Stage 3cervical cancer

Hi Nancy,  Glad you found this support site.  There are many smart people with first hand information on here.  I don't have cancer but my 30 year old daughter was diagnosed stage 3b cervical cancer in March of this year.  She went through the standard chemoradiation but then had a recurrance about 3 months after treatment ended. She is a single mom of 2 boys 6 & 8 (8 year old is on the autism spectrum) and they all live with us.  It seemed like forever after she finished the initial treatment to have a CT scan done to see how it worked.  But they did and she was all clear except 1 lymph node was still a little enlarged.  That ended up growing into a tumor which brings us to today.  She has had two rounds of 3 aggressive chemo drugs.  Those treatments put her in the hospital each time.  She is due for another round but they are going to cut back on the dose to try and keep her out of the hospital.  She has a DVT and has had two nephrostomy tubes due to hydronephrosis (one on each side).  She has had 2 ports placed because her veins are deep and she is a very hard stick but both ports got infected and had to be removed.  She knows she is not curable at this point but she keeps a positive outlook....much easier when she is feeling good.  Just take one day at a time and try not to think about the what ifs.....I live in the moment which I learned from my mom.  She is in late stages of Alzheimers and has lived with us for almost 8 years.  She is usually happy living in the moment so we try to do the same.  Many people are cleared from cancer at stage 3.  Much love and prayers to you and your family.  Thanks for letting me vent on your post!

Nancy, congrats on finishing your treatment! It's a hellacious path to follow, but you made it. I was stage IVa vaginal cancer, dx Sept 2011. 

On the dilator issue, since I had reconstruction of the vagina, my plastic surgeon gave me a dilator. I did not like it at all, you had to deflate before insertion then inflate it. One of my other surgeons suggested I go to an adult store & get one there. That was a trip. Especially since there were only 2 guys working that day. I did find a physical therapist for pelvic issues & she gave me a website to order a dilator set of 5 sizes. I think the site was CMT.com. I haven't had any problems since then.

Take care & Happy New Year!! I'm celebrating in bed since I've got the flu.

Babe

Nancy, please take a breath.  I am sorry you have had to find us, but there are some excellent women here, the Gynecological cancer thread can be a little slow, so please don't take give up on this board.  Also, it is the holidays and some people may be away visitng, traveing, etc...

Cancer IS scary.  It sounds like you have completely all your treatment and that is great.  I would like to comment on the dialator question.  My radiologist's office gave me mine.  Vaginal stenosis (sp??!) is a thinning and shrinking of the vagina.  The treatment is the use of the dialator.  They say to use it every other day but you should use it every day for 10 minutes. If it is hard, take your time and you will eventually get it worked in.  Since you will need to have follow up gyn visits for monitoring the dialator will make it much easier for YOU. 

You sound amazing.  Your husband sounds amazing.  Hang in there, take that breath, and come back to chat.