Stage1 Grade1 Recurrence Treatment with Vaginal Radiation - You want to put that where???

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Comments

  • Prissy777
    Prissy777 Member Posts: 41 Member
    #22
    Biopsy

    Yes, I am going to Johns Hopkins and my doctor is very good and positive guy.  When I first arrived, everything was fine, like only five percent you shouldn't have to worry, this is the normal checkup etc.  Personally, I moved the appointment up a month earlier cause I had a *bad* feeling.  I came early as I spotted twice, once in May and then July.  That 5% echoed in my mind as the doctor who did my D&C said the same thing and called me two days later with cancer in January.

    My doctor was saying the bleeding could be scar tissue but then when he looked and felt, he got a lot more serious.  No more jovial attitidue  and then ordered the biopsy.  They took a biospy (ouch) and I bleed a lot.   He then did a internal finger exam and even rectal.  He said, it may be serious and he can't promise anything we will have to wait untiil the results come back.

    I have not said a thing to my family as I don't want to worry them.  Personally, I think it is back and I don't want it.  My back hurts like mad and I am sore where my ovaries used to be.  I also have this heavy feeling in my vaginal area, like I can feel it all the time, which is unusal.  I am also getting pain in the pelvic canal.  He has ordered a CT scan and I am getting it tomorrow as well.

    I am glad the query lead to a great deal of humor.  God knows we could use it.  If it is negative, I will be very happy to be wrong.  I will let you all know when I do.  Thanks everyone for answering.  I appreciate the help. Let's just hope it is nothing.

  • Prissy777
    Prissy777 Member Posts: 41 Member
    #23
    NoTimeForCancer said:

    First off, I thought the same

    First off, I thought the same thing when I heard "internal". 

    Can I ask why your doctor thinks you are having a recurrence?  What kind of tests has he done?  Maybe some of the other women are more familiar and I think we all ask "what does a recurrence 'look' like?"

    I had internal radiation.  What they insert looks like a large tampon.  You don't feel anything.  Bracytherapy does cause the vagina to shrink, so you should be given a dialator to use, they will say 3 times a week, others will say daily, if you do not have a sexual partner. 

    It is not terrible, and it is very doable.  Some women have had intestinal issues as a result of it, and I know they will help out here.

    Again, I think I would be curious WHY he thinks this?  Grade 1, Stage 1 is very low but anything is possible. 

    . Yes it is unusual. However

    Yes it is unusual. However he said there was some granulation. And after further physical examination that there is possibility strong that there may be recurrence. I will find out more Friday. I am not trying to borrow trouble. I just want to know my options when I talk to him Friday. I appreciate all the help I can get from the board.

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #24
    Kaleena said:

    Laughing Laughing Laughing

    Good thing this isn't a fish story about how big!   although I think 2 inches is a "minnow"  - lol

    You girls are making me laugh!  And why am I starting to get a visual?   Sealed

     

    Kathy

     

    P.S.  Cindi, I thought Orajel was for your mouth/teeth?

    Orajel

    Yes it is... But, sometimes we just have to get creative to make things work.  I needed something to numb the "entry" and I figured if it worked on teeth it should work on that.  It does the job. And is fast.  If I could find something that works as well and also doesn't sting on the initial application, that would be even better.

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #25
    Prissy777 said:

    Biopsy

    Yes, I am going to Johns Hopkins and my doctor is very good and positive guy.  When I first arrived, everything was fine, like only five percent you shouldn't have to worry, this is the normal checkup etc.  Personally, I moved the appointment up a month earlier cause I had a *bad* feeling.  I came early as I spotted twice, once in May and then July.  That 5% echoed in my mind as the doctor who did my D&C said the same thing and called me two days later with cancer in January.

    My doctor was saying the bleeding could be scar tissue but then when he looked and felt, he got a lot more serious.  No more jovial attitidue  and then ordered the biopsy.  They took a biospy (ouch) and I bleed a lot.   He then did a internal finger exam and even rectal.  He said, it may be serious and he can't promise anything we will have to wait untiil the results come back.

    I have not said a thing to my family as I don't want to worry them.  Personally, I think it is back and I don't want it.  My back hurts like mad and I am sore where my ovaries used to be.  I also have this heavy feeling in my vaginal area, like I can feel it all the time, which is unusal.  I am also getting pain in the pelvic canal.  He has ordered a CT scan and I am getting it tomorrow as well.

    I am glad the query lead to a great deal of humor.  God knows we could use it.  If it is negative, I will be very happy to be wrong.  I will let you all know when I do.  Thanks everyone for answering.  I appreciate the help. Let's just hope it is nothing.

    Thinking of You

    Prissy, I hope you come back with great results.  We are all here for you. And, so many that have come before us can and do continue to provide experience. Whatever happens, there is a lot of knowledge and tools out there to help us fight this thing.

    Thankfully, we can all continue to ask our questions and get unfiltered answers. For me, the humor really helps deal with what we have to put ourselves through to win.

    Take care,

    Cindi

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    #26
    Well......

    Thank you for all the good thoughts, and no, on the councelling.  He doesn't believe in showing any weakness, especially emotional.  I had already gone through menopause when cancer came calling, so had lost interest loooong ago.  What time and physical changes didn't take the fun out of it, then 8 pregancies did!  But I can tell you fine friends this, I missed my life's work, my calling, becausing  I AM ONE DAMN GOOD ACTRESS!  Nuff sed!  LOL!

     

    P.s. I COULD go into detail on the measuring thing, but will save that til another day when we all need a good laugh!  Bless your Hearts!  DebraEmbarassed 

  • molimoli
    molimoli Member Posts: 514
    #27
    Kaleena said:

    Laughing Laughing Laughing

    Good thing this isn't a fish story about how big!   although I think 2 inches is a "minnow"  - lol

    You girls are making me laugh!  And why am I starting to get a visual?   Sealed

     

    Kathy

     

    P.S.  Cindi, I thought Orajel was for your mouth/teeth?

    warning you my sister Kaleena

    Reject the visual promptly I advise you. The vision that they planted in my brain still remains even after I squirted Wind Shield Washer fluid in my eyes and wiped  and buffed my lenses  with jcloth, it remains ,it's indelible. A frightening visual trip ,makes everything south of my belly button hurt  Oui ! Oui !

                                                                        ME  ( can't remember my name at this time) loving and hugging.LOL.

  • molimoli
    molimoli Member Posts: 514
    #28
    TeddyandBears_Mom said:

    OK, this is going the wrong way!

    Moli! I am rolling on the ground in spirit.  Hits bottom... let's just say 2" deep just won't "accommodate" the given length expected to be "received"!!!!!  OMG OMG OMG

    Chris - you are hilarious! Couldn't have said it better about size being a guy thing.

    tee hee

    Cindi dear , you caused the rolling

    You opened the can of worms  with the darn 2" ,hitting bottom and the orajel, for crying out loud, orajel ?  Anyways, how should we spell desperation = O-R-A-J-E -L

    Thanks to the Creator for life and laughter in spite of our broken pieces, Today is a great day to be alive. Rejoice.

     May happiness and /or peace of mind greet us tomorrow.

     I am hugging you my dear overly creative sister, welcome to the fold.

    Ps: remind me not to ask you for advice on anything,ok?  and if I ask you by mistake don't give it.

    Buckley's rub comes to mind, feeling creative ?

     

  • molimoli
    molimoli Member Posts: 514
    #29
    Prissy sorry

    I can't help you on that but would like you to educate yourself on the pluses and minuses , Try to fully understand the behavior patterns of the cancer The behaviors are usually constant  except for few exceptions ,always in all diseases .I Hope that throughout this you  will force yourself to pause and take deep breaths often,so that your decisions are not hurried and uninformed ones.Those are hard to live with when the light bulb clicks on later.

    Best wishes  and hopes  of the best outcome for you. You are at the right place, there are ladies here with stories to educate, ask the questions. any question.some one will answer or go hunting the answer for you.

    Thanks for the Questions which as you see opened a can of humor , we had fun with it  but all the while thinking of you and the internal turmoil raging ..You are one of us and  our collective  spirits will find ,embrace and lift you up when you stumble or need added strength. The power of the mind is unbeatable , and untouchable by cancer, Just imagine us there as fences on which you  will brace and steady  yourself many times, We don't mind the lifting, we are building an army against the devastating and crippling mental effect cancer reeks upon us .The physical  part we may or may not be able to control, But we  must fight like solders to keep the mental spiritual part of us Cancer free,I am resolve to fighting that battle everyday .and hope everyone is resolved too,Hang with us often,you'll see., I came and I saw and felt nuff,nuff support,everytime, all the time.  Moli.

  • Prissy777
    Prissy777 Member Posts: 41 Member
    #30
    Biopsy is Positive

    Dr. just called and said biopsy is positive.  Good news it is grade 1 so radiation should do the trick.  I thank you ladies for encouragement and humor. 

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,814 Member
    #31
    Prissy777 said:

    Biopsy is Positive

    Dr. just called and said biopsy is positive.  Good news it is grade 1 so radiation should do the trick.  I thank you ladies for encouragement and humor. 

    darn it!

    Prissy, thanks for letting us know. And sorry.  So glad it is still early in the process. This will be a blip in the road for you shortly!!!

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #32
    Prissy777 said:

    Biopsy is Positive

    Dr. just called and said biopsy is positive.  Good news it is grade 1 so radiation should do the trick.  I thank you ladies for encouragement and humor. 

    Oh Prissy!
    Hugs to you girl.

    Oh Prissy!

    Hugs to you girl.   It is very stressful waiting and worrying about this.  Good news about it being grade 1 though.   You will see the humor regarding this post later.

    For now, get it done and get it over with.   My best to you.

     

    Kathy

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #33
    Kaleena said:

    Oh Prissy!
    Hugs to you girl.

    Oh Prissy!

    Hugs to you girl.   It is very stressful waiting and worrying about this.  Good news about it being grade 1 though.   You will see the humor regarding this post later.

    For now, get it done and get it over with.   My best to you.

     

    Kathy

    Knock those cells out!

    So sorry for the recurrence, Prissy.  I guess if there is anything positive about this, it's the fact that it's  still grade 1, nonaggressive lazy cells and that radiation can eliminate them.  And as I've said before, this is why those of us with Stage 1, Grade 1 cancers are followed up.  Sorry you have to go through more stress and fear.  Like Kathy says, get it done and get it over with. 

    Good luck,

    Suzanne

  • Jeronil
    Jeronil Member Posts: 2
    #34

    i too understand your reluctance or queasiness re internal vaginal radiation. The biggest negative to it is that you do have to forget modesty but there is no pain or even discomfort and zero side effects v's  mt external radiation which caused fatigue and nasty diarrh. I would take it anytime over external.

  • Prissy777
    Prissy777 Member Posts: 41 Member
    #35
    Jeronil said:

    i too understand your reluctance or queasiness re internal vaginal radiation. The biggest negative to it is that you do have to forget modesty but there is no pain or even discomfort and zero side effects v's  mt external radiation which caused fatigue and nasty diarrh. I would take it anytime over external.

    Thank you and Recurrence Cure Statistic

    Thank you everyone for replying.  I talked to my doctor and he said even with stage 1, grade 1, the cure rate with radiation is 70 to 80%.  I hope that is me in there. 

    I was unfortunate enough to be in the 5% recurrence for stage 1 so I don't know what the future holds. 

    I basically feel like it is over and I now have a pretty firm expiration date.  If I could say anything, I guess I would have insisted on brachytherapy after surgery.  It might have prevented it from coming back.  Thank you everyone.

    I am really sorry that anyone gets cancer.   It is a shame.

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    #36
    Prissy777 said:

    Thank you and Recurrence Cure Statistic

    Thank you everyone for replying.  I talked to my doctor and he said even with stage 1, grade 1, the cure rate with radiation is 70 to 80%.  I hope that is me in there. 

    I was unfortunate enough to be in the 5% recurrence for stage 1 so I don't know what the future holds. 

    I basically feel like it is over and I now have a pretty firm expiration date.  If I could say anything, I guess I would have insisted on brachytherapy after surgery.  It might have prevented it from coming back.  Thank you everyone.

    I am really sorry that anyone gets cancer.   It is a shame.

    Prissy777

    I had stage IVb UPSC in March of 2010.  I read that I had a 9% chance of survival with this cancer in stage IV, but I am alive and in remission.  All I had was surgery and 6 rounds of carboplatin and taxol, no brachytherapy, so don't beat yourself up for not having insisted on brachytherapy.  I wasn't even offered that and didn't know about it until I read about it on this board a couple of years later.  I had originally asked my oncologist what the survival rate for my cancer was, and he'd refused to tell me.  He said that if the cure rate is 90% but if you happen to be in the other 10%, what good is knowing the average survival rate?  Just try to handle whatever comes your way the best you can.  I always expected the worst and then I knew I'd be prepared for bad news if I got it or I'd be happy if things didn't turn out as badly as I'd expected.  That's worked for me. 

  • molimoli
    molimoli Member Posts: 514
    #37
    Prissy777 said:

    Thank you and Recurrence Cure Statistic

    Thank you everyone for replying.  I talked to my doctor and he said even with stage 1, grade 1, the cure rate with radiation is 70 to 80%.  I hope that is me in there. 

    I was unfortunate enough to be in the 5% recurrence for stage 1 so I don't know what the future holds. 

    I basically feel like it is over and I now have a pretty firm expiration date.  If I could say anything, I guess I would have insisted on brachytherapy after surgery.  It might have prevented it from coming back.  Thank you everyone.

    I am really sorry that anyone gets cancer.   It is a shame.

    I have been there, it led to no good.

    Prissy, shoulda,woulda  coulda leads to no good and  will take our lives away from us long before death,  don't get bogged down with that ,there is no redo on yesterday,no one has ever found a way to do that . you will need your strength and  mental fortitude in your effort to create a favorable tomorrow. Cancer's job is to reek havoc and our job is to minimize  or eliminate havoc. so cheer up and start planning your best defense, We'll be here for each other so use us when the stumbling comes along. I have found that this is a rugged road but no complete falls will be allowed ,keep reaching out to us , as I  will to all of you when my tumbleweed days comes rolling by again.

    I am hugging ,praying,wishing and hoping for renewed health for all of us,  Nuff love, Moli.

     

  • Prissy777
    Prissy777 Member Posts: 41 Member
    #38
    molimoli said:

    I have been there, it led to no good.

    Prissy, shoulda,woulda  coulda leads to no good and  will take our lives away from us long before death,  don't get bogged down with that ,there is no redo on yesterday,no one has ever found a way to do that . you will need your strength and  mental fortitude in your effort to create a favorable tomorrow. Cancer's job is to reek havoc and our job is to minimize  or eliminate havoc. so cheer up and start planning your best defense, We'll be here for each other so use us when the stumbling comes along. I have found that this is a rugged road but no complete falls will be allowed ,keep reaching out to us , as I  will to all of you when my tumbleweed days comes rolling by again.

    I am hugging ,praying,wishing and hoping for renewed health for all of us,  Nuff love, Moli.

     

    Thanks Everyone

    Thank you everyone for the encouragement.  I guess I was in the stages of shock after the news.  Now I am action-girl ready to leap tall radiation and yes you certainly may put that where the sun don't shine.  Yes, I will gladly take chemo and provera and anything else you want to give me.  I have gone from the depths of despair to the charge of the light bridgade. 

    Many of you have had this much longer and harder than me, so I certainly respect each and everyone of you.  Prayers and hugs for us all.   Thank you so much.   The road ahead may not be fun, but at least I still have a road ahead of me so far. 

    I won't go until I have been kicked down 10000000000 times. 

    Like many of you, the trick is GETTING BACK UP!  I hope I can help you all like you have helped me.  Thank you.

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    #39
    Prissy777 said:

    Thanks Everyone

    Thank you everyone for the encouragement.  I guess I was in the stages of shock after the news.  Now I am action-girl ready to leap tall radiation and yes you certainly may put that where the sun don't shine.  Yes, I will gladly take chemo and provera and anything else you want to give me.  I have gone from the depths of despair to the charge of the light bridgade. 

    Many of you have had this much longer and harder than me, so I certainly respect each and everyone of you.  Prayers and hugs for us all.   Thank you so much.   The road ahead may not be fun, but at least I still have a road ahead of me so far. 

    I won't go until I have been kicked down 10000000000 times. 

    Like many of you, the trick is GETTING BACK UP!  I hope I can help you all like you have helped me.  Thank you.

    Prissy

    Way to go, girl!  As our Jan (Jazzy1) would say "You are a stastict of one"!  What happened to us may NEVER happen to YOU!  You have our stories, but listen to your body.  You know you better than anyone.  You have got this.  Stick with us, we've got your back!

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