Making decisions

Quality of life matters and it's really questionable if using a dialator is going to do much good with as much scarring as you must have after so much brachytherapy. They use cameras on scopes for everywhere else, why not for pelvic exams in cases such as yours? 

ah Faye.  You sound like you have peace - and that is what any of us would want for you.  With everything you have going on, I don't think any of us would differ in our assessment.  

Donna Faye, i here you. I have had two cancers. One twenty plus years ago. I had about 20 radiation treatments in my chest area and about twenty just below that.  I cant remenber the accual numbers since its been so long. It was every day for four weeks at least for each area. 

Any ways when i went to talk to my radiation doctor at the begining of treatment for uterine cancer almost 3 years ago he told me he wouldnt do external radiation for my uterine cancer because it was too close to the other radiation i did. I had MMMt cancer and some peple accually did external radation for my type of cancer. I felt good about what the doctor said partly because of what he said and because my oncologist believed my uterine cancer was caused by the radiation given to me twenty plus years ago.  

I thought the same thing you did.  If my cancer comes back so be it. My worse fear is that it will but at the same time i wont feel guilty about not doing the external radiation this time. I did what i felt was right for me. It was either do radiation again whch could cause cancer or dont have it an have a reacurance.  Either way was felt like the same result could be cancer. So i decided why put me throught radiaton again which could cause side effects.

You are a great exsample to me in the spot your at. Quality of life does matter. Thats a tough desision but i do see your point in stopping. I might be in your spot one day.

We all have to weigh our options and make the best decision we can for ourselves. I promised my family that I would do everything the doctors wanted to throw at me. Once. I'm with you on quality and deciding what's right for you.

Donna Faye said:

Feeling so positive

Thank you all...I am feeling so positive with all your encouragement. I plan to resume water aerobics this week and know this will lift my spirits.  I am also planning on getting a personl trainer to get my muscle strength back so I can ride horses in the spring. Time to do what I want and not be afraid of tomorrow. xoxox

Love all your plans, Donna Faye. It makes perfect sense to me to stop with the dilator. I would have done the same thing if I were you. Enjoy your water aerobics! 

Your post makes my heart glad, Donna Faye! I love the new picture, too. It's good to know you'll be back in the saddle soon. Thank you for giving us the good news.

I hope you're already feeling better and getting back to the joy of living.

Luckyluke said:

What wonderful  encouragement

What wonderful  encouragement  Donna Faye. I haven't had chemo yet and am dreading the thought of radiation  and what damage it can do. I am STAGE 2 serous and lympnodes were clear and pelvic wash clear. I will  start chemo soon and possibly can have some sort of test before making a decision  on  radiation. As far as using the dialator dreading that thought as well.

I had only 3 brachytherapy and was not given a dilator. I just had my first internal exam and there was no problem. I questioned my team about it after reading comments on the board but they did not think it necessary. I had a radical hysterectomy so there is no cervix anymore. So there is no one answer or approach. Hope this helps. 

Denise