Brachytherapy

• By zztop
• Posted September 27, 2009 at 5:30 pm
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Hi Christine: I had brachytherapy in June 2007. And it worked. I also got 3 "second" opinions. My diagnosis was stage 3B. and I was scared. I told my Dr. to do everything possible. I had radiation & chemo like your mom in law. But the last treatment was brachytherapy. YES, you do have to be sedated if it is anything like what I had. The sedation is so the Dr. can line the area to be treated with padding (probably cotton) and it would be very painful without sedation. Even when I came out of the anesthetic, I begged for pain killers which they shot me up with. Then the Dr. does the insertion of the 'seeds' in the tumor, which does not hurt at all. There is also intense pain when they remove the internal padding. It was pretty bad. I had this done 3 times .. once a week. The padding is so the radiation does not do damage to the surrounding organs or area. Please tell her Dr. to make sure she has enough pain killers after she comes out of the anesthetic. I wish her luck.

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• By Kukione
• Posted September 27, 2009 at 7:27 pm
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I had cervical cancer twice. The second time I had the radiation treatment then the brachytherapy. I had what looked like a soda can inside me and I couldn't get out of bed for three days. I was put out when they inserted it. It didn't bother me at all when they pulled it out. I don't remember anything hurting, or having any padding. I only had it done one time, and that was 3 years ago.

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• By ChristineNYC
• Posted September 27, 2009 at 11:51 pm
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Thank you for your replies. My only concern is that they will be doing this twice a week for five different treatments. My mother in law suffered cardiac arrest on August 5th, and has a heart blockage. She is pretty much rehabilitated...and is very lucky to be alive. She is convinced the chemo caused the heart attack. While her cardiologist said that there is no reason she cannot go through this treatment...I am praying to God that she can take it. I am just worried about her having a general anesthetic twice a week for five different times. I hope she will be ok. Any further advice anyone can give would be great. Thanks again for your replies and I wish you all the health and wellness in the world. Lots of good wishes to you both.

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• By greengirl55
• Posted September 28, 2009 at 7:28 am
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I was also dx with 2B and I had the 2X a week 5 treatments and was put under each time. i had issues with the anesthsia the first time but other than that i was fine with these treatments. i actually found that the last 3 i came through really quickly.

i did have some pain after two of the treatments but the pain killers worked fine for me - after one of them i did have a lot of pain urinating but a 600mg motrin took care of that for me.

I hope all goes well for your MIL

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• By crickett305
• Posted September 28, 2009 at 10:52 am
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I had stage 1b1. I went through 6 chemo, 25 external radiation and then 6 internal. Mine were done twice a week. I have to say it was alot easier than the external. Mine was high dose as well. I took about an hour to complete the treatment each time. I was put under for the first treatment but only because my cervix had completely closed and they had force it open. After that, I was never put under again. Each time I had treatment, after they inserted everything, I was sent to cat scan to make sure it was all in place. The longest part of it was the waiting, laying flat on my back without moving, while they got a room open for me. I think the worst part of it for me was felling violated everytime.I think that is just a normal part of cancer treatment. lol. I hope your mother in law does okay with it all. I was extremely nervous about it at first. I talked it over with my oncologist and my radiation dr. and they both explained to me that it was really necessary if I wanted to be this horrible cancer. The radiation dr. did tell me to take a couple advil about an hour before each treatment, just to help with the cramps. I have to say, the cramps were bad. I only too the advil for the second one. I had my first three month check up in July and it came back normal. I have my second check up this week. I hope it comes back normal as well.

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• By crickett305
• Posted September 28, 2009 at 10:55 am
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sorry, my typing was a little off. My grandson had ahold of my arm...the cramps WERE NOT bad.

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• By dazednconfused
• Posted September 28, 2009 at 12:16 pm
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I have no experience with this treatment, so take this with a grain of salt, but I have an elderly mother with heart issues and know that anesthesia, pain and even anxiety affect her when she needs medical procedures. Would a spinal or an epidural be an option for your MIL?

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