POST HYSTERECTOMY AND NOW FACING RADIOTHERAPY

[AlexaMac]

Hi el, have been into hospital for the completion of my hysterectomy. At my post op meeting with the surgeon l was told the cancer which was in my womb has been tested and is now grade B so have to go for radiotherapy of between 20:and 30:sessions over 4 to 6 weeks.

My question is how was the discomfort during those 6 weeks, and does anyone have tips on how to deal with it.

I am almost 77 (next month) and usually relatively healthy until this all began in November 2021, l did not have my first surgery, partial hysterectomy, until December 2022, then this was followed up with the completion of the hysterectomy 4 weeks ago. After all this time l really want to be able to look forward to having back the old me as l was before this all began.

Thank you for reading this and any tips you can give,

Alexa 🌸🌸🌸

[EndoJaz]

what awful news, I have no experience of radiotherapy but have had a hysterectomy and that is tough to deal with in itself but I’m wishing you well xx

[hobbity]

Hello Alexa,Sorry to hear that you now have had to deal with this. I have the following tips to help;

Get a good quality cream to apply to the outside of the treatment area, it should have hyaluronic acid to soothe the sunburn like rash.

The treatment takes minutes but involves a lot of waiting around beforehand and removing clothes in small cubicles, dress accordingly and bring your knitting/a book. Try to get someone to drive you there because you will be tired.

A cool fan and cold flannels to ease the heat.

Be kind to yourself and nap when you can as difficulty sleeping is common

Wishing you all the best

X

[AlexaMac in reply to hobbity]

Hi thank you for this, am now being booked in for brachytherapy as a 3 day in patient so hoping this is the cure all l have been looking forward to.

Thank you for your thoughts, stay well

Alexa 🌸🌸🌸

[Moon_maiden]

Hi

Sorry you are going through all this. I have no experience of radiotherapy, there is a very good Facebook forum hysterectomy uk, that might provide better info.

I hope it works out for you, happy to chat though

[Nessie50]

hi, my cancer was grade 3 , stage 1 A , it was a polyp in the womb, total hysterectomy and 3 internal brachytherapy, did you have your ovaries taken? I think radiation x 20 is over the top for grade B but I’m not a specialist , at your age I would suggest you don’t do the external radiotherapy as it is brutal , might affect bladder etc. I am 65.

[AlexaMac in reply to Nessie50]

hi, l see you had brachytherapy, my consultant is arranging this treatment for me sometime within May hopefully.

Have had the procedure explained as to the method of radio delivery etc., was wondering is there an amount of heat with this treatment as with the external radiography and what was the best thing you could say of it compared to the 6 weeks external radiography please. Thank you for taking the time to reply, Alexa 🌸🌸🌸

Wishing you well 🌸🌸🌸

I had a partial hysterectomy in December and then the hysterectomy completed 6 weeks ago 🌸🌸🌸

[Nessie50 in reply to AlexaMac]

hi , I didn’t have the external as refused , just 3 x internal brachytherapy, it was ok , no heat issues at all but atrophy afterwards so now on small does of topical eostriol

[AlexaMac in reply to Nessie50]

hi sorry, not familiar with the term atrophy, if you have the time to explain l would be very grateful, thank you for being a friend

Alexa 🌸🌸🌸

[Nessie50 in reply to AlexaMac]

hi ,atrophy is a thinning of the skin , drying out internally so to speak.

[AlexaMac in reply to Nessie50]

Thank you for this, yes l expect after having multiple brachytherapy treatments this would happen, they have not said anything about multiple treatments but as they have removed EVERYTHING including the tumour itself and a 5 inch ovarian cyst hopefully it will be a one off, but if it is more than once at least l shall be aware of what it entails.

Thank you for replying and explaining so well, take care

Alexa 🌸🌸🌸

[AlexaMac in reply to Nessie50]

Hi again, l am to have one session of brachytherapy 20 doses over 20 hours a little daunting having to lie in one position for all that time but if gets rid of all traces of cancer then l am willing to do it. Will be an in patient for 48 hours from 2pm on the Tuesday to the same time approximately on the Thursday. My consultant was optimistic it would all be cleared up for me, thank you for your thoughts 🌸🌸