Radiotherapy/Brachytherapy

I'm 64 and had a total hysterectomy in the summer, for endometrial cancer; stage 3 grade 2.  2 Lymph nodes were infiltrated.

I have one more chemo cycle to have, in about 10 days time.  I've already had the CT rescan, and the chemo nurses have told me my 'numbers' have fallen after each cycle, which is apparently a good thing.  I see the oncologist a fortnight later, to discuss what happens next.  I was only able to have one chemo drug, as it turned out I was horribly allergic to Paclitaxel, and even so, I found chemo much harder than I (naively) expected it to be.

I've already been told they want me to have brachytherapy, and I'm not keen to have it, for both personal and practical reasons.  I feel there is going to be a lot of pressure to change my mind, but it has been made up for quite some time.  I just wonder if anyone has experience of refusing this treatment, and whether there are any less invasive alternatives to it?

 

  • Hi Reeder2

    I had a different cancer-cervical, at a lower stage than you, and with no lymphnode involvement, but wasn't able to have the brachytherapy after radiation. Not my choice but for other medical reasons. The brachytherapy after womb cancer is a very quick and straightforward treatment, but of course you can refuse it if you wish. I'm not aware of any alternative. 
     

    However, my cancer recurred within 9 months and I was really upset not to be able to have the brachytherapy at the time as my story might have been very different. . There probably will be encouragement from the medical staff for you to do it, as it is so straightforward, but so long as you are aware of the risks of not taking all the treatment offered, then of course you don't need to do it.  With a stage 3 cancer I think you will rightly be encouraged to go ahead. I hope you will be able to chat through your concerns with your medical  team. 

  • Hi Minska, thanks for your reply.

    I suppose it's all to be discussed, but my reasons for not wanting the treatment are complicated.

    I'm very sorry to hear you had recurrence so quickly, and wish you well.

  • Hi Reeder2

    I appreciate you have personal reasons, but recurrent gynaecological cancer can be very hard to treat, and is way worse than first line treatment. I guess with my own experience, I would have done anything to avoid that.
     

    All the best with your decision.