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Cervical Cancer

LauraP
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Hello -

I was diagnosed with stage 2A cervical cancer 3 years ago.  I had 26 rounds of external and 6 rounds of internal radiation along with chemo.  Due to a bleeding event prior to my diagnosis I was not able to have surgery. I know how scary a diagnosis can be, the treatments,waiting for results,  the recovery.  If anyone would like to ask me questions about my experiences, please do so. Obviously everyone's cancer is different and only doctor can give medical advice,  but sometimes it helps to talk to someone who's been through it.

Prayers to all that are facing this disease.

Laura P.

  • Offline in reply to Dawnann62

    Hi Dawnann

    At least you will finally get your results after such a long wait for them, so you will at least know what will happen next. All the best for your appointment. It’s natural to be scared but you need to have answers, and you’ll have them today. xx

     

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Thank you she said I can take someone with me if I want to so I'm hoping the news is not to bad, at my last appointment they said to definitely bring someone with me at the next appointment because it would be a staging and treatment plan, I am frightened minska xx

  • Offline in reply to Dawnann62

    I didn’t take anyone in with me for my biopsy results because I never thought I was going to be told I had cancer-ever the optimist! The benefit of someone being with you is that there is a lot to take in at these appointments and the other person is a useful set of ears! You still don’t know what they’re going to say, or what the diagnosis will be, so try not to be too frightened, although I know that must be hard with your anxiety. Whatever the diagnosis, there will be a treatment plan to deal with it, and worrying today will not change the outcome of the biopsy, which is already decided. Deep breaths...and at least it’s a morning appointment so you don’t have all day to wait-always a silver lining! xx

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Hi it's definitely cancer got ct scan this afternoon and mri on Thursday then it's going to a panel on the 12th, the only symptoms I have is a few spots of blood and a slight pelvic pain I'm eating and drinking and feel well, not of it makes sense I'm absolutely devastated xx

  • Offline in reply to Dawnann62

    Hi Dawnann

    I’m so sorry it’s cancer-it is just devastating when you hear those words. The ct scan and mri will give the team the rest of the information needed to plan your treatment, and hopefully that will start soon if you need more than only having surgery. It’s good you are not in much pain, and only having spotting. It sounds like they have probably caught it early since you don’t have lots of pain and bleeding. xx

  • Offline in reply to Dawnann62

    Hello Dawn,

    I am so sorry to hear of your devastating news regarding the biopsy results. I completely understand every single emotion and the fear you are experiencing right now. I was verbally 'diagnosed' on 22nd September when I had my colposcopy and an MRI was ordered on that day which I had 2 days later. I was still hopeful during this time that it was contained to the cervix, however, the biopsy results came in and it was not to be. I was advised by my GP who I had called regarding an entirely different matter - so no advance warning he just said the biopsy confirms it is cancer and it also looks to have spread (terrible way of breaking news!) I came off that call even more devastated and convinced that I'd already lost the battle against cancer. (I still hadn't even accepted the fact I had it!)

    I shortly after received a call from the gynaecology who wanted to have a more in depth consult from what the doctor had told me and also do it face to face and offered me to bring someone along too. I took my sister who works in the medical field and would understand lots of terminology that wasn't familiar to me. I was convinced because they wanted to see me face to face and said I can bring support, that they were going to stage me as incurable and that would be it. I was beyond scared, I am a single parent to an 8 year old. I was being sick through fear and not sleeping. I went to the appointment and they explained to me that I do have a large tumour and there is some spread to my pelvic lymph nodes. They need to arrange a PETscan to map my lymphatic system and check for further spread. They are going to look at Chemoradiotherapy, not surgery as first suggested and they are looking at a curative treatment plan! Although this has been the most terrifying experience of my life, I felt after that appointment I had some control back. We know what it is, what we're dealing with and how we are treating it. I only had this appointment yesterday so I'm still extremely afraid but really trying to take the positives out of a horrendous situation. The gynae consultant said I am stage 2c as the lymph node involvement is not confirmed yet until PETscan but they are confident it has spread to one of pelvic ones due to size. There are nodes on the left and right which are inflamed but they are hoping those are reactive lymph nodes and not cancerous.

    I'm sending you my story over the last 2 weeks from diagnosis to discussing treatment to try and help you accept that, yes, it is cancer but no, it does not mean you cannot be cancer free in the future. I have learned more about the advanced treatments they have in this last 2 weeks than I've ever known in my life. There are soooo many ways in which they can kill cancer and everyone is different depending on your type. I know it is so difficult but please put your faith in your oncologist. They are the best of the best for what you are going through and how to treat you. Take each hurdle as it comes and don't think further than that. Ask the doctor for pain relief should you need for pelvic, I'm now on morphine as mine is so severe. Also ask for sleeping pills if eligible as I found getting no sleep made my worry so much worse.

    Please reach out if I can help in any way. I may not have the answers as I'm still so early on and have so many questions of my own too - but I can listen and support you and relate to you due to me being at the same stage of your journey.

    Sophie xx

  • Offline in reply to sophieb959

    Hello Sophie

    What an awful way to receive news from your GP! I have never heard of a Stage 2c, as this is not a stage in the standard FIGO guidelines which stage cervical cancer where there is only stage 2a and 2b. Lymphatic involvement is staged at 3c but I cannot even begin to tell you how many women I have seen with this stage who have been very successfully treated with chemorads and are now cancer free! Too many to mention! And I also know many ladies, including a good friend, who had large tumours at diagnosis who are cancer free still, years later, after successful treatment. 

    The Pet scan will give the definitive answer for you, but treatment can honestly be very successful. My treatment for 2b was the same and very successful first time round. I was unlucky in that my cancer did recur, but I am not in the majority, and I had further very successful treatment last year. 

    I’m so sorry you have such bad pain-I was never given morphine so had to cope with prescription tramadol eventually, but only after my recurrence. The chemoradiation can be tough-well, the radiation in particular- but the good thing is that it is intensive and over in a matter of weeks, usually with very good results. And the pain should go as the treatment progresses. 

    If you have any questions about anything, please just ask. Having been through this cancer twice now, I have learned so much and can offer lots of practical tips for treatment side effects etc. 

    The very best advice I could give is what you have said yourself- take things one step at a time and don’t look too far ahead. Don’t anticipate problems before they happen, because they might not! Some ladies sail through treatment with no nasty side effects and even manage to keep working. I am older so maybe it hit me harder, but the main thing is that it worked! And I would do it all again if I had to, although that won’t be something that happens for me as I have had all the radiation I can have now.

    Please keep in touch and I will help with support for you and Dawn if I can in any way. I know how scary it all is, but am proof you can come through and it can all be ok, even with advanced cancer. xxx

  • Offline in reply to sophieb959

    Thank you so much it's a terrible time for both of us it's nice to no at stage 2c they are still treating to cure, good luck on your journey xx

  • Offline in reply to Dawnann62

    At stages 1-3 they will always be looking to cure. Only stage 4 is classed as incurable, but I know many ladies at stage 4 with no evidence of disease living very full lives. It depends on lots of different factors, so just keep positive that treatment will be very successful. xx

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Thank you I was expecting it to be honest it was wishful thinking to think it was infection but *** dosnt make it any easier when you hear those words does it, this forum is a brilliant place thank you all so much for your support xx

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