So 1 year since initial treatment for stage 3b. First treatment was 5 cisplatin, 25 external radiation and 5 brachy. Been on keytruda every 6 weeks since. Recent CT scans (due to appendicitis) show a 2.5 cm mass on my cervix. Last pet scan in December showed still decreasing uptake (down to nearly nothing). Onc scheduled early pet scan for next week due to the mass showing on my CT. She isnt sure whether its scarring, fatty dead tumor tissue or active tumor returning. Obviously im panicking about it being active tumor cells.
I was hoping maybe some of you lovely ladies would be willing to share your experiences with recurrence so I could get a clearer picture of my options if this is a recurrence. Im curious about the second line treatments and how efficient they are at being possibly curative. Im 41 and my dr has said she does not just want to do chemo treatment to "extend" my time. She wants curative options for me which may include finding a surgeon willing to do a hysterectomy on a patient who has had radiation before. Apparently we are considered high risk. Idk.
I think im just looking for a little bit of positivity and hope. Lord knows ive been thru all the scary negative possibilities in my mind already. I dont want to feel like recurrence is a death sentence. But its hard not to feel that way. Im also anxious because my body did not handle treatment well the first time. I dropped to 85 lbs. Couldnt eat. Couldnt function. They actually couldnt give me my last 2 doses of cisplatin because I had dropped like 25% of my.body weight within 4 weeks. So im extremely nervous about the thought of possibly having to go thru treatment again
I know I am kinda putting the cart before the horse. I dont have my pet scan results yet. But if this process has taught me anything its that being informed and prepared makes all the difference.
So if anyone is willing to share their stories or info regarding recurrence and treatment, I would be greatly appreciative.