Caregiving

Sbtees

I am the caregiver for my developmentally challenged sister.  She has been diagnosed with uterine cancer, which spread to lymph nodes ( not sure what stage that is).  Treatment is full hysterectomy, low-dose chemotherapy and radiation, for five weeks, with an "option" of high-dose chemo for 6 months.  What can she expect in the coming months, and what can I expect? and are the survival rates as poor for this as I think?

janh_in_ontario

Caregiving is a special gift

What a beautiful sister you are!  Your sister's journey will be different than mine - I had surgery but no chemo or radiation. You will find many ladies on here who can give you alot of advice and lessons learned - you have come to the right place.

 

I offer you hugs and prayers and applaud you for being so dedicated to your sister.

In awe and appreciation

 

JanH

cleo

There are many of us who had lymph node spread, I also had bladder tumours.   5.5 years and counting.  I looked on the web...saw the apparent survival rate and did no further research as they obviously hadn't spoken to long term survivors!!!   You will get great support on this site and I wish you and your sister well.

NorahS

janh_in_ontario said:

Caregiving is a special gift

What a beautiful sister you are!  Your sister's journey will be different than mine - I had surgery but no chemo or radiation. You will find many ladies on here who can give you alot of advice and lessons learned - you have come to the right place.

 

I offer you hugs and prayers and applaud you for being so dedicated to your sister.

In awe and appreciation

 

JanH

From my perspective...

...the first step is the surgery and recovery.  

After the surgery, your sister will be staged (depends on surgeon's observations during surgery and biopsy) - so that is when you will know the exact stage.

Once you have the information from the surgery, that is when you will be able to determine the best course of action for followup treatment (chemo or chemo and radiation).

And pay no attention to the internet 'statistics' - they are out of date and wrong. 

________________________________________

In my opinion, cancer treatment is usually a step-by-step process and it is important not to get too far ahead of yourself in making decisions. This is hard for a lot of people, particularly women, to do - we usually just want to get a plan together and then follow it.

However, we soon find out that cancer and cancer treatments have their own agenda and we can't make some (many?) decisions too far in advance. We have to deal with the 'here and now", be in the moment and sometimes wait to make a decision - which is not easy to do. 

_______________________________________

I wish your sister all the best outcomes for her surgery and am very glad that she has you for a sister. 

 

 

 

 

 

jazzy1

Sister

Sorry to hear this news about your sister, but this is one of the best places to learn more and gain experience from others.

Note, everyone of us has different experiences during the surgery and treatment protocols, as our bodies are "unique".  Every stage causes our bodies great turmoil, but we  do get thru it.  I for one after hysterectomy had a good 4 weeks of pain which eventually subsided, then 2 weeks later started my chemo.  Chemo as well caused me to have times of nausia symptoms, constipation and tiredness, but with time I got thru this as well.  Then add on the 33 rounds of external pelvic radiation which basically dragged me way down as I had no energy at all.  

All of these treatments are very toxic to our systems, but with time and some drugs for the side affects we all seem to get thru.  Few things I'd suggest, DO NOT RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET...very discouraging and we're all different, so best to be positive and not read "unknown" statistics. Also, ask the docs and his staff lots of quesitons, as one of the best ways to  learn.  If your sister for example has a bad rash from the chemo infusion, call the RN and ask what they'd suggest...don't try to do it on your own.  We pay these medical professionals an awful lot of money, therefore, gain from their expertise.  

I had cancer  in 1 pelvic lymph node, but luckily no where else.  They won't know exactly stage/grade until after the hysterectomy, they'll remove all the girlie parts and perform biopsies.  

On the wall in my oncologist's office --

YOU ARE A STATISTIC OF ONE!!!

Best to you and your sister,

Jan