When did radiation start after hysterectomy?

mimi98
mimi98 Member Posts: 5 Member
edited February 2022 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

I had a hysterectomy and I am next scheduled for radiation treatments. For those that had radiation only after hysterectomy how long after your hysterectomy did you start your radiation treatment? My radiation treatments will start 11 weeks after my surgery. I am concerned because I read an article that said if radiation is received greater than 9 weeks after surgery then you are at a higher risk for reoccurrance. Please share you experiences with this. Thanks

Comments

  • cmb
    cmb Member Posts: 1,001 Member
    #2

    While I didn't experience any significant delay after surgery before I started chemo, other women here have experienced post-surgery delays for different reasons. Often, it's because there were some complications after surgery that took longer than expected to resolve. In other cases, there was a question about the post-surgery staging or recommended treatment, leading some women to seek second or, in a few cases, even a third opinion. And finally, I think COVID has strained medical resources at times, causing treatment delays. If your delay in starting radiation is because COVID has limited resources in your area, you can try seeking out other treatment centers, if your insurance allows this.

    But regardless of what the statistics may show, there is an old saying here (I don't know where it originated) that each of us is a statistic of one. Some women with a daunting initial diagnosis or treatment challenges exceed expectations, while some others with early-stage cases don't do as well. So while statistics can show typical results, there is usually some percentage of cases that do better than others. We never know which group we'll fall into until we've undergone treatment.

    Right now just focus on regaining your strength after surgery and read some of the threads here on radiation so you see how other women prepared for this treatment and be prepared for some of the more common side effects that you may experience. Come back and ask any questions you may have once you learn more about what your doctor is planning. This is a stressful time for you and we want to help where we can.

  • MoeKay
    MoeKay Member Posts: 493 Member
    #3

    Hi Mimi,

    I started my external radiation treatments 5 weeks and 5 days after my hysterectomy. I was supposed to start the following week, but I was anxious to get started, so they moved my start date up a week. I was concerned because I had delayed getting to the gynecologist for a number of months when I experienced intermittent spotting. I blamed myself for not getting things checked out sooner, so after that mistake, I wanted to do everything possible to complete treatment in a timely fashion.

    Can I ask what reason you have been given for the start date of your radiation? As cmb said, there are sometimes extenuating circumstances necessitating a later start date. If that's not the case for you, as cmb also said, you may want to look into the possibility of getting your radiation treatments at another reputable facility. I know I had several options for radiation, some requiring more travel than others.

    Wishing you all the best.

  • mimi98
    mimi98 Member Posts: 5 Member
    #4
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1693352#Comment_1693352

    Thank you for your response. I'm trying my best to think positive. It's not always easy.

  • mimi98
    mimi98 Member Posts: 5 Member
    #5
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1693355#Comment_1693355

    The radiation department seems to be moving very slowly. It took two weeks before I had an appointment with the radiation oncologist. Then once I met with her I had to wait another week for them to get additional information that wasn't on my original pathology report. She needed to know the depth the cancer cells penetrated my cervix. At the time I didn't know that getting radiation treatment within a specific timeframe was important otherwise I would have pushed them to move faster. I just had my CT scan yesterday for the radiation treatment plan. Afterwards, the radiologist told me it will take up to 10 days for them to map out my anatomy and then for a physicist to do some complex calculations for the treatment plan. Putting me at a start date of 11 weeks from my surgery. Sigh.

  • MoeKay
    MoeKay Member Posts: 493 Member
    #6

    Hi Mimi, I came across a more recent study (Aug. 2020) about the timing of radiation after hysterectomy that you might want to check out if you haven't already seen it:

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32398405/

    Also, I believe the below link may be to the 2014 study that discusses starting radiation more than nine weeks after hysterectomy to which you referred in your post:

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24444758/#affiliation-1

    If I were in your situation, in light of these studies, I would discuss my concerns about the timing of radiation with the radiation oncologist and see what she/he has to say. Hopefully, going over the specifics of your case might put your mind at ease. Also, if the radiation oncologist is aware of your concerns, he/she may be able to find a way to shorten that "up to 10 day" period you mentioned for mapping your anatomy and doing whatever complex calculations need to be done without jeopardizing your treatment.

  • Lyn70
    Lyn70 Member Posts: 214 Member
    #7

    My oncologist requested a PET scan in June 2021 following my last chemo/bloodwork of 6 rounds in May. The PET was NED and I started 6.5 weeks external radiation sometime in July and finished with 3 internal brachy by mid August. There was a pre- treatment visit with the radiation oncologist and a CT fitting for my form for the external treatments first.

    I hope you find the radiation staff as kind as I did. They are your daily support contact. I saw the radiation oncologist weekly.

    There is a wealth of information on this site about coping with radiation.

    Please keep us informed of your treatment.

    ((Hugs))

  • Harmanygroves
    Harmanygroves Member Posts: 487 Member
    #8

    I began radiation therapy (five rounds of brachytherapy) the last week of June, and completed my Davinci Robotic-assisted laparoscopic TH etc (bilat salpingo oopho!) March 24th, so there was about 12 weeks.

    My vag cuff wasn't healing great initially, but also, I completely changed facilities and cancer teams. I did ask my gyn onc (the new one) if I was ago to be waiting, and he actually said, "well, given the cuff isn't quite there, you need to..." I recall that he also inspected the previous gyn onc's stitches and said, "what did he use to stitch you up?" in a mildly critical way....thinking out loud.

    Anyway, I'm just past my six month NED, and so far, so good. This is a particularly stressful time for you. Wrapping you in a big hug. Keep reading here and asking questions, or even commenting. We are all here for you.

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