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.

@rainbow92

Ask to receive steroids with the last chemo dose. It will help you recover faster from the chemo symptoms.

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Today was 3rd chemo, asked about steroid for bone pain. What I was told the bone pain is from Neulasta Onpro given to me day after chemo in my arm late afternoon. And, the dexamethason given is a steroid was for nausea. I am given 2 -8 mg for 3 days, looked it up can cause bone pain.
So, who knows. DNA is being changed from chemo in your bones. Is what I was told. And, what were the complaints of MNRA shots it changes your DNA. Have to giggle underneath at this all.
Told my Chemo Dr. going to maybe try only taking 1 of the pills and see if pain is less. May still take Naproxen, couple of days, time will tell. All I know is that chemo doesn't bother me till day 3. Am going to take a benadryl every night because they give that to me before chemo and he said may help since have no problem till injection to bring white cell count up. So, will see how it goes this time. Told him been craving red meat, he told me go for it. Red blood cell count was low. White ok, Will let you know what I find out. Findings were 8/29 FIGO 1 endometroid adenocarcinoma, peritoneal wash pT3aN0,

Editor's Note:
Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465

The genetic material delivered by mRNA vaccines and viral vector vaccines doesn't become part of your DNA.It never enters the nucleus of your cells, where your DNA is kept.

Chemotherapy drugs damage the DNA of cancer cells, making them unable to survive. Treatment also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, causingside effects. Side effects often get better or go away after chemotherapy treatment is complete and healthy cells repair themselves.

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I'm also having carboplatin-paclitaxel chemo (I've had 4 cycles so far), but I'm not being treated with Neulasta. I also don't have any bone pain. Different people react differently to drugs, but to me this suggests that the Neulasta may be the culprit for your bone pain. Along with the chemo, I'm also getting Emend through the IV, along with pills of dexamethasone, Pepcid, Zofran, and benadryl. (I think that's everything.) They didn't tell me to take any other drugs afterwards other than laxatives or Pepcid/Zofran if necessary. My blood counts are dropping (all of red, white, and platelets), and the nurse practitioner said that if these keep getting worse, they would do a transfusion with the next cycle. Yuck.

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@val64

I'm also having carboplatin-paclitaxel chemo (I've had 4 cycles so far), but I'm not being treated with Neulasta. I also don't have any bone pain. Different people react differently to drugs, but to me this suggests that the Neulasta may be the culprit for your bone pain. Along with the chemo, I'm also getting Emend through the IV, along with pills of dexamethasone, Pepcid, Zofran, and benadryl. (I think that's everything.) They didn't tell me to take any other drugs afterwards other than laxatives or Pepcid/Zofran if necessary. My blood counts are dropping (all of red, white, and platelets), and the nurse practitioner said that if these keep getting worse, they would do a transfusion with the next cycle. Yuck.

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Interesting, yesterday 3 rd chemo, no problems, eat soup and hamburger when got home. Took Benadryl last night and actually slept all night. So, this afternoon is when arm injection will happen so will be interesting to see if bone pain takes place again. Will take another Benadryl
tonight to see. My white blood cell are normal range, were to high 1st round so they lowered doze going into my arm. Red this time was low but he said ok total so am o for now. Not sure about when they will start radiation, because of holidays. My days off Monday and Tuesday 26 & 27 they don't want to work not same problem the next week. Hoping they may schedule me for next Monday the 19th. Guess more tomorrow

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@terradean, sorry that you're dealing with bone pain.
You'e right that chemotherapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, making them unable to survive. This is what makes chemotherapy so effective. Treatment also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, causingside effects. Side effects often get better or go away after chemotherapy treatment is complete and healthy cells repair themselves.

The mRNA vaccine does not alter DNA however. mRNA delived by injection never enters the nucleus of your cells, where your DNA is kept. It doesn't become part of your DNA. Read more here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465

I tend to agree with @val64 that Neulasta is the mostly likely cause of bone pain, possibly along with the chemo combo as well. Bone pain is listed as a common side effect of Neulasta Onpro (https://www.drugs.com/mtm/neulasta-onpro-kit.html#side-effects
Paclitaxel and carboplatin, also known as Taxol/Carbo, can cause joint and muscle ache in some people. (https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/paclitaxel-and-carboplatin)

You mention that your oncologist suggested only taking 1 pill instead of 3. Is that for the dexamethasone? Are they changing the dosage of chemo or Neulasta?

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@colleenyoung

@terradean, sorry that you're dealing with bone pain.
You'e right that chemotherapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, making them unable to survive. This is what makes chemotherapy so effective. Treatment also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, causingside effects. Side effects often get better or go away after chemotherapy treatment is complete and healthy cells repair themselves.

The mRNA vaccine does not alter DNA however. mRNA delived by injection never enters the nucleus of your cells, where your DNA is kept. It doesn't become part of your DNA. Read more here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465

I tend to agree with @val64 that Neulasta is the mostly likely cause of bone pain, possibly along with the chemo combo as well. Bone pain is listed as a common side effect of Neulasta Onpro (https://www.drugs.com/mtm/neulasta-onpro-kit.html#side-effects
Paclitaxel and carboplatin, also known as Taxol/Carbo, can cause joint and muscle ache in some people. (https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/paclitaxel-and-carboplatin)

You mention that your oncologist suggested only taking 1 pill instead of 3. Is that for the dexamethasone? Are they changing the dosage of chemo or Neulasta?

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My normal dose is 2 of dexamethasone, however, since side effects are bone pain also, stated to Dr. possibly try taking just 1 and see if helps and using Benadryl he recommended at night during that few days. Interesting how have no problems with chemo even drinking my coffee
this morning with milk and tummy just fine. Tomorrow will tell me more. Going to take Benadryl again tonight. Only slept 3 or 4 hrs at a time for about week last to chemo rounds, last night slept normal.

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@colleenyoung

@terradean, sorry that you're dealing with bone pain.
You'e right that chemotherapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, making them unable to survive. This is what makes chemotherapy so effective. Treatment also kills or slows the growth of healthy cells that grow and divide quickly, causingside effects. Side effects often get better or go away after chemotherapy treatment is complete and healthy cells repair themselves.

The mRNA vaccine does not alter DNA however. mRNA delived by injection never enters the nucleus of your cells, where your DNA is kept. It doesn't become part of your DNA. Read more here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465

I tend to agree with @val64 that Neulasta is the mostly likely cause of bone pain, possibly along with the chemo combo as well. Bone pain is listed as a common side effect of Neulasta Onpro (https://www.drugs.com/mtm/neulasta-onpro-kit.html#side-effects
Paclitaxel and carboplatin, also known as Taxol/Carbo, can cause joint and muscle ache in some people. (https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatments-and-drugs/paclitaxel-and-carboplatin)

You mention that your oncologist suggested only taking 1 pill instead of 3. Is that for the dexamethasone? Are they changing the dosage of chemo or Neulasta?

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I am sorry, But I never thought mNRA shots did change your DNA just all the gossip regarding them. I have had all that were available to me. I think they change dosage of chemo and Neulasta depending on blood work. What he told me was the reason I was given the dexamethasone is for nausea and since not having any, dropping the dosage may make bone pain less. Just something to try. And, he told me to add Benadryl at night may help with side effects. They give it to me with IV on chemo day. Never said to use before after. Will know more tomorrow. Was just called and simulation for radiation is now set for 12/27 at 10 am.

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@terradean

I am sorry, But I never thought mNRA shots did change your DNA just all the gossip regarding them. I have had all that were available to me. I think they change dosage of chemo and Neulasta depending on blood work. What he told me was the reason I was given the dexamethasone is for nausea and since not having any, dropping the dosage may make bone pain less. Just something to try. And, he told me to add Benadryl at night may help with side effects. They give it to me with IV on chemo day. Never said to use before after. Will know more tomorrow. Was just called and simulation for radiation is now set for 12/27 at 10 am.

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I was told to take non-drowsy Claritin for the bone pain the day of, and for 3 days after. It definitely has helped!!!!

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Oh, I have taken Claritin everyday, they stated raises your white blood cell count. However, this time he asked me to try taking Benadryl, they do give me it in my IV at Chemo time. So, have been taking each night. And, so far no bone pain. Fingers crossed and I have not used the dexamethasone which I was told was for nausea. Read about it and says causes bone pain. Time will tell next few days I guess. Am, so hoping not to have it so severe.

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@terradean I'm so glad that @colleenyoung provided sage advice on how chemotherapy affects DNA and what the mRNA vaccine does to cells and does not do to DNA. @marys1956 thoughts about use of non-drowsy Claritin is helpful although your latest message that Benadryl is working for you is very encouraging.

I apologize for going silent for a few days. I have yet another respiratory illness. It's such a terrible year for that, right? My next cancer surveillance appointment at Mayo is next week and I have to do what my primary care physician says: rest, drink lots of liquids.

I'm keeping fingers and toes crossed for you and hoping the pain subsides.

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Yep, so far so good, so this is last of the first 3 chemo, hopefully, radiation will give my body a rest from chemo effects. Hopefully, by day 10 will be feeling more myself so can enjoy Xmas. Though, am sure radiation will have its own total. Time will tell.

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