Grade I Stage II Endromtetrioid Adenocarcinoma Questioning radiation

longtermsurvivor said:

the radiation can cause problems
but the disease certainly can, as well. Was your staging IIA or B? Have you been presented with any options? Remember that, even with Hysterectomy plus both external and internal radiation, you still have a cure rate that is less than 100%, probably on the order of 80% or so. In general, if you don't radiate, you are giving up another 20% on the cure rate. I'm sorry to be so blunt about this, but those are the numbers for stage II, even with well-differentiated cancer.

You should ask the question of what happens to your cure expectancy if you go with only vaginal ovoids (brachytherapy) as opposed to both internal and external. The vaginal cuff is the area of highest risk for reoccurance, after all, and internal radiation really does a good job of preventing that.

You will see a disproportionate number of people at this site who have had radiation complications. I'm not discounting them, their complications are real. People who have not had problems don't tend to search out this site on the internet, though, and you won't get a representative sampling for this reason. Most people who go through this type of radiation do fine, and don't have severe short-term, or long-term complications.

Wishing you the best no matter which you decide to do.

longtermsurvivor said:

Here is some worthwhile reading
http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/27/21/3547.full

It is very detailed, and will need to be studied and digested. Given what little I know about your situation, it may be an article that you actually print and take in to discuss with your radiation oncologist.

The problem you are faced with is that there is no way to know whether they got all of the cancer with your surgery. Even one small cell outside the area that was removed will eventually grow. that's what the radiation is all about. If you delay radiation and adopt a wait and see attitude toward this, and it returns, it likely won't be cured. Your best bet for cure is to proceed right away.

Grade I cancer means several things, but you can't hang your hat on any of them. The tumor is not necessarily more slow growing just because it is well-differentiated. It could grow slowly, or very quickly. In general, grade I cancers of the endometrium are less aggressive, and more curable than higher grade cancers. But that is only in general.

There is much more to know about your situation to give you valid advice. That is what your oncology team is there fore. You can ask them for discrete answers to all these questions. Like, what are the exact odds of recurrance of my cancer if I dont do radiation at all? What are the odds if I only do vaginal irradiation? What are the odds if I only do external radiation?


You can formulate a detailed list of these individual questions and ask all of them, expecting detailed answers. It is your right.

But always remember this: the radiation plans offered you have been developed after the industry has carefully considered the risks and benefits of radiation to your individual situation. And that is why the treatments are recommended to begin with.

Best wishes for your continued health.

CindyGSD said:

Hi Mac
Have they offered you brachytherapy (internal radiation). I know I've read somewhere that there is supposedly less side effects with brachytherapy vs pelvic radiation and some studies have suggested it is just as effective.

I just completed radiation (both internal and external) and so far have had very minimal side effects but of course that doesn't address the long term effects so I can't speak to that.

Take care,
Cindy