Anyone have any ideas what to expect?
I had my final (4) brachytherapy yesterday (Wednesday, Aug. 5) For me the worst part was anticipating the procedure. I have a long history of sexual violence from childhood and an incident about 7 years ago. I worried about triggering my PTSD. But I had a fantastic doctor and her team. They were very supportive and explained every step. I was given a prescription for Ativan and also took Tylenol before each session. In the end, despite my worries, the procedure itself was a bit uncomfortable, but very bearable. The side effect for me has been slight discomfort when peeing, but it is already improving. They gave me a salve to apply that helps.
Thank you
I’m 1 week out from completing brachytherapy. I had 5 radiation treatments. Only side effect for me was vaginal discomfort when inserting cylinder on number 4 and 5. They put lidocaine jelly on probe so discomfort last less then a minute. I also took Tylenol or ibuprofen prior. I also noticed some vaginal tenderness after number 3 also with coughing and doing some exercise. Took 800 ibuprofen twice a day and still taking it. This controlled discomfort. I would do it again. Good luck!
Great news on skipping chemo! Brachytherapy (you've got the right idea on the spelling!) is a very common choice for stage 1B, grade 2 endometrial cancer, and many people tolerate it well.
Here's what to generally expect during treatment:
- A small cylinder (about the size of a tampon) filled with radioactive material is Show Full Answer