Cervical Cancer

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  • jeaniefrances
    jeaniefrances Member Posts: 4
    #22
    big T said:

    "I can relate"
    Thank you, Deanna 14 for replying to my comments and question. Not only am I new to cancer, I am new to blogging and chat rooms etc. I do hope that your situation has improved and you are on the road to recovery. Did you have to have surgery? As for me, I'm here waiting for the Radiologist to give me a call as to when and what kind of radiation treatment he is going to do. Surgery is not an option for me. The cancer has spread too far and wide. And as soon as the radiation treatments start, I will also have to have Chemotherapy treatments. I have to admit, I'm very frightened about going through these treatments and the possible side effects I will endure. I had two CT scans this past Wed. to see if any cancer could be detected anywhere else in my body. I'm trying not to think about that.

    so sorry too
    Christmas I just found out I have stage IIb cervical cancer. I start radiation and chemo on Monday. Had a port put in place last Friday. This is all so surreal for me and very scary. I did all the paps in the past and everything I was supposed to do. Guess it starts too far up and works its way downward, then you find it. I am having a PET tomorrow to see if it is anywhere else. My Dr gave me some anti anxiety pills which really help, otherwise I would just cry and cry. I am working today and will continue to work as much as I can. Have to have the insurance money and also the money to pay bills. My Dr. prescribed two kinds of anti nausea pills to take during the chemo on Monday. I had thought it would only be 4 days of radiation and 1 day of chemo for 8 weeks, I didnt feel so bad about that but now things have changed and it scares me more. Guess we all just have to hang in there and say a little prayer and put it in Gods hands. What more can we do? Jeanie
  • big T
    big T Member Posts: 12
    #23
    big T said:

    Counting down the treatments
    Baymere,

    I'm glad my advise hit home for you. I have never been a counselor or anything. I just try to think in a common sense way. Hopfully I won't mess up. Please do let me know how your apt. goes next week. I will be thinking of you and have already added you to my prayers. Yes, I too was just a once a year patient for check-ups. And now, the intrusion on my body...well, I try not to think about it. And I have no doubt there will be many more invasiveness to endure before this is all over with. I do hope that you will be able to feel comfortable with your doctors and they show confidence in getting you well. Hang in there! Things will get better. I now can count 21 more external radiation treatments and five chemo. Then, of course, I may have to have some external radiation. I really don't want to think about that just yet. Again, try to keep your chin up. Remember,this is not your fault. No guilt is associated with cancer, only recovery.

    Love, Big "T"

    Light at the end of the tunnel (I hope)
    Hello,

    I haven't been here since before Christmas. Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. Mine was pretty good under the circumstanses. Plus I survived another birthday. Well, I'm down to one more chemo. treatment (this Monday) and seven more external radiation treatments. I see the doctor this Thursday, (January 15th) for a "sleeve" evaluation for internal radiation. The sewing in of the "sleeve" is minor surgery and shouldn't cause too much pain and suffering. (I hope.) I'll get more informatin on that, of course, on Thursday. I talked with the radiologist today and got the details on the internal radiation. It doesn't sound good but he Doctor did listen to my concerns and fears and assures me (though he says he can't put me to sleep) that I won't feel anything. I will be given a pain pill and an "I don't care, pill". What can I do but trust him. I'm such a wimp. I'm expected to have five of the internal radiation, twice a week which adds 2 1/2 more weeks to the treatments. Does anyone out there have any advise on the instalation of the "sleeve" and or the internal radiation? I would love more information.
  • Shaken up
    Shaken up Member Posts: 7
    #24
    Cervical Cancer diagnosis
    Hi big T,
    yes I had always got my annual exams and pap smear and in December I was told I had stage 1B cancer. I was shocked and angry as well. I thought if you had your annual exams it should at least catch pre cancerous cells and it didn't. I had never been told that I had HPV or that I had any obnormal exams. It is devastating. I had surgery for a radical hystorectomy Feb. 9th. I just started radiation today. Although the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes or surrounding tissue the tumor was large and was within .2 cm of the outside walls of my uterus so the doctor strongly recommended radiation. Did you have to chemo as well? How long do you have to have radiation. My treatments are for 5 1/2 weeks everyday monday thru friday. I pray all goes well for you.
    It really left me
    Shaken UP
  • truckin_fool01
    truckin_fool01 Member Posts: 1
    #25
    Shaken up said:

    Cervical Cancer diagnosis
    Hi big T,
    yes I had always got my annual exams and pap smear and in December I was told I had stage 1B cancer. I was shocked and angry as well. I thought if you had your annual exams it should at least catch pre cancerous cells and it didn't. I had never been told that I had HPV or that I had any obnormal exams. It is devastating. I had surgery for a radical hystorectomy Feb. 9th. I just started radiation today. Although the cancer had not spread to my lymph nodes or surrounding tissue the tumor was large and was within .2 cm of the outside walls of my uterus so the doctor strongly recommended radiation. Did you have to chemo as well? How long do you have to have radiation. My treatments are for 5 1/2 weeks everyday monday thru friday. I pray all goes well for you.
    It really left me
    Shaken UP

    Medical Mystery
    My name is Dee, my husband is truckin_fool01 and is a survivor of cancer. My daughter is 19 years old and was just diagnosed with cervical cancer. How is that for having your first pap smear and getting your first shot of guardasil the same day to learn 2 weeks later you have cervical cancer. She is a medical mystery the specialist tells us because she is 19 and had sex for the first time in November, does not have HPV, has never smoked,and this was her very first pap smear, the doctor also said from the time you first find abnormal cells to the time it turns into cancer is usually 3 to 7 years and she said something about rapid growth. The doctor said it is not rare to find abnormal cells in a pap smear for women in their early 20's but to find carcinoma in a 19 year old girl that is normally found in women in their 30-40 year range that does not meet the profile of causes for cervical cancer is very rare. In fact when we went to the specialist on the 17th they told us normally they would do a pelvic exam, write you a prescription for xanax and tell you to take 4 ibuprophen with one xanax before your next appointment because you would be rescheduled for a biopsy. I guess after taking a look during a pelvic exam they changed their mind, gave my daughter 3 ibuprophen a nurse had in her purse and 20 minutes later did her biopsy. Now we have to wait 2 weeks for those results. I think I might go crazy waiting. We have not been told a stage yet and I figure that would come after the biopsy results were back and then we would also discuss treatment options. After reading what you ladies have gone through I am terrified for my daughter and since I am 38 and had a very full life I would do or give anything to trade places with my sweet beautiful daughter, Sammie. She has seemed to stop smiling, hoping and dreaming and now seems to be a shell of her former self. I hear her cry herself to sleep at night but she tries to hide her pain and won't let me comfort her or talk to her. I can only pray she might open up to her dad since she knows he is a survivor and there is hope and life is worth fighting for. I will be praying for each of you. God Bless
  • bunnie1
    bunnie1 Member Posts: 21
    #26
    truckin_fool01 said:

    Medical Mystery
    My name is Dee, my husband is truckin_fool01 and is a survivor of cancer. My daughter is 19 years old and was just diagnosed with cervical cancer. How is that for having your first pap smear and getting your first shot of guardasil the same day to learn 2 weeks later you have cervical cancer. She is a medical mystery the specialist tells us because she is 19 and had sex for the first time in November, does not have HPV, has never smoked,and this was her very first pap smear, the doctor also said from the time you first find abnormal cells to the time it turns into cancer is usually 3 to 7 years and she said something about rapid growth. The doctor said it is not rare to find abnormal cells in a pap smear for women in their early 20's but to find carcinoma in a 19 year old girl that is normally found in women in their 30-40 year range that does not meet the profile of causes for cervical cancer is very rare. In fact when we went to the specialist on the 17th they told us normally they would do a pelvic exam, write you a prescription for xanax and tell you to take 4 ibuprophen with one xanax before your next appointment because you would be rescheduled for a biopsy. I guess after taking a look during a pelvic exam they changed their mind, gave my daughter 3 ibuprophen a nurse had in her purse and 20 minutes later did her biopsy. Now we have to wait 2 weeks for those results. I think I might go crazy waiting. We have not been told a stage yet and I figure that would come after the biopsy results were back and then we would also discuss treatment options. After reading what you ladies have gone through I am terrified for my daughter and since I am 38 and had a very full life I would do or give anything to trade places with my sweet beautiful daughter, Sammie. She has seemed to stop smiling, hoping and dreaming and now seems to be a shell of her former self. I hear her cry herself to sleep at night but she tries to hide her pain and won't let me comfort her or talk to her. I can only pray she might open up to her dad since she knows he is a survivor and there is hope and life is worth fighting for. I will be praying for each of you. God Bless

    medical mystery
    Hi there, I will pray for your daughter. I'm in remission from cervical cancer and I know one thing everyone told me was to, stay positive and you will beat it. I also read everything about cancer and treatments. I had radiation and chemo, it was a very hard journey and hopefully your daughter doesn't have to go through it. Poor child my niece is 20yrs old and I don't know how would I take it if it happened to her. She is so young. GOD BLESS!!!
  • Shaken up
    Shaken up Member Posts: 7
    #27
    bunnie1 said:

    medical mystery
    Hi there, I will pray for your daughter. I'm in remission from cervical cancer and I know one thing everyone told me was to, stay positive and you will beat it. I also read everything about cancer and treatments. I had radiation and chemo, it was a very hard journey and hopefully your daughter doesn't have to go through it. Poor child my niece is 20yrs old and I don't know how would I take it if it happened to her. She is so young. GOD BLESS!!!

    Dear bunnie 1 how long have you been in remission?
    Hi bunnie, I also am praying for this young girl. I went for radiation treatment last week for cervical cancer and saw pictures children that were receiving cancer treatment and I cried. I don't have to have chemo or the radiation implant because all surrounding tissue tested negative for cancer. I am fortunate in that respect but the fear of it coming back and the fear of long term effects of radiation scare me. I never experienced panic attacks until now. Can you give me any idea of what to expect from the radiation therapy. Knowing you are in remission is encouraging for us all. I want to also make plans for my life instead of death.
  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #28
    truckin_fool01 said:

    Medical Mystery
    My name is Dee, my husband is truckin_fool01 and is a survivor of cancer. My daughter is 19 years old and was just diagnosed with cervical cancer. How is that for having your first pap smear and getting your first shot of guardasil the same day to learn 2 weeks later you have cervical cancer. She is a medical mystery the specialist tells us because she is 19 and had sex for the first time in November, does not have HPV, has never smoked,and this was her very first pap smear, the doctor also said from the time you first find abnormal cells to the time it turns into cancer is usually 3 to 7 years and she said something about rapid growth. The doctor said it is not rare to find abnormal cells in a pap smear for women in their early 20's but to find carcinoma in a 19 year old girl that is normally found in women in their 30-40 year range that does not meet the profile of causes for cervical cancer is very rare. In fact when we went to the specialist on the 17th they told us normally they would do a pelvic exam, write you a prescription for xanax and tell you to take 4 ibuprophen with one xanax before your next appointment because you would be rescheduled for a biopsy. I guess after taking a look during a pelvic exam they changed their mind, gave my daughter 3 ibuprophen a nurse had in her purse and 20 minutes later did her biopsy. Now we have to wait 2 weeks for those results. I think I might go crazy waiting. We have not been told a stage yet and I figure that would come after the biopsy results were back and then we would also discuss treatment options. After reading what you ladies have gone through I am terrified for my daughter and since I am 38 and had a very full life I would do or give anything to trade places with my sweet beautiful daughter, Sammie. She has seemed to stop smiling, hoping and dreaming and now seems to be a shell of her former self. I hear her cry herself to sleep at night but she tries to hide her pain and won't let me comfort her or talk to her. I can only pray she might open up to her dad since she knows he is a survivor and there is hope and life is worth fighting for. I will be praying for each of you. God Bless

    ((((SAMMY))))
    I cried when I read your post. So young to have to take this journey!! Her youth will allow her to tolerate aggressive treatment and you must take comfort in that. Please know that you have touched my heart and will be in my prayers.
  • bunnie1
    bunnie1 Member Posts: 21
    #29
    Shaken up said:

    Dear bunnie 1 how long have you been in remission?
    Hi bunnie, I also am praying for this young girl. I went for radiation treatment last week for cervical cancer and saw pictures children that were receiving cancer treatment and I cried. I don't have to have chemo or the radiation implant because all surrounding tissue tested negative for cancer. I am fortunate in that respect but the fear of it coming back and the fear of long term effects of radiation scare me. I never experienced panic attacks until now. Can you give me any idea of what to expect from the radiation therapy. Knowing you are in remission is encouraging for us all. I want to also make plans for my life instead of death.

    in remission
    Hi Shaken up, Its very hard not to get upset when this is happening to children. When I was going in for treatments I saw children daily(chemo office across from children's)It broke my heart. I would pray for everyone in the hospital to be strong and beat this ugly disease. Radiation therapy was very painful, the pain started about the 2nd-3rd week. When I had to use the restroom, it burned very bad.(i cried) and pain in my lower abdomen, can't describe. I hope radiation treats you better then me. You know everyone is different. Like the doctor said its like a bad sunburn inside your body. Now I'm dealing with bad urges to use the restroom and serious gas. My doctor said this will go away in time, side effects from radiation. But after all the pain I went through(had surgery,chemo) GOd has blessed me, I'm in remission. In Nov-08 I had a biopsy I seen my doctor in Dec. and he said biopsy was negative no sign of cancer. I seen my chemo and radiation doctors on Mar.4 and everything is still good. I feel much better and I can tell you, you will be okay, just be positive and yes you will feel sad,angry and sometimes cry it's okay to let it all out. I did, but don't let cancer win, always have positive thoughts, remember GOD never gives you more then you can handle. SMILE...TAKE CARE
  • jeaniefrances
    jeaniefrances Member Posts: 4
    #30
    cervical cancer
    Your post was in Dec just when I was diagnosised myself by pap smear.I was always on with all my tests, so like you it was a total shock. In Jan I started chemo and radation. 7 wks worth. They even put radioactive rods inside of me for two days in isolation, and were going to do it again when they found my cancer was not responding to the chemo or radiation. THEN they decided to do a radiacal hyster, 2 weeks ago. I am healing from that now. They got the path report back and the margins were not totally clear, tumor gone but not allcells. SO now they want to wait till I recovery from this surgery and then take out my colon and bladder. OR just watch it. I have an appt with Vanderbilt April 15, gotta be other choices cure this thing. Anyone have any suggestions? I may even go to MD Anderson in Houston, Tx. they are the best is cervical cancer I am told. Guess i am just confused at this time. Jeanie
  • jeaniefrances
    jeaniefrances Member Posts: 4
    #31
    bunnie1 said:

    in remission
    Hi Shaken up, Its very hard not to get upset when this is happening to children. When I was going in for treatments I saw children daily(chemo office across from children's)It broke my heart. I would pray for everyone in the hospital to be strong and beat this ugly disease. Radiation therapy was very painful, the pain started about the 2nd-3rd week. When I had to use the restroom, it burned very bad.(i cried) and pain in my lower abdomen, can't describe. I hope radiation treats you better then me. You know everyone is different. Like the doctor said its like a bad sunburn inside your body. Now I'm dealing with bad urges to use the restroom and serious gas. My doctor said this will go away in time, side effects from radiation. But after all the pain I went through(had surgery,chemo) GOd has blessed me, I'm in remission. In Nov-08 I had a biopsy I seen my doctor in Dec. and he said biopsy was negative no sign of cancer. I seen my chemo and radiation doctors on Mar.4 and everything is still good. I feel much better and I can tell you, you will be okay, just be positive and yes you will feel sad,angry and sometimes cry it's okay to let it all out. I did, but don't let cancer win, always have positive thoughts, remember GOD never gives you more then you can handle. SMILE...TAKE CARE

    I am so happy that you are in remission. I had only prayed after my radical hyster 2 wks ago that i would be in remission too. I had 7 wks of chemo and radiation before they decided non was working on my cancer. I think it even go larger, so they scheduled the hyster. Now they say the margins are not all clear, bad news. They want to wait till I get over the radical surgery and either watch it OR more surgery take out my color and bladder, there is nothing there yet. I have a stint in my line to my kidney for 6 wks as they had to cut thru it to get the tumor. I pee ok, only slowly. My blowels will never be the same from the radition. I am sorry, sometimes I feel God does give more than we can bear. I have two elderly mom and dad 87 88 and dad has alzheimers. I live behind them that I am all they have,not I cannot help them like I was. I live lone. My husband left me 7 years ago and married his secretary. Seems things get worse and worse. I am going to Vanderbilt week after week too see if they have anything to offer me. May to to Houston to MD Anderson, they are the best in Cervical cancer. Just cant stand by and let it win. It is a nssty disease. I am so glad you showed it who was boss. God bless you..

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