i need an answer please

willow33
willow33 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine) #1
I am 33 years old and 7 years ago was diagnosed with stage 4 cervical cancer. After rounds of chemo and radiation I am now cancer free. I didnt have a hysterectomy due to the placement of a tumor. I would like to now have a normal sex life but every time i have sex i bleed alot. does anyone know how this can be stopped? Does anyone else have this problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Comments

  • ou81oreo
    ou81oreo Member Posts: 3
    #2
    I do too have the same problem. My sex life is not back yet to normal, though it's been over a year since I was diagnozed. It's very dry, tender and painful. My doctor said it's from the radiation and I was given Astroglide, which is not very helpful, but maybe for you, it may .... ???
  • charbo814
    charbo814 Member Posts: 2
    #3
    If you figure this one out, let me know. I've beem fighting it for 4 years now.
  • willow33
    willow33 Member Posts: 4
    #4
    charbo814 said:

    If you figure this one out, let me know. I've beem fighting it for 4 years now.

    I am going to try the astroglide and will let you know if it works. thanks.
  • mstarrick
    mstarrick Member Posts: 5
    #5
    This response is a little late (I am checking the discussion board for the first time). I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2004 at the age of 30 and have been cancer free for about 19 months. After radiation, I too have the same problems. My doctor has tried several different approaches (all administered intervaginally). He first tried a medication that is actually used to treat ulcers. The powder was mixed with water and you can imagine how that was administered. That was a pain, but seemed to help some. The next thing we tried was Estrace cream (0.1 mg estridiol) which also helped, but was still fairly messy. What I use now is Vagifem, an estridiol vaginal tablet. That really seems to be doing the trick. Probably partially because I actually use it as I am supposed to because its just a little pill with a very ingenious applicator. My husband and I also often have to use lubrication (my doctor gave me some of the same lubrication that he uses during the pelvic exams). I have found that even if I think I am producing enough lubrication naturally, that's when I run into problems with bleeding. The more the lubrication, the less the bleeding. I also am using the estrogen patch to combat the hot flashes and moodiness that come with the menopause and they may also help with healing the areas burned by the radiation treatments. I do think it is just going to take some time to heal. Radiation is, although a lifesaver, a not so nice thing and in the process of it killing the cancer, also destroys a lot of normal cells and tissue. Hang in there, I am.
  • willow33
    willow33 Member Posts: 4
    #6
    mstarrick said:

    This response is a little late (I am checking the discussion board for the first time). I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2004 at the age of 30 and have been cancer free for about 19 months. After radiation, I too have the same problems. My doctor has tried several different approaches (all administered intervaginally). He first tried a medication that is actually used to treat ulcers. The powder was mixed with water and you can imagine how that was administered. That was a pain, but seemed to help some. The next thing we tried was Estrace cream (0.1 mg estridiol) which also helped, but was still fairly messy. What I use now is Vagifem, an estridiol vaginal tablet. That really seems to be doing the trick. Probably partially because I actually use it as I am supposed to because its just a little pill with a very ingenious applicator. My husband and I also often have to use lubrication (my doctor gave me some of the same lubrication that he uses during the pelvic exams). I have found that even if I think I am producing enough lubrication naturally, that's when I run into problems with bleeding. The more the lubrication, the less the bleeding. I also am using the estrogen patch to combat the hot flashes and moodiness that come with the menopause and they may also help with healing the areas burned by the radiation treatments. I do think it is just going to take some time to heal. Radiation is, although a lifesaver, a not so nice thing and in the process of it killing the cancer, also destroys a lot of normal cells and tissue. Hang in there, I am.

    thank you soooo much for the advice. i had tried the estrace cream and all it did was make me cry and cry. i guess it was too much. lol. but i am going to see about the vagifem. thanks so much.
  • mstarrick
    mstarrick Member Posts: 5
    #7
    willow33 said:

    thank you soooo much for the advice. i had tried the estrace cream and all it did was make me cry and cry. i guess it was too much. lol. but i am going to see about the vagifem. thanks so much.

    You're welcome. I hope it works!!

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