• Jeepinbob's Avatar

    Jeepinbob wrote on SunnyCloud's wall

    Hey there, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. Can you tell me more about the procedures you have gone through? Also you mention that you will have to use the dilator for ever? That wasn't mentioned to us. But then it also may be something we missed. The procedure after which we got the dilator was pretty traumatic so it would be easy to miss something.

    over 8 years ago
    5 Comments
    • SunnyCloud's Avatar
      SunnyCloud

      OK, dilators, I seem to recall reading or hearing that you must do this for the rest of your life due to scar tissue and vaginal shrinkage. I wish I could remember the exact words, but I cant. Chemo makes you have what they call chemo brain while in therapy. Im doing better now as far as memory goes. Anyway, here is an article about it. It's PDF so you will need Adobe Reader. If you still have questions, I am sure you can consult with the doctor or the nurse.

      http://www2.mskcc.org/patient_education/_assets/downloads-english/571.pdf

      over 8 years ago
    • SunnyCloud's Avatar
      SunnyCloud

      I saw this comment on another forum : "we have to do this for the rest of our lives so that our vaginas don't atrophy."

      over 8 years ago
    • SunnyCloud's Avatar
      SunnyCloud

      I guess you should ask your doc. I think maybe dilator at first and just sex later. Maybe dilator when there is no sex? Hee hee.

      over 8 years ago
  • Jeepinbob's Avatar

    Jeepinbob wrote on SunnyCloud's wall

    Hi Sunny,
    My wife was diagnosed with stage 3 A or B depending on who you ask back in December. She has finished two rounds of radiation (the second because out 2nd opinion Dr at MD Anderson said he missed a couple lymph nodes) and two rounds of low dose internal brachia radiation (each was a weekend in the hospital). If you don't mind talking about some graphic and detailed questions, my wife and I would welcome a chance to talk to another person dealing with cervical cancer.

    over 8 years ago
    2 Comments
    • SunnyCloud's Avatar
      SunnyCloud

      I dont mind at all. I had my last brachy therapy in Oct, but I still hate it. I feel sad and angry when I think of what I have to do for the rest of my life to avoid vaginal shrinkage. Anywho..go ahead and ask away. :)

      over 8 years ago
    • SunnyCloud's Avatar
      SunnyCloud

      P.S. Ill answer as soon as I can. If I delay, do not worry. I check my email daily.

      over 8 years ago
  • Jeepinbob's Avatar

    Jeepinbob started following

    User: SunnyCloud

    over 8 years ago
  • Jeepinbob's Avatar

    Jeepinbob shared an experience

    Other Care (blood and healing): Right now we are just focused on her healing. She feels pretty good and has good days and bad days, but the Oncologist is waiting till her red blood count stabilizes. I think this is taking so long due to her having to endure two rounds of external radiation. He thinks maybe 4 or 5 months till he is happy with her numbers. Then we start another 6 months of chemo. So now we wait.

    over 8 years ago
  • Jeepinbob's Avatar

    Jeepinbob shared an experience

    Radiation (Internal radiation (Brachytherapy)): My wife had to have two low dose internal treatments. We tried the high dose (5 outpatient procedures) but she didn't tolerate it with only sedation as opposed to being out completely. We had a great Radiation oncologist, we have been told she is one of the best in the country, if not the best. But the internal that lasted about 48 hours (more like 72 including the surgery to implant the devices). It was very rough on her but she is a trooper and took it as in stride as she could. During both treatments, she could not eat ANYTHING. every thing we tried came back up. They did help a lot based on what the RO told us, but we are glad there were only two of them.

    over 8 years ago
  • Jeepinbob's Avatar

    Jeepinbob shared an experience

    Drug or Chemo Therapy (Chemotherapy): My wife had weekly infusions of a low dose of Cisplatin. She tolerated the chemo pretty well once we figured out the support meds. They did not explain that very well. We got her first infusion, which includes the support meds (anti nausia, acid reducer), and were in the cancer center the next day for something else and they said we had infusion. We said she only got it once a week. We eventually figured out that the was for support med and that if she didn't need them, we didn't have to get them. She was feeling okay so we passed. Well that night she got really sick. We got the support meds the next day and the two days following every infusion after that. As long as we kept up on the support meds her side effects were not too bad. Imapct on daily life is mostly due to three weekly visits to the cancer center. Makes it hard to work.

    over 8 years ago

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