrhea (I took imodium when that happened), a few headaches (I drank more water), and some fatigue for a few days. I lost my appetite a little and lost about 8 pounds. Of course I've since regained my appetite and that weight. Darn.

The radiation oncology nurse and the radiation oncologist met with me weekly. They monitored my vital signs, my weight, and checked for signs of radiation toxicity - side effects. Their conclusion was that I tolerate the 25 treatments well.

I’m about a month post-op a radical hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer, grade 3/2C with all female reproductive organs removed including my cervix, 48 lymph nodes and part of my Omentum.
I suffer from colon and bladder complications post-op. When I pass gas or a bowel movement the pain that engulfs me can make me cry. The pain can be a 9-10/10. The gas never goes up to a 9 or 10 max is a 7.
When I live in a bubble: no stress, 100 ounces of water and green tea a day, stool softeners (my stools are not constipated at all, formed, smaller ) no real stress with movement, focus on relaxing my pelvic floor and lightly rock or slightly tip or twist instead of pushing, much cleaner diet, chew my food throughly, get 8 hours of sleep a night. The primary bowel pain can go down to a 3-7/10
The pain impacts my bladder too. If my bladder is more than half full the pain starts to climb. A full bladder could be a 7/10 pain.
My pain tolerance allowed me to deliver 2 babies at different times completely natural, no pain meds, and move through 2 broken ribs without pain meds.
I’ll be starting radiation soon. I didn’t know the bladder needed to be full. I don’t think I could handle that. Never had bladder issues before. Does it need to be full for Brachytherapy too? How can I protect my colon and bladder when a full bladder is used for the protection?

I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the cervix in 2016. After a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, I had external beam radiation and brachytherapy completed in 2017. In 2021, I had a metastasis to the left supraclavicular lymph node. I started on Libtayo in October of 2021 and it failed after 3 cycles. I then started chemotherapy with carboplatin and Taxol in March of 2012 and finished in May with no disease progression. In August a metastasis to my bladder was found. I am now planning to start chemotherapy with tisotumab vedotin, an antibody conjugate. This is a last resort treatment and has as many and more side effects than the previous chemotherapy and in clinical trial had a 24% overall response rate.

@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.

Yes Helen
Most rewarding feeling to ring the finishing radiation bell. So nice the radiation staff came out with me & other patients were waiting to go to there radiation treatments. They all clapped. I had my husband come in to my last Brachy appointment!
It sure was a uplifting experience to ring the bell 27
Radiation treatments completed! I must say i lived 1 hour away from my treatments & there was days i would of liked to stay home! The radiations were tiring , but so worth my end results . 6 month check up all was clear.