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>> Forums > Cervical Cancer Patients Chat > Living with Cerival Cancer
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Forum: Cervical Cancer Patients Chat
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Topic: Living with Cerival Cancer |
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Member Since:
20 August 2008
Posts: 12
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Hello, this forum is for women living with Cervical Cancer. We hope you find using this chat room of value to you on your journey.
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Rachel Brown, Co-Founder |
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Member Since:
1 September 2008
Posts: 12
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Hi Everyone,
this topic should actually go under cervical cancer i think, but it appears that this is the most viewed site...
i had a radical hysterectomy, lymphodectomy etc 2.5 mths ago for cervical cancer, & got the all clear, YAY. BUT, i'm to undergo a course of radiation etc to make sure... they saved an ovary then too but this further treatment is going to fry it so i'll be going thru induced menopause etc, which i'm quite gutted about as i'm 33 & i didn't really want to go thru that just yet.
Anyway! i'm hoping someone can tell me what to expect, as side effects go (not just the induced menopause side) & what tips you have to ease things. I'm a very active, otherwise healthy, mum to a 9mth old, & i'll be starting back at work very soon at the completion of my maternity leave year, so i'd appreciate anything anyone can tell me.
i wish all of you the VERY best
kind wishes
Lynne |
Member Since:
3 September 2008
Posts: 1
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Hi Lynne,
Although I have not undergone radiation therapy I certainly have gone through induced menopuase due to surgery for uterine cancer. I was 45 at the time (5 years ago) and the whole menopause saga just hit me with all the possible side effects - charming!
Side effects, as I understand can vary from person to person, however I did find the hot flushes and the mood swings particularly difficult to deal with considering I was working full time in a management role and had to find some form of normality for myself.
Below is some information that may be of some use to you but do check with your GP/Oncologist first.
I took Remifemin – 1 tablet twice daily.(still taking it) as advised by the Menopuase Clinic.
Natural table – no synthetic hormones in it as I can not take any Estrogen based products)
Available from Pharmacies – although if ordering on line go to Parnell Pharmacy – they are very good for mail order items and always have stock.
Other hints:
1. Dress in layers
2. Always have water with you – helps cool one down at those times and helps control breathing thereby avoiding panic attacks
3. If she keeps waking up during the night because of flushes – get up and go to bathroom and run cold water over inside of wrist for about 30 seconds – helps cool the whole body down then go back to bed (no point tossing and turning and getting upset or frustrated)
4. Maybe get a referral to the Menopause clinic if one in the area – Oncologist will be able to assist
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smiley |
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Member Since:
1 September 2008
Posts: 12
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Thank you so much for replying Smiley, I'm sorry that you've had to go thru this.
I'll definately take note of this, I'm going to see my GP next week - i need some reassurance & i didn't like the manner of the oncologist when i saw him, he's definately put me in the wrong head space! :-( which upsets me too as i was absolutely so positive, & now... he makes me feels like i'm about ready to cark it, & that life until then is going to be shite. aagh, i really dislike people like that. especially when all other dr's have been so great!
All tips are much appreciated, when i go back to work it'll be a management role also, unfortunately because of all the delays thru the medical system i basically finish the radiation & go back to work the following week , so its going to be a bit hard i think.
I hope you're doing well now.
xx |
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Member Since:
5 October 2007
Posts: 32
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The good thing about being given the worst case scenario is:
~ it can only be better than you fear!
But that's a generalisation.
Radiation therapy can have cumulative effects, and that will vary from person to person (is my understanding of it). So what one of us has been through will not be the same for every other person going through it.
At one stage I told my radioligist that I'd come to an understanding of what brought on the extreme fatigue...
~ the lack of a good night's sleep because of the constant trips to the loo... either through lack of bladder control and/or bowel control... in my case!!!
The most important advice I'd actually give for radiation treatment is to listen very carefully to the instruction to drink, drink and drink water before your treatment. (Assuming your treatment will be pretty much focussed on the same body parts as mine was for ovarian treatment)... as the full bladder helps protect the wrong bits from being overly zapped. Then keep your fingers crossed (along with your legs) that you don't have to wait too long for your actual appointment to take place.
Sadly, I've had ongoing problems after radiation... but it seems I'm in the 5 percentile that's expected to affect, and in my case it was part of my bowel being radiated, and that's where the problems have occurred.
I'd already done the menopause thing the natural way, so have no good or bad stories to tell about induced menopause. But from that natural experience, one of the tricks I learned for the hot flushes side of things was to learn to take myself, mentally, to "my cool place", through visualisation. Either I didn't really have a problem with hot flushes... or it worked... not sure which, but I've shared that tip with many, in the hope it helps them too.
My "cool place" was deep in the middle of the NZ bush.... with a freezing cold mountain spring gushing over rocks, where sunlight filtered through the overgrowth and the smell of the bush was damp and leafy. Others have said they'd probably need an ice cave in the middle of a snow blizzard to cope!!
Best of luck with everything.
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Jools |
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Member Since:
1 September 2008
Posts: 12
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Hi Jools
You're so right in that it will differ, but i'm the type of person that likes to be prepared - don't like surprises much!! so hence the want of all experiences.
Have been doing the water thing, and yes its so hard to keep your legs crossed when your appt isn't on time - smiles get a bit strained!!! :-)
i hope things are going well for you now Jools, & by the way... Your cool place sounds like my favourite place!
All good things
L.
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