Stage IIICI papillary serous endometrial cancer

kikbxr
kikbxr Member Posts: 1
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

I am undergoing the "sandwich treatment".  I have had three rounds of chemo (carboplatin/taxol) and so far, seventeen treatments of external radiation with eight remaining.  Initially, the radiologist said I would have three treatments of internal radiation (brachytherapy).  The second week of external radiation, he told me that it was up to me, but he thought I could skip the brachytherapy and get started on the last three rounds of chemo, as he thought it would be more beneficial to me.  He said if I were Stage ! or II, he would do the brachy, but that there is only a 5% chance that the cancer will reoccur in the vagina (in the place that would be targeted.)

I was/am not looking forward to it, and thought I would avoid it.

I then asked the gyn/surgeon/onc who said I should definitely have it.

Have anyone had a similar experience and how did it play out?

 

Comments

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #2
    The brachytherapy is very

    The brachytherapy is very simple to do.   I had three of those.  My onc wanted me to have pelvic radiation but my radiation onc said no because I scar a lot.   Given the fact that you did have external radiation maybe that is why they decided not to do brachytherapy.  But for more solid answers I would call your doctors office and have then explain it to you again so you can make a decision.

    the brachytherapy only takes about 10 minutes or so a session.  The longest and sometime embarrassing part can be the initial fitting for the wand.   Thry have to size the wand that goes into your vagina.  

    Anyway whatever treatment you go with must be your decision.   The reason for brachytherapy is the place called the vaginsl cuff where a recurrence can occur.   It's hard yo make decisions when you have two different physicians telling you different things.   

    Sorry I cannot be of more help to you.

    My best to you.

    Kathy

     

  • Abbycat2
    Abbycat2 Member Posts: 644 Member
    #3
    Brachytherapy decision

    Hi kikbxr,

    I was also diagnosed with uterine papillary serous carcinoma, stage 3A, and my gyne oncologist did not recommend the brachytherapy because he said that I have a low chance of developing cancer on the vaginal cuff.  After I had my hysterectomy and received the lab results, I was told that I had clean margins (no cancer present where my tissue was cut and removed).  Also, both a PET Scan and later a CAT Scan did not show any evidence of cancer on my vaginal cuff which is where the brachytherapy would treat.  I received a second opinion from a gyne onc at Moffitt Cancer Center and he basically agreed that the decision to have it or not was up to me.  I have read post here in which women have talked about not being able to receive anymore radiation treatment even though the cancer returned in the area that was previously radiated.  I don't want that to happen to me, so I think for me it is best to wait and see if cancer develops on the vaginal cuff before I agree to have it radiated with brachytherapy. 

    I wish you the best,

    Cathy

     

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,488 Member
    #4
    Interesting to hear the

    Interesting to hear the different treatment given and for such a wide variety of stages! 

    I had stage 1A UPSC and had the sandwich WITH 3 brachytherapy treatments.  I did ask the radiologist why I needed all the radiation since I don't have the equipment and he told me when they see it recur it tends to be where the cervix was. 

    Hmmm...I will also say about a year after I finished the radiation (last July) my gyn/onc wanted to know why it was so pink up there and did a biopsy.  (OWE!!) It turned out to be benign and he thought it was just "burned" from the radiation :(

    Please let us know what you decide.  I think you need to decide which is best for you. 

  • It happened to Me
    It happened to Me Member Posts: 206 Member
    #5
    NoTimeForCancer said:

    Interesting to hear the

    Interesting to hear the different treatment given and for such a wide variety of stages! 

    I had stage 1A UPSC and had the sandwich WITH 3 brachytherapy treatments.  I did ask the radiologist why I needed all the radiation since I don't have the equipment and he told me when they see it recur it tends to be where the cervix was. 

    Hmmm...I will also say about a year after I finished the radiation (last July) my gyn/onc wanted to know why it was so pink up there and did a biopsy.  (OWE!!) It turned out to be benign and he thought it was just "burned" from the radiation :(

    Please let us know what you decide.  I think you need to decide which is best for you. 

    No Time for Cancer, I agree

    It is very interesting how many different schools of thought there are.  Mine was UPSC IIIA.  I received 6 rounds of carbo/taxol.  My ob/gyn oncologist told me based on the size of the tumor in the uterus, that radiation would not benefit me.  They never mentioned bracheytherapy.   I have my next 3 month check-up in Aug.  That will be six months.  I will be anxious to see what other doctors thoughts are.    Best wishes.

    Jeanette

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    #6
    It happened to Me said:

    No Time for Cancer, I agree

    It is very interesting how many different schools of thought there are.  Mine was UPSC IIIA.  I received 6 rounds of carbo/taxol.  My ob/gyn oncologist told me based on the size of the tumor in the uterus, that radiation would not benefit me.  They never mentioned bracheytherapy.   I have my next 3 month check-up in Aug.  That will be six months.  I will be anxious to see what other doctors thoughts are.    Best wishes.

    Jeanette

    me too!

    I was UPSC 1a, C, six rounds of carbo/taxol and Five bracheytherapy.  No choise, board  decision. or her e's the door.  I'm at M.D. Anderson in Houston Texas

  • Debra Lagrone
    Debra Lagrone Member Posts: 37
    #7
    Cancer spreading

    Hi,  I am new to the group and I have a question for you.  Can you tell me where your cancer has spread too if any?

  • debrajo
    debrajo Member Posts: 1,095 Member
    #8
    Debra Lagrone said:

    Cancer spreading

    Hi,  I am new to the group and I have a question for you.  Can you tell me where your cancer has spread too if any?

    Hi

    No spread here, at least thats' what they said.  They took no lymph nodes, but took, uterus, overies, tubes, cervix, omemidum, and one inch of the vagina.  All negative including the wash they did.  Dx in July 2009, surgery in Dec. 09, six rounds of taxol/carbo and five branchytheropy that I finished May of 2010.  Have been NED ever since, Thank you Jesus!  CA125 was 15.8 last May.  I am at M.D. Anderson in Houston.  Best, Debrajo

  • Debra Lagrone
    Debra Lagrone Member Posts: 37
    #9
    debrajo said:

    Hi

    No spread here, at least thats' what they said.  They took no lymph nodes, but took, uterus, overies, tubes, cervix, omemidum, and one inch of the vagina.  All negative including the wash they did.  Dx in July 2009, surgery in Dec. 09, six rounds of taxol/carbo and five branchytheropy that I finished May of 2010.  Have been NED ever since, Thank you Jesus!  CA125 was 15.8 last May.  I am at M.D. Anderson in Houston.  Best, Debrajo

    That is great to here, I have

    That is great to here, I have stage III C2 grade 3 endometrial cancer, i had a radical hyst. It spread up my aorta and several lymph nodes where removed.  I have had 6 rounds of chemo 25 external radiation and 3 internal radiation I am currently waiting on the date for my pet scan to see how well the treatments went.   Ooh my surgery was done 11/19/13 just completed everything the end of July 2014.

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