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I had stage 1b2 cervical cancer and had a radical hysterectomy last month. I now have to do chemo and radiation can anyone tell me the side effects for them and what I should expect?
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side effects
- By taleia139
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 1:35 pm · 6 replies
- In Cervical cancer stages and treatment
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Dizziness Surgery Hysterectomy Incontinence Pregnancy Cervical cancer Pain Menopause Peripheral neuropathy Diarrhea
6 replies
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- By carmensinger
- Posted October 27, 2009 at 10:42 pm
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I can't tell you what the side effects are for the treatments, however, I know that what can give you relief for the side effects is Reiki, an energetic hands-on treatment done now in many hospitals around the country, that significantly helps the nausea, dizziness, overall disorientation, discomfort sometimes associated with chemo and radiation.
- By elovenkbug
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 12:51 am
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I read your story and my prayers are with you. I also was dx with 1b2 in march. after my hystorectomy I only had radiation. It was very managable. Just watch your diet, and rest. It put me into menopause about a week after I finished. That sinks because I am only 39.
The hardest part of radiation for me was holding my bladder for so long. the treatments took about 30 min a day.
God bless
- By hopeandprayers
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 12:10 pm
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I am sorry to hear about your pregnancy and hystectomy. You need to think of the two children you have, and everything you can to cure yourself of this horrible disease.
The chemo. and radiation treatments were very tolerable. My worst side effect was diarrhea that I controlled by taking Imodium. Toward the end of treatment I was somewhat tired. When you think about it, a cancer diagnosis, surgery, chemo. and radiation would make any one tired.
Best wishes to you!
- By Amaryllis2
- Posted October 28, 2009 at 5:47 pm
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Taleia - Side effects seem to a certain extent to depend on the individual. I had some stomach and bowel effects (frequent stools, once in a while incontinence) from the radiation, which continue a year later but are more a nuisance than a problem. I had no nausea from the chemo and the bone marrow shot given each time the day after, but some people have both nausea and loss of appetite as well as bone pain, mild to severe. The oncologist will give you medication for both - ask if you need it and he/she hasn't. I do have peripheral neuropathy (tingling and discomfort in hands, feet and legs) from the chemo, again bearable and fades eventually but does increase with each treatment. And you will be tired all through treatment and probably for months after you have finished- stop and rest when you can, don't try to do too much or push through it - you deserve some pampering and time off from every day chores. Best of luck - you will get through it - enjoy your family and life every day - despite the cancer!
- By movingon
- Posted October 29, 2009 at 12:08 am
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They say side effects are different from person to person. My worst side effect was nausea and vommiting. They tried 6-7 different medications but nothing seemed to work. I weighed 108 when i started chemo and radiation and at the end I was at 84lbs. I had a little diarrhea. My hair fell out "down there" . My hair on my head thinned out but I didn't have any bald spots or anything like that. I had a sense of urgency with my bladder. when I had to pee it was sudden and couldn't wait. I was tired alot but I'm sure thats because I would wake up vomiting all night. I had a blood transfusion at the end becuase I couldn't walk anymore without getting short of breath. I will say it was the worst thing I have ever gone through but just remember that you will get through it and it won't be horrible forever.
- By kingsley
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 10:27 pm
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Hi Taleia, I had chemo/rad first, and then a hyst.
I had such a low dose of Cisplatin chemo that they said my hair wouldn't fall out. It thinned a little, but was really only noticeable when I ran my fingers through it.
I was nauseous with the chemo... I had it on Fridays, and pretty much spent the weekends face down on the couch. It got so bad at one point that I couldn't keep even a droplet of water down. My doc gave me suppositories, and said if I couldn't keep liquids down within 12 hours, I'd be admitted to the hospital for an iv.
Other than nausea, I got really weak, to the point that I couldn't drive anywhere because I didn't have the strength to press the brake pedal enough to stop the car. And I had to physically lift my legs with my hands to get in and out of a car or to get dressed.
I didn't really have any problems with radiation. I had 6 weeks of it Monday-Friday. It only took a few minutes... in fact, it took longer for them to get me situated on the table than the actual radiation. I was probably in the Xray room for 10-15 minutes total each day. I didn't have any of the sunburn-type skin issues that people talk about.
But apparently one of my long-term side effects is my bladder. My chemo/rad ended in Aug 06. My hyst was in Oct 06. In Jan 07, I suddenly started to have bladder problems... it was really bad at first... I totally peed on myself about 3 times. I saw a urologist, and after a slew of tests, she decided that radiation had left some scar tissue in my bladder, which would soften over time and things would improve. It has dramatically improved, but it's not fixed. But it's bearable.
But you know, in light of everything, the side effects really aren't a big deal.... I'm still alive, after all, and just celebrated 3 years of being cancer free.
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