Stage 3b cervical cancer treatment question...?
So I know someone who told me that they had stage 3 cervical cancer. When I asked about her treatment she said they took part of the cervix, gave her a low dose chemo pill,pain killers and a high dose antibiotic. I may sound ignorant but shouldn't they have done radiotherapy or even a hysterectomy and why would she need an antibiotic?? She's my sister....and she's had two children since....and fibromyalgia,cfs kidney problem, liver problems and now claiming to have leikemia...just wanted to know about the radiation since everything Ive read indicates that as part of the treatment and no mention of antibiotics anywhere.... Thank you ...believe it or not you have been helpful...this happened in 1998-99...
Cancer - 2 Answers
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1 :
This is probably not the whole story, but unless you're a super close friend, she may not be ready to tell the whole truth (which is her right). Even if she told you this, she may not have been prepared for questions about it. If she did have a hysterectomy and she's young, this is tremendously emotionally upsetting to know she can't have kids and has just lost her "womanhood". Radiation is often not an option for many reasons. And on the antibiotics, this is common with people on chemo. Chemo destroys the immune system and the antibiotics help prevent against infection, which can be deadly for people on chemo.
2 :
Her explanation is not typical treatment for stage 3 disease. She should have had a hysterectomy and even then it is not possible to get clear surgical margins, so she should also have chemo with radiation sensitizers and maximum dose radiation. Treating these cancers with chemo alone only produces a short term response in 10-30% of patients. Clearly she is leaving something out. She just may not be ready to do so.
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Title : Stage 3b cervical cancer treatment question
Description : Stage 3b cervical cancer treatment question...? So I know someone who told me that they had stage 3 cervical cancer. When I asked about h...