80 year old with endometrial cancer - after hysterectomy and treatment now in surveillance mode

[Jinnyboo]

I just completed 6 rounds of chemotherapy and 25 radiation treatments for stage 3C111 endometrial cancer diagnosed in December 2022.

[Merma Moderator]

Congratulations on completing your treatment. How are you feeling now?

[Jinnyboo in reply to Merma]

Thank you, Merma.

I just had the 6th and last docetaxol/Carboplatin infusion yesterday, and know that the side effects increase exponentially with each round. While I am on steroids for today and tomorrow, I feel somewhat energetic, but know that heavy fatigue will set in soon. Today I also feel the inflammation in soles of my feet and am having some trouble walking.

But, just knowing that I will have moved from toxic treatments to a surveillance phase is a great relief. I am determined to make it through these next two difficult weeks with much gratitude for all those who helped me over these last months of treatment.

[Merma Moderator in reply to Jinnyboo]

Yes, This too, will pass.

Do you have neuropathy in your feet?

[Jinnyboo in reply to Merma]

Many thanks for your interest. I actually developed neuropathy in my feet in my 50s, not from diabetes or any known cause - idiopathic per a couple of neurologists. Never kept me from doing anything really, just always felt like walking on pillows- not quite the real ground under me. But, that is why at start of chemo I chose docetaxol, which was less likely to cause nerve damage to feet and hands than other options.

The pharmacist at Dartmouth Hitchcock suggested that I take vitamin B6 and Alpha-lipoid acid each day during treatments and to add glutamine for four day after infusions. This has, I hope, helped to minimize the effects in my feet and fingers, although I feel some tingling and numbness now for sure and especially a puffiness in my feet for the first few days after infusion.

[SariKexp in reply to Jinnyboo]

Here's to finishing chemo! I was also advised by my oncology care team to do B6 and glutamine and I think it helped. Very, very minor PN in my fingers that subsided about 6 weeks after my last chemo cycle (carboplatin & paclitaxel). I turned down their offer (haha) for radiation, and am on maintenance pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the next ~2 years. So far, I am tolerating it well. Rueful smile every time the Keytruda commercials are on TV. Wishing you a smooth return to feeling like yourself!

[Merma Moderator in reply to Jinnyboo]

Share has a webinar on March 7 about chemo induced neuropathy. sharecancersupport.org/unde...

[MomCat6]

Welcome, Jinnyboo. I went through a similar course of treatment after my second uterine diagnosis. Had full radical hysterectomy after first diagnosis so they were surprised to find recurrence. Finished treatment for second diagnosis a year ago. Feeling human again. Good luck to you regaining your strength.

[Jinnyboo in reply to MomCat6]

Thanks for your update. And, congratulations - two diagnoses to deal with! You are a warrior.

I too am looking forward to feeling human once more - how long after your (second!) course of treatments did you start to rebound?

[MomCat6 in reply to Jinnyboo]

It's amazing how happy a body can be once we stop pumping toxins in. I really started turning around 4 or 5 weeks after last chemo (carboplatin and taxol). It took a few months to stop feeling like a cancer patient-its always hanging overhead. On the other hand, I just returned from a two week trip with my daughters and it was really physically taxing-I definitely don't have all my stamina back! Some of my cancer buddies returned to work after 3 months, once their oncologists cleared them to start back.

[Brooks44]

I too was diagnosed in Dec 2022 - had the hysterectomy 1/4/23 and finished the 6th chemo 6/15/23. First CT scan since will be tomorrow (Saturday). I had extravasion in the iv arm after the 5th carboplatin and a less severe reaction after the 6th infusion. Have had swelling in both feet and lower legs - hadn't thought of the infusions causing that before. Looking for "brighter days" ahead.

PS CT scan was good and blood test showed less anemia. More energy now and less feet swelling.

[Jinnyboo]

Glad to hear you’re finishing up the chemo. Brighter days, more of who you really are, coming for sure. (I also had a vein leakage, after 1st chemo only, but that was before a port was put in.) Stay in touch.

[Embeth]

Dear Jinnyboo and fellow thrivers,

I’m sending healing intentions to all of you on your personal yet shared journey. I am 75 years old and 6 years out from a total hysterectomy, chemotherapy and braketherapy treatment after a stage 3a diagnosis of UPSC (Uterine papillary serous carcinoma). Life gets better. Congratulations on all the extra steps you have taken to heal. ❤️

[Jinnyboo in reply to Embeth]

So encouraging. Thank you.