Radiation and chemo help!? ( 3b endometrial cancer)

laura25 said:

I had just Chemo

I didn't have radiation but I did have 8 round of chemo every 3 weeks.  Going into chemo I was also underweight from stress of dealing with my cancer dx.   I am 5'9" and at the time was 117 pounds..  for me, the chemo wasn't bad.  I was able to gain weight every month and was never nauseous.  By the end of chemo I was of normal weight and even alittle over what I usually weigh. 

I hope this helps, I know other ladies on this board who had both radation and chemo, maybe they can give more info.

I  had both and on the lighter side, too.  I'm guessing when I started chemo -- 6 rounds carbo/taxol sandwiched between 33 rounds external radiation -- weighed approx 103 lbs (5'2")...I went up to 114 lbs..yes I went up.  Today some 4 years since my last treatment I'm consistent at 107 lbs.  I work out, so I never truly have weight issues, just treatments can demnish our appetites but I was very conscious of trying to keep nutritional foods/drinks in my body.  Down the proteins, as they help keep up our strength as the chemo drugs pull us down, very toxic!

I've got a more aggressive uterine cancer, MMMT, so my doc really poured on the strong drugs, but I made it thru as you will as well.  If your blood counts are not correct, they will postpone the treatments and possibly stop for various reasons.  Give it all you've got and go for whatever the docs can throw at you.  Best to be hit hard now and getting all the cancer, vs seeing a recurrence at a later date.

Hang in there, as you can do it.....

Jan

tana007 said:

Is there a way to wt these

Is there a way to wt these notifications via email..? I didnt know anyone had responded.

 

I am 5 2.5 tall and 88 lbs. very thin from all this stress. Plus the bloating from surgery and infection hasn't helped with my appetite either. Hope I can make it thru treatments!! 

I was overweight and I had chemo for breast cancer not endometrial cancer, but I have to say that I treated my treatment period as a fulltime job.   It was my priority to take good care of myself and get myself through chemo no matter what that took.  I certainly had down days and had every complication known and then some of my own, but maybe because I'm a stress eater, not a stress non-eater, I really focused on nutrition and getting enough.  When I couldn't eat, I made sure I drank Ensure, through a straw if necessary.  There weren't many days that I couldn't do that, but it's ok to have a bad day here and there, just not consistently.  Your dosage will be based on your weight and general health. 

 If you can, start trying to eat regularly and healthily now, before you start treatments.  Get in the habit of focusing on food as medicine if necessary.  It sound like chemotherapy is important to you knocking this sucker into remission.  If stress is keeping you from eating, be sure to tell your oncologist or primary care physician.  Oh, they've got drugs for just about everything to get us through chemo. 

Good luck to you.  As far as notifications that you have responses to your post, I tdon't think there is a procedure for that, I think you have to log on and check.

Suzanne

My story is very similar to yours.  Diagnosed with cancer in July 2010, had complete hysterectomy in August 2010, started radiation treatments 6 weeks Monday-Friday in September 2010 and finally 6 rounds of heavy duty chemo (every 3 weeks for 2 days -- 8 hours each day).  I was staged at 3C as microscopic cells were found in 8 of my pelvic lymph nodes.

Both the radiation and chemo treatments were difficult.  I ended up in the hospital for one week after each round of chemo because my blood counts got so low.  My final round of chemo was in March 2011.  After treatment consists of visits to the oncologist and ob/gyn every 3 months, a yearly CAT scan and chest x-ray. 

It was so difficult going through this tough course of action, but I trusted my doctors to give me the best chance possible to beat this ugly disease.  There were many times that I just wanted to give up, it would have been so much easier for me---but then I would have missed out on so much joy.  I did lose quite a bit of weight, but unlike you, I needed to.  I lived on BOOST and soup for about 6 months.  Nothing seems to taste right when you are going through the chemo.  Also, because the radiation was directed at my pelvic area, I had a lot of problems with my bowels. 

The good news is that it is now June 2013 and I am still here!  I am scheduled for my yearly CAT scan and chest x-ray this month.  I still get very nervous prior to these tests, but am not as scared about hearing the word CANCER any more.  I know that I can handle whatever comes my way.

I hope my story can give you some inspiration and hope that you too will beat this!

             ---Kathy

I just finish my rounds of treatment which were exactly the same as they are recommending for you.  I had three rounds of chemo, five weeks of radiation(external and internal), and three more chemos.  I had a total hysterectomy(which basically they remove everything inside except for your other bodily function organs).  I had type3 grade a.  This is standard treatment for stage 3 I guess.  My last treatment was March 28.  All I can say is I took the chance because I thought of the alternative. 

I am now a survivor, but still am having side effects from the treatment.  I was told by all my doctors that it will take up to a year to actually feel at least 80-90 percent and be able to conform to the new "norm".  I lost more weight when I had the surgery then during the treatments.  I gain at least 10 pounds back while I was receiving the treatment.  I hope this helps a bit.  Take care and Good Luck I will pray for you.

minalavers said:

Chemo and Radiation

I just finish my rounds of treatment which were exactly the same as they are recommending for you.  I had three rounds of chemo, five weeks of radiation(external and internal), and three more chemos.  I had a total hysterectomy(which basically they remove everything inside except for your other bodily function organs).  I had type3 grade a.  This is standard treatment for stage 3 I guess.  My last treatment was March 28.  All I can say is I took the chance because I thought of the alternative. 

I am now a survivor, but still am having side effects from the treatment.  I was told by all my doctors that it will take up to a year to actually feel at least 80-90 percent and be able to conform to the new "norm".  I lost more weight when I had the surgery then during the treatments.  I gain at least 10 pounds back while I was receiving the treatment.  I hope this helps a bit.  Take care and Good Luck I will pray for you.

I'd like to throw in my take on the treatments.  I endured in '09 the sandwich protocol -- 6 rounds of chemo, in between 33 sessions of daily external pelvic radiation.  Today I feel quite good, outside of some GI/intestinal issues from the treatments.  I feel after speaking with various docs, so much of my spine issues -- bulging disk diagnosed last year, now have issues with my stomach and what type of foods I ingest (can't breakdown lots of raw foods at once nor gluten products) are some long-term side affects from the treatments....mainly due to radiation as it simply dries up so many joints, tendons, muscles, etc, etc.  But.....I'm alive and moving around, as this keeps me centered.

I've learned to watch what type of foods I ingest and do daily yoga stretches to keep my spine limber.  Lets say this is MY NEW NORMAL WAY OF LIVING AFTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS.

Please do understand not everyone goes thru the same treatments and has the same long term side affects.  Remember all our bodies are unique and we come to the table with many other health issues which can affect each of us.  Be open minded and work with your body.

Life is good, take one day at a time!!

HAPPY 4TH!!

Jan