Question re vaginal surgery

abrub · September 2016

Hi. While I'm not a member of this board, I have a question that might best be answered here. I have metastic mucinous adenocarcinoma of appendiceal origin. Surgery and initial treatment was in 2007, 2008, and included a TAH/BSO. But now the bugger is back on my vaginal cuff. Surgery in 3 weeks that will remove the vaginal cuff and shorten my vagina, among other things.

My question is about sex after surgery. What longterm limitations can I expect? Any recommendations re reconstruction or anything else I should know? Many thanks in advance.

Alice

NoTimeForCancer · September 2016

Alice, first off - you are

Alice, first off - you are welcome to our board! All I can comment on is having had a complete (it used to be radical) hysterectomy, they do take the cervix which shortens the vagina, so ask if they are taking more than what is usually taken during a complete hysterectomy to start.

Are they going to see if they are going to be giving you any radiation after the surgery? Some of us have had internal radiation for our uterine cancer as we are told "if it comes back it tends to show at the very top of the vagina". That can cause stenosis so you have to use a dialator after internal radiation - but it is doable.

As for sex, there was a LIVELY thread on the Uterine board on this and I have attached the link here: http://csn.cancer.org/node/299352

abrub · September 2016

NoTimeForCancer said:
Alice, first off - you are
Alice, first off - you are welcome to our board! All I can comment on is having had a complete (it used to be radical) hysterectomy, they do take the cervix which shortens the vagina, so ask if they are taking more than what is usually taken during a complete hysterectomy to start.

Are they going to see if they are going to be giving you any radiation after the surgery? Some of us have had internal radiation for our uterine cancer as we are told "if it comes back it tends to show at the very top of the vagina". That can cause stenosis so you have to use a dialator after internal radiation - but it is doable.

As for sex, there was a LIVELY thread on the Uterine board on this and I have attached the link here: http://csn.cancer.org/node/299352

Thank you!

I had a radical hysterectomy with the removal of my cervix back in 2007. This is different, because my new growth is adjacent to the cervix, so he'll be resecting my cervix, not just dhortening it. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out!

Alice

babe12 · September 2016

After chemo & radiation, I

After chemo & radiation, I had the salvage surgery with the removal & reconstruction of the upper back & sides of my vagina. Use your dilator and lub & everything will be fine. It did take me a while to get back to normal but you will get there!

abrub · September 2016

babe12 said:
After chemo & radiation, I
After chemo & radiation, I had the salvage surgery with the removal & reconstruction of the upper back & sides of my vagina. Use your dilator and lub & everything will be fine. It did take me a while to get back to normal but you will get there!

Thank you for your information

We will be limiting the amount of reconstruction. Ideally, none will be necessary,despite losing at least a couple of centimeters from the same area of the vagina as you had removed. We're aiming for success with the dilators. Your encouragement is much appreciated. We understand that this will take time.

Wishing you all the best,

Alice

abrub · December 2016

Follow-up

Surgery went well, tho not as well as hoped for, as they know that there are rogue malignant cells left in vaginal tissue. Those were only found in post-op pathology. However, I was left with a fully functional vagina (finally got to test it recently...) No dilation needed. As mine is a slow growing tumor type, and treatment at this point will definitely affect my quality of life without necessarily preventing recurrence, we've decided to forego treatment for now, and just monitor me. Pathology was identical to my original tumor, which took 9 years to grow back.

babe12 · January 2017

abrub said:
Follow-up
Surgery went well, tho not as well as hoped for, as they know that there are rogue malignant cells left in vaginal tissue. Those were only found in post-op pathology. However, I was left with a fully functional vagina (finally got to test it recently...) No dilation needed. As mine is a slow growing tumor type, and treatment at this point will definitely affect my quality of life without necessarily preventing recurrence, we've decided to forego treatment for now, and just monitor me. Pathology was identical to my original tumor, which took 9 years to grow back.

Abrub

Abrub, I'm sorry to hear about your rogue cancer cells! On the positive side, it is a very slow growing & you only have to monitor it now. i hope things go well for you in the future. Keep us posted!! Happy New Year!

babe

NoTimeForCancer · January 2017

abrub said:
Follow-up
Surgery went well, tho not as well as hoped for, as they know that there are rogue malignant cells left in vaginal tissue. Those were only found in post-op pathology. However, I was left with a fully functional vagina (finally got to test it recently...) No dilation needed. As mine is a slow growing tumor type, and treatment at this point will definitely affect my quality of life without necessarily preventing recurrence, we've decided to forego treatment for now, and just monitor me. Pathology was identical to my original tumor, which took 9 years to grow back.

Alice, I am sorry I missed

Alice, I am sorry I missed this! Glad to hear surgery went well and that all is working ok

Question re vaginal surgery

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