Feeling super scared - further treatment needed

Hello everyone.

I feel super scared and worried at the moment.

sorry it is a long post!

Back in August I was diagnosed with cervial cancer, stage 1b1.

I was told I would need a radical hysterectomy - which oddly at 33 years old I wasn’t too mortified at (the C was my only concern). They took part of the vagina, womb, cervix and some lymph nodes but left my ovaries - to prevent menopause.

After surgery, I was told the docs did really well and were confident they got all the cancer... the margins were good.

I was allowed to go home a few days later and my only issue has been bladder retention. Possibly nerve damage from surgery but only time will tell.

About a week ago, the specialist nurse rang and confirmed surgery was successful. And lymph nodes were clear. But because I had two “minors” they recommended 5 weeks of radiotharapy with a chemo day each week.

I was so depressed upon hearing that, I stupidly thought the surgery would be done and that would be it. 

The nurse streased I didnt have to do the adjuvent therapy.. but obviously I am extremely scared of recurrance.

My minors were the size and the fact there was very slight evidence in my LVSI

So I’m totally freaked out as nearly everything I read suggests thats bad and I’m medium-high risk of it coming back.

I’m just so scared.

Had anyone else had both surgery and radio/chemotherapy after?

 

 

 

  • Welcome to Cancer Chat MissRoo although I'm sorry for the reason you're joining us.

    I've had a quick look through the forum and found some other cervical cancer members - [@Worried_mummy]‍, [@Minska]‍ and [@LauraP]‍ you may like to chat to. They haven't all had surgery but they do have experience of chemo and radiotherapy so hopefully they'll be able put your mind at ease about what's to come if you do decide to move forward with this treatment.

    Our cancer nurses are also available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m if you'd like to talk things through with them as well.

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi MissRoo

    Thanks for tagging me [@Moderator Steph]‍ I was diagnosed with stage 2b cervical cancer last year, and with that stage, chemoradiation is the standard treatment rather than a hysterectomy so I haven’t had surgery.

    I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean when you talk about having two minors. Can you explain what that is? 

    I know of many, many women who have had chemoradiation after surgery, so yes, it does happen. I appreciate it must be a blow to have it suggested to you when you thought the surgery would be enough, but only you can make the decision on whether to have it.

    The weekly chemotherapy is a low dose of Cisplatin which does not make you lose your hair. The radiotherapy is every day for 5 weeks usually, and for me had more side effects than the chemo. I was very tired, and had bladder and bowel issues, which have now gone after my treatment. 

    There are never any guarantees that it won’t come back having had the surgery or having chemo radiation or both. Is there anything that is putting you off having the treatment, anything you’re particularly scared of or unsure about? xx

     

  • Hi..can you explain what minors are? Thank you...

  • Hey SandiRose, 

    I noticed you were trying to get in touch with MissRoo. As they made this post back in 2019 and haven't been back on the forum since, there is a chance they may not reply. 

    I really hope this won't be the case and they do get back to you, but if you don't hear anything then it may be worth starting a new discussion.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator