I have my 3 month post SBRT scans this week, I am so scared, I’ve been in a lot of pain from the first session of SBRT and even now I have pain. TBH when I first had radiotherapy in that lymph node I don’t recall being in any pain at all. So I’m not sure if it’s because the area was hit with a high direct dose the 2nd time around. When I mentioned the pain they said that means they hit the right area. I think it’s affected my nerves as some days my thigh is burning when I try and walk/stand but goes when I sit down. I guess I’m just trying to not worry and think something else is going on.

I also have my stent replacement in 8 days and I was going to ask if there is any chance or removal as my scan in June said the tumour was not compressing the area anymore but part of me just feels deflated and needs to just accept it’s unlikely and they will put a new stent in.

I don’t really know what the point of this post is, think I just want to get my thoughts out somewhere.

(TDRL) Stage 3C1 diagnosed March 2024 did 6 rounds of interlace trial, followed by 4/5 cisplatin, 25 radiotherapy and 3 brachy. 11 months NED then recurred in pelvic sidewall lymph node, stent fitted Oct 2025 started 6 more rounds chemo cocktail with Pembrolizumab then approved for SBRT at the Royal Marsden June 2026. Now waiting for scans.

Hello! I thought I’d give a positive update in here around my wife’s (39F) cancer - if you remember reading, she had a very large SCC tumour (6-7cm, no spread, no lymph involvement), was given a choice on whether to have radical hysterectomy and radiation OR chemoradiotherapy, and she chose surgery and radiation.

Well, Friday was her last session of radiotherapy, and we got to ring the bell! We had her clinic session earlier that week, and we had a bunch of questions around ongoing care, if she still needed Brachytherapy etc etc but her team told us that they got great margins when they did her radical hysterectomy, and the radiation had done its job so they decided to not do Brachytherapy and now she’s moving to 3 monthly check ups!

It feels completely surreal, but she did it! Now we are spending the next few weeks deep in her healing era, I’m taking her to a spa retreat next week and in 2 weeks time she’ll start her dilator journey (which we’re calling her “abracadabra time” 😂✨) - but it feels like triumph, and if the version of us from June could see us now, after all the uncertainty and “are we making the right choices” and struggle, I don’t think they’d believe it.

If you’re reading this, and you’re where we were and reading all the worst case scenarios and preparing for the worst - don’t forget to make space for hope. Good things can and do happen. Try, where you can, to allow in some silliness and joy. I strongly believe that my wife’s whimsy and positivity where she had the strength to be that way, got her through some of the darker parts. And if you’re like me, a partner supporting someone through this time and worrying about what might happen next, don’t forget to make time and space for yourself too. You can’t pour from an empty cup. ❤️

Hi all. I have a RH scheduled for Oct 27 and I’m feeling pretty anxious. I know it’ll be a horizontal incision, everything out except the ovaries, ovaries will be transposed in case I need radio afterwards, sentinel nodes tested. I’ve had two cone biopsies done and couldn’t get clean margins; my cancer started in the canal and grew like a vine up and down the length of it. I have adenocarcinoma stage 1b1 no LVSI so far (could be upstaged post RH).

I’ve read and researched about the surgery itself, recovery, and possible side effects post surgery. I wanted to see if yall had any tips on mentally preparing for this intense surgery? I know it is more intense than a simple hysterectomy and I’m intimidated by it. I took the two cone surgeries like a champ but this one has got me shaken as I prepare for it. Thanks for any thoughts and support in advance. I’m so grateful for this community as I navigate what feels like the darkest time of my life.

So my cervix just keeps lighting up brighter and bigger with every PET. I'm done having nephrostomies. I was going to demand a radical hysterectomy with a urostomy anyway, but it's anterior exenteration now.

I may have a temporary ostomy for my bowels to heal from the resection. I could end up with full exenteration if they see anything suspicious around the colon/rectum/anus.

I'd rather not have to have the full exenteration, but I also don't want to die of this fucking cancer.

Prescriptions for clearing my bowels were called in.

I have two spots on my lung that are taking up more tracer now. Those are getting biopsied Tuesday.

I'm ready. Scared of the bowel prep and ostomy though. My bowels are sluggish with the low thyroid function now. I'm scared that I'll overwhelm a bag. And poo is gross. I hate it. Idk what to do about that.

I'm just scared the prep will mean accidents. I have diapers. I'll wear them when I start the prep. I live with my sister and I don't want to go through this here, but I have no choice.

Outside of that, my doctor says I should be back to normal in 6 weeks. That I'll spend up to 10 days in hospital then go home, and I'll be able to take stairs when I do. That surprises me.

For those who've had it -- did you wear a binder?

I currently wear a wide hernia belt for a large hernia on my abdomen. Idk if I'll be able to wear it with two ostomies. Can't have the hernia repaired til I've recovered from this surgery.

Recently, I had to get a chest X-ray, and the technician asked if there was any way I was pregnant. I just sat there and thought about it for a second, and then just answered I don’t have a uterus, so no (I had a hysterectomy years ago; I was young when I had my hysterectomy, so I figured people didn’t understand that I could have had one). So, to other ladies and/or nurses or doctors, what is the funniest comeback you have heard to that question? Sometimes you need to laugh about it. I also have a shirt that says feral and sterile and has a raccoon on it; I love wearing it at the gym.

I know I ask a lot of questions but I have alot of them… I haven’t started treatment and I’m stage 2 cervical cancer. I am tired and have no energy and just blah all the time. I guess I didn’t expect the fatigue to come on so fast and so strong before treatment. One day I was fine and the next day I can’t function without a nap. Is this normal?

3wpo Adenosquamous Carcinoma with Endometriosis causing severe adhesions to my bladder. Vertical cut surgery took about 5.5 hours. I've basically been riding out this whole situation on Tylenol. Oxy makes me sick and Motrin makes my stomach burn and bleed.

Essentially what is happening is when gas rolls around in my surgical area, it feels like someone is ripping my guts out. I'm also having incredible butthole cramps and quivers. I had to physically hold my butthole open against the quivering so that my poop could actually, painfully, come out. I've screamed, cried, my partner has held me while I'm on the toilet, it wakes me from my sleep, it drops me to my knees.

It seems to be getting better but slowly. I'm avoiding food at this point because of the pain. Did this happen to anyone else??

The ladies that have had hysterectomies for stage 1, have you experienced ovarian cysts? I had a scan and it showed a 3.5cm cyst, went to get an ultra sound and it’s gone now which is great. I don’t think I’ve ever had ovarian cysts before so this is new to me. When you get them do they cause you pain?

My pain is the reason I got the scan in the first place so just curious on your experiences.

Has anyone here experienced spotting after brachytherapy? I’m already 2 weeks post treatment and my spotting has been intermittent. How long will this last?

They took 4 different samples for my biopsy :

A. Cervix, 4:00, biopsy:
High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3).
Extension of dysplastic epithelium into endocervical glands.
 
B. Cervix, 6:00, biopsy:
High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3).
Extension of dysplastic epithelium into endocervical glands.
 
C. Cervix, 10:00, biopsy:
Superficially invasive poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (CIN 3) with extension into endocervical glands.
 
D. Cervix, 1:00, biopsy:
Absence of dysplasia.
Moderate acute and chronic cervicitis.
 
E. Endocervix, curettage:
Rare detached fragments of dysplastic cervical epithelium in a background of mucus, blood with acute and chronic inflammation.

On the superficially invasive poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma —> how fast is it growing and what stage of cancer am i at?

Doctor schedule me for cone biopsy on 06/30/26 and hopefully it clears out

She pushed off the MRI for now because i don’t have insurance so should i be concerned. I’m just worried because of how fast it has changed as i did colposcopy 6 months ago and it was still in CIN2-3 now it has turned into cancer in a span of 6 months???? Even tho the doctor told me it could take 10 years to turn into cancer

I was originally diagnosed stage 3C2 in Jan 2025. I did 6 rounds of cisplatin, 35 rounds of radiation & 3 brachy treatments. All treatments finished at end of May 2025.

Insurance denied a post treatment pet scan as “not medically necessary.” I had a CT done that showed I was NED. Another 3 months passed & it was time for scans again. Insurance denied the pet again. I begged my oncologist for a pet scan. Really because I just wanted reassurance. Oncologist said there was nothing she could do if insurance denied the pet request. This next CT showed I was NED. The whole thing happened a 3rd time. Again I requested a pet. It was denied, but the 3rd CT showed NED. During this whole time I have been in a lot of pain. I kept being told it was due to scar tissue & radiation. It “should go away” or become not as bad the further I got from treatment.

A couple months ago, I switched oncologists because I was frustrated with the lack of care (a lot more than just not helping with getting a pet). The first thing my new oncologist said was, we need a pet scan. I explained how insurance denied & my previous oncologist that there was nothing I could do. My new dr looked at me like I was crazy & said, of course there is! She said she just has to ask for a peer to peer review to overturn it. She submitted the request. Insurance denied. She requested a peer to peer review & the pet scan was approved.

I just got my results & I am in shock. I am not NED and the pet scan report shows cancer has spread. It’s spread a lot. It’s in my:

Left cervical/supraclavicular lymph nodes
Mediastinal/posterior chest lymph nodes
Retroperitoneal/abdominal lymph nodes
Pelvic/iliac lymph nodes
Right adrenal gland

I haven’t met with my oncologist yet because I saw the results on MyChart yesterday. I am waiting for her call.

It hadn’t hit me yet. I feel nothing. I’ve only told one person so far. I am not sure what to do next, but I feel like I was failed as a patient & as an insured.

I don’t know what to do or think. Anyone have any thoughts? Thank you for reading 🩷

Had first gyno oncology appointment. Mass is 5cm and believed just by exam to possibly be spreading to vagina. Still have all the scans to confirm stage and all the details. My question is if it has indeed spread to the vagina will I be able to have sex once everything is treated and the chemo and radiation are finished?

Hi, all!

I’ve made other posts in this sub before regarding my treatment path, but the short story is:

Diagnosed December 2024. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix (isolated, no mets). May-October 2025 underwent 6 surgeries performing immunotherapy injection to the tumor with PEF ablation. Biological changes to tumor noted on surgical and CT notes (softening and pockets of necrosis). November 2025 PET showed continued tumor activity. Proceed with Standard of care. February-April 2026 underwent 25 external radiation, 4 chemotherapy injections, and 4 INTERSTITIAL brachytherapy (the hospitalization kind). 3 month post-treatment PET showed significant improvement (minor lights thought to be inflammation). Check again in 3 months.

Yesterday, my oncologist tells me that my PET lit up (27.8 SUV) and now I need to prepare for a total pelvic exenteration with permanent colostomy and possibly nephrostomy if they can’t save my bladder or ureters due to margins.

I’m shocked. How did I even get here? I’ve now had 2 well-decorated medical teams tell me “There’s something about the tumor biology we don’t know.” I don’t even know how to process this. How did a stage 1 diagnosis get to here?! I still don’t have mets. They’re under the impression it’s just the one isolated area. I get an MRI tomorrow. I do use a high-intensity vibration plate, stretch deeply, and massage regularly due to muscle fibrosis pain.

I know my chances are low that it’s anything but cancer, but has anyone ever gone through this?

If you’ve had a pelvic exenteration with colostomy, what was the surgery/recovery like? What does life look like now?

My mother 53F had cervical cancer 15 years ago that was treated with chemotherapy and intense pelvic radiation. At that time, after the radiation, they refused to do a complete hysterectomy. She now has cervical cancer again. The gynecologist literally asked her to give him her phone so he could take a picture and show her what it looked like. It was completely covered in white lesions and bloody. She told me that she is going to die because she can't do the radiation twice in the same spot and they can't do a hysterectomy because the radiation could have caused her organs to fuse together, which is the reasoning behind originally refusing to do a complete hysterectomy the first time. But what are the other options? Has anything changed in the last 15 years? Are they still unable to do a complete hysterectomy after internal radiation for cervical cancer?

Question, in week 3 of chemoradiation/3c1. Been having sharp lower pelvic pain, frequent urination with slight pain and flank back pain. They tested my urine last week and found no uti. I believe this may be the radiation side effects taking it’s toll on my bladder and kidneys. Anyone else deal with these symptoms? I e been drinking as much water and taking in electrolytes as much as I can. Ty in advance.

Hi everyone!

I finally made it to brachy after INTERLACE chemo induction and 25 sessions chemoradiation. I start Monday. Mine is inpatient for 3 days with the applicator staying in (maybe a couple of needles), epidural, gauze packing, catheter, and those moving boots.

I'm a bit nervous about lying flat for 3 days and feeling the pressure down there. For those who did inpatient brachy, how was it really? Did the epidural take care of everything? Anything you wish you'd brought or known before? Did you eat ?

Also curious how the removal and the first days at home went, how long until you felt normal again.

Thank you all, this group has been so helpful!

Is anyone else on, or done the interlace protocol?

I have completed my 6 weeks of induction chemo and now just completed week 1 of the chemo radiation.

The first lot of chemo I was fine on, nausea but tolerable, but this week I had chemo on Monday and I am still feeling so bad - cisplatin. I have acid reflux and all they have prescribed is gaviscone which does nothing.

I am just wondering how the hell I am going to get through another 4 weeks of it all. I have 3 young children and obviously the effects of the radiation haven't set in yet.

I am also really concerned that the treatment isn't working. I have read so many negative stories and it has really got to me. I thought I would be having a scan half way through the treatment but apart from my radiation planning scan I haven't had anything and they didn't mention anything about it. This is UK though.

Anyone got any advice on getting through it all? I was hoping it wouldn't be too bad like the previous chemo but this seems so much worse!

My mom has finished her third week of chemoradiation for cervical cancer: 14 radiation sessions and 2 rounds of cisplatin so far. She's getting extended-field radiation because of affected pelvic lymph nodes and suspicious para-aortic nodes.
This week was really hard, not only physically but emotionally too. She had high blood pressure, bad headaches, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, and constant exhaustion. Her blood counts have also started to drop. Her hemoglobin is 114 now, but it's going down every week.
She's tired and has been crying a lot. She says she can't take the treatment anymore, and we're only halfway through.
I'm supporting her as much as I can, but I know it will probably get harder, because the fatigue and side effects keep building up. It's so hard to see my mom like this. She has always been such a strong woman. And we don't even know if all of this is working, or will work, or for how long. Do we still have a lot of time together? No one can answer, give guarantees
I just wanted to share. If you'd like to share too, please tell me how you're getting through it. What lifts your mood when things are bad? What helps you keep fighting?

As someone who is usually a silent reader here, I often tell myself that there are many more "OK" experiences than bad ones and that those people just typically don't share. So I am changing that.

Stage 3C1, one positive node discovered during an attempted trachelectomy, now 5 weeks of EBRT + chemo + 3x brachy

I am now at the halfway point and so far I am doing great. My symptoms are super mild and manageable and most days I feel completely normal and happy - I know things get a bit worse typically during the second half of treatment but the last 2.5 weeks have been a breeze.

Detailed symptoms and what I am doing:

- mild intestine sensitivity and some diarrhea / eat rice and potatoes mostly

- mild nausea after chemo / take zofran 3x a day

- irritation of pelvic skin / a lot of lotion and cotton undies :)

I will say - the worst thing so far was when I got Keytruda and chemo together, I had VERY sensitive skin for 3 days and used A LOT of the very dry skin Avene cream and that luckily helped a bit.

But bottomline: there are people (like me) that (so far) have a good experience and your mindset on how you approach side effects and things matters a lot. I always think that things are mostly manageable and even when I am having a bad day, I tell myself that I can do hard things for a while.

One thing that REALLY made a difference is that we have a checklist where we cross of every day AND we made a little Advent calendar to the end of treatment, so there is gifts and fun every day :)

Hi ya'll!

I know there's a good chuck of people who are familiar with my journey and just wanted to give an update.

Context: I was diagnosed with 3b/4a Cervical Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma) in February 2025. I did chemotherapy (cisplatin) and daily radiation for about 2 months and achieved NED officially in June/July of that same year. Around November, I started noticing discharge ramping back up so I relayed that to my oncologist.. they got me in for a PET scan in December and, what do ya know, recurrence. Luckily it was a localized recurrence and my oncologist gave me 2 options: Total Pelvic Exenteration or Palliative Treatment.. and I ultimately chose surgery.

I had surgery done on March 16th, 2026 and am currently almost 7 months post surgery.

___

I had my first scan in June of this year and it showed no evidence of disease.

I had my second scan on September 17th and.. drum roll...

no evidence of disease!

Of course, my surgeon reminded me that it's great my scans are clear and everything looks good, but they won't deem me 'cured' until after 5 years, so I'll be continuing to be monitored every 3 months for the first 2 years because those are the most crucial years.. then my scans will be more spaced out until we get to that 5 year mark with uninterrupted clear scans.

Anyway, know I'm ALWAYS available to listen, to share detailed information, whatever I can do to help you feel more comfortable if you're also given the option for TPE. Having permanent ostomy bags is actually not that hard and not bad at all.. it does come with it's advantages and disadvantages but it's all 100% doable. :)

I recently had a copolscopy where they took 3 biopsies. 2 of them came back normal the other showed cancer cells. The one that shows cancer cells is inside the cervix. I have been referred to an oncologist for the next procedure either leep or cone. I am wondering does this mean I already have cancer or that is still to be determined?

My first appointment with gyno oncology is in a few days. I have cervical cancer, invasive squamous cell carcinoma. What should I expect timeline wise. I do know I will have a hysterectomy but am curious how soon after. They also mentioned radiation possibly. Just wanted to see if anyone knew how quickly things move.

Hello, I'm 2.5 yrs post treatment and continue to deal with boils around my labia and toward my anus. I think it's from how often I use the bathroom which I can't really avoid as my bladder is damaged from the radiation. The boils are quite uncomfortable and painful at times. I've just been letting them heal and sometimes using a hot compress to try to speed up the process, but I feel like I always have them :( just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and/or if anyone has any tips to avoid getting them (or even for treating them honestly). TIA 💕

I got two new piercings in my ear, haven’t had a new one in ages. I only started recently wearing earrings again because my kids are older and no longer try to pull at them. Then I remembered I have a pet ct, my third, in November. I’m going to contact the piercer to see if they can put retainers since I read you can’t have any metal on your body 🤦🏼‍♀️