mom 42 has cervical cancer. getting 41/2 weeks of chemo and radiation i thought u always had sugery first?

Question

they said they'd do 41/2 weeks of chemo and radiation then she would have to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days so they could put sum metal thing in her so the radiation could directly hit the tumor. any one have any insight about cervical cancer? im worried

Answer 1

They may be wanting to shrink the tumor before operating or they may be concerned that it will spread if they cut into it. But more than likely the size is the problem. Best wishes for your mom and you..

Answer 2

Yes, indeed, not myself. But I accompanied a friend to some of her treatments.

The treatment plan was almost exactly as you described. She had the chemo and radiation but doctors decided against doing any more radiation in her case as she had had the limit. So the metal rods were never put in. The location of the tumour which was aggressive was not just in the cervix but also in the vagina. That was in the spring. She has just been told by the doctor that she thinks she is all clear! Maybe just a bit early to tell but that was very good news.

I am sure that you are worried. Try to go with her if she lets you because seeing the place makes it less scary for you and you would be there to support her if you are old enough. My friend maintained a very positive attitude. So help your mum keep her spirits and determination high. Good luck to both of you.

Answer 3

Chemotherapy and radiation may treat the cancer to the point of remission. If this doesn't happen, there's still quite a good chance that it will shrink the tumor(s). Anytime somebody has cancer, and they are cut open, there's a risk for spreading the cancer -- the smaller the tumor (depending upon the location) the less the risk of this. Chemo and radiation definitely won't be fun -- but, they'll most likely help.

Answer 4

They are using the latest procedure. They don't do surgery for this stage in America. They still do surgery in Europe. Treatment all depends on what stage she is in. The treatment she is doing is probably for stage three. They have had great success with cisplatin chemo radiation and localized radiation rods. She may not feel very well or have an appetite during chemo. Please support her and find something she can eat. She will lose weight and red blood cells during treatment. Make sure her Doctor prescribes the best anti nausea drugs and she will need certain supplements such as magnesium. It is important to keep her health and mental attitude as good as possible and to try to eat. If she falters in the above they will have to interrupt chemo treatment which is not as beneficial.

Answer 5

You have every right to be worried ;-( as it is sad to see your mom sick. However, today there have been some tremendous advancements in treatments, so the outlook is always getting better and better. In most cases they do chemo and/or radiation first to help shrink the affected area. It is easier to perform surgery that way. One thing that is so important is to always let your mom know how much you love her and know she is going to recover. She must have an optimistic outlook. You may want to speak to her doctor to find out if there is any local support group you can attend. I did this when my mother was sick. Before I go to bed tonight, I am going to say a prayer that God blesses your mother and she make a full recovery.

Answer 6

I commend you for looking for healthy alternatives to Cancer treatment for your mom. Unfortunately, herbs and such are to be used in conjunction with chemo/radiation not instead of. I'm a huge proponent of Integrative medicine. If you live near a large university, there may be an Integrative Medicine clinic nearby. I'm currently going through chemotherapy for endometrial cancer(with cervical involvement) I had radiation(external) then one round of brachytherapy. All the while, I doing acupuncture, herbs, massage, yoga, meditation and anything that helped the side effects or my general quality of life.

Answer 7

It's not necessarily the way it works. The doctors might be trying to shrink a tumor before they go in and remove anything. This will tell them how responsive it will be. Good luck w/your mom!

Answer 8

i would have your mom get a second opinion usually they do a full hysterectomy than screen her again to see if they got it all or it has spread. i have never heard of chemo first when surgery is the liklest choice

Answer 9

surgery isn't always first. sometimes, there's chemo first to shrink the tumor so that surgery would be a bit easier.

Answer 10

i DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY DO CHEMO FIRST TO TRY AND SHRINK THAT CANCER BEFORE THEY OPERATE.
JUST PRAY IS ALL YOU CAN DO.
I will keep her in my prayers too.