Hi Kkk

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it certainly turns your world upside down. I have cervical cancer, but mine is adenocarcinoma, although the treatment is the same. Usually surgery is only possible for early stage cancer and the standard treatment would be chemo and rads: usually 5 chemo sessions of Cisplatin which is a low dose and doesn’t cause you to lose your hair, and 25 sessions of daily radiotherapy over 5 weeks, followed by brachytherapy which is internal radiation. I finished my treatment on Christmas Eve last year, so if I can help at all with any questions or advice, please let me know. xx

Hello Kkk

So sorry to hear this, but I was diagnosed with same cancer in October, but 4cm squamous cell carcinoma of cervix.  And like Minska I have been offered identical treatment, which started this Monday and finishes on 1st Jan, followed up by internal radiotherapy - if the tumour has shrunk sufficiently.  Don't be scared.  The worst part for me was the wait from when I went to see my GP in August, to eventual biopsy, then another long wait, then being told I had "cancer" but no real detail.  Then the scans, then finally a slightly wrong diagnosis of Stage 1A, which eventually became Stage 2B.  At this point I was just happy to have a diagnosis, and my life has gone to being relatively normal.  I'm 55 and work full time, but luckily I moved my GP practice close to work which gave me access to hospitals close to work, in west London.  So every day for radiotherapy I have to leave early (or work from home), it's not so much the treatment it's the amount of time it takes to get there, then the wait.  I've had one chemo (cisplatin) and I felt so well I went to work the next day.  My last chemo was scheduled for Christmas Day (luckily they're closed !) ... so it's 24th Dec now.  Yes, your world has turned upside down, but you will return to being normal quite soon, there's no reason not to.  Try eating well and going back to normal every day life, and if you can, look forward to a good outcome and just be generally positive.  I think the treatment for cervical cancer is not as bad as some, so that's good news.  I wish you well, and I thank Minska for still writing in, as it was your original post that gave me hope.  Dxx

Hi Minska

Thank you and hopefully Kkk will read your original posts and find valuable information there, like I did.  My bowels too have been affected by everything, they pretty much shut down after the vague diagnosis, which caused me so much pain that I thought the cancer had spread to my bowel and that I wouldn't make it past Christmas !  I look back and almost laugh at that ... I was completely freaked out and couldn't eat or sleep.  But once I had the opportunity, I asked to see the MRI and the tumour was lit up, and didn't scare me at all.  But what interested me more was my bowel, where I could see the "blockage".  And once I'd seen what was going on, the horror of it all just disippated.  Then I finally had an appointment with a female oncologist who was able to talk freely, and generally, didn't make a big deal about it.  You've got a tumour, it's 4cm, we're going to treat it with the intention of curing it.  That's all I needed to be told.  Not really sure why consultants, I'm sure unintentionally, make it far more scary than necessary.  I was rung up the day before and asked to go in (at this point you know it's not going to be good), and I was greeted by the consultant and an entourage and a very stilted conversation followed.  This was all pre-scan, so they had nothing really to say.  But, once I had the proper diagnosis I accepted it, refused to be upset about it, started eating again (I'd lost half a stone very quickly) and have returned pretty much to normal.   I have to also say I have family history of cancer (mainly lung, Stage 4) so I was scanned for that last year, but everything was clear... and I thought I was in the clear - ha ha !  I can feel the fatigue coming on, but I'm thinking another four sessions and it's done.  It is a relatively short treatment, and certainly not as hard as some people have here on the forum.  So thank you Minska for carrying on supporting us, and for Kkk, once you're over the shock of it, things will return to normal for you.  Dxx

Hi Diane

I felt after my treatment that I would like to continue on the forum to see if I could help and support others if I could. It’s such a scary time when you’re having tests and waiting for a diagnosis and it can be a lonely place. I’ve made some lovely contacts on here I am still in touch with outside of the forum which has been an added benefit.

Now however I have another reason to stay as I’m currently undergoing some testing for something which was picked up at a check up in October. I’ve had an mri, pet scan and this week a biopsy under anaesthetic so it’s been all go! It may be radiation damage or scar tissue, but of course it may be that my cancer is back. I know from my pet scan results that nowhere lit up except this spot in my cervix where my tumour had been, so that was a relief as it increases my options if the cancer has returned. Need to wait until 9th December for the results. I have great faith in my consultant so I’m optimistic that we will have a plan. Needing to keep thinking positively as I did last time I had all these types of investigations! xx 

Hello Minska

I have thought - does it ever end ?!  Those scans pick up everything, so hopefully it is nothing to worry about and they're just being cautious.  I've only just finished Week 1, four more to go... and quite honestly, I'm already worn out.  I can't imagine it getting easier .... and do the effects of chemo get worse every week, or do you return to "normal" every week.  I'm already beginning to wonder if I'll ever feel normal again.  Great that you trust your consultant, and that you're still so positive as it must be quite stressful having all those tests again, especially a biopsy.  I hope your consultant has good news, and do keep us informed, as your posts have helped me a lot.  Best Diane

Hi Diane

It’s all such an exhausting process! I only managed to have 4 chemo sessions as my blood count plummeted just before I was due to get my last one and my consultant said no to it. I don’t feel that I had much effects from the chemo...although the steroids made me have trouble sleeping. I did, unfortunately, have a chemo provoked pulmonary embolism, but recovered from that well.

I had far more issues with radiotherapy...fatigue, cystitis and diarrhoea mainly which lasted for a little while after my treatment finished. I had to have what they call “boost “ radiotherapy- further 7 sessions because I was unable to have brachytherapy. That was because I had the embolism the night before I was due to be admitted for the brachytherapy and was unable to have a general anaesthetic after the embolism. That is not the norm though! 

I would say it took a couple of months after treatment finished to feel more normal again and for the past six months or so I have felt really good. Recently I am back to having pain/discomfort which coincides with them finding something odd again, so I am convinced it’s back. I’m certainly mentally prepared for that, although there is always the hope that it’s rafiation damage or scar tissue! 

I was very stressed and anxious getting more tests, but the pet scan gave better results than I had imagined so I have settled down again. I was “no evidence of disease” after my treatment and am very hopeful of getting that status again. I’ll keep you posted. Keep on top of the tiredness....your body is going through a lot and you need to rest when you can and take care of yourself. xx

Hi Minska

Thank you for all that info and pleased that it only took a couple of months to recover and that you've felt normal for six months.... I'm due to have the brachytherapy - which sounds like a bundle of fun, on 6th Jan... I'm wondering will I even make it that far.... but I take strength from people like you and everyone else on this forum who seem to have reserves of strength and character that I hope I'm able to find !  I truly hope that your tests come back negative, and that you are able to return to everyday life without all these worries.  Week 2 starts tomorrow.... and last chemo on Christmas Eve .... this will certainly be a Christmas to remember !  Diane xx

Hi Diane

I was told something I held onto through treatment and beyond. “You are stronger than you know, and braver than you think”. This was one of the best pieces of advice I ever got, because it turned out to be true. You do find reserves to get through it...I know I did. Brachy is not as bad as you may think...I know many women who have been through it and were surprised it was ok. I think it’s just fear of the unknown mainly. I’m sure you can do it! Just take one day at a time, and tell your team about any side effects at all and they will be able to help. Even indigestion which I got during radiotherapy...they gave me a prescription which sorted it straight away. Things can get worse before they get better, but they do get better. 

Thank you for your kind wishes...I’m a little bit pessimistic about my results because I have similar pain to when I was diagnosed, but I’m not falling in a heap about it. It is what it is...I can’t change it but I can face it head on and deal with it, and that’s what I plan to do! xx

Thank you Minska ... I will take one day at a time... but it cannot go fast enough.  I have often been in awe of other people who have taken the pain stoically (everyone in my family !) ... so it's only fair that it's my turn.  I will take your words and turn them into action.  Hope you get through the next week in good spirits ...Dianexx