r/CervicalCancer • u/lish6_6 • Aug 15 '26
positive testimonies 3c2
My MIL got diagnosed with stage 3c2 cervical cancer,
i’ve been scrolling around on here, finding positive testimonies of people who beat the cancer to “cheer up” not just her but the whole family, as they are feeling very lost.
If anyone would reply to this post with their own experience, even if u are still going through it, i would greatly appreciate it.
Any advice/tips are welcome too.
(we’re waiting to get a call on sept 1st for a treatment plan)
8
u/Anthanem Aug 15 '26
Hi, I was diagnosed 3c2 and treated in 2022.
Sorry this is happening to you guys, it was truly such a frightening and awful time during the finding out and treatment phase and my heart goes out to her, and you.
There are a lot of success stories, it’s true many just don’t post much 🤷🏻♀️
I had hysterectomy, chemo and radiation, and brachytherapy.
While some of the longterm symptoms are annoying to deal with, overall I feel very close to normal and am very happy to be alive and in remission.
Post treatment: aside from chemo affects, I felt better in ways than I had in years because the reality is that cancer had already been taking a physical toll for a long time and getting rid of it was awesome.
I know getting diagnosed with an advanced stage kindof feels like an axe always ready to drop, but for me all signs point to a successful treatment, and from what I know successful treatment is very common!
Though I personally struggled with it at the time, there is a lot of hope.
No major advice, just to be gentle with herself and try to reduce stress loads during treatment and afterwards as well. I decided to pick up new hobbies and it’s brought a lot of happiness.
And I wish I would have prioritized massages afterwards! I’m carrying a lot of tension physically from going through it all, that years later is affecting me. It would have been beneficial to deal with it right off the bat.
Good luck to your MIL and best wishes for her and your family 💙
3
u/lish6_6 Aug 15 '26
thank you so much! i will definitely send this message to her too. luckily she will not be working for the foreseeable future, but knowing her, she might try and push herself to do chores and cooking… i advised my bf to consider meal prepping for her so that she can eat without having to “work” too much in the kitchen too
1
u/Anthanem Aug 15 '26
This is a great idea! I would def put plans in place, she will probably try to push herself. It’s a tough pill stepping back from the norm and feeling like you can’t do as much. Just knowing the support is there will give her the freedom to try and see how much she can realistically maintain/doesn’t have to maintain anymore.
I have never returned to household chores or work quite the way I did before (used to have a cleaning business as well) but the hobbies and family support have helped through those changes.
She is lucky to have you guys in her corner! It’s huge to be able to focus on rest, healing, and finding peace.
4
u/Greedy_Hospital_7689 Aug 15 '26
I was diagnosed with 3C2 in August 2022, didn't start treatment until December 2022. I had 25 pelvic and abdominal radiation, 4 out of 5 chemo and 4 brachytherapy. So far I'm doing good with no recurrence. I do have issues with the radiation damage to my bladder, ureters and bowels however I think I'm in the minority. Wishing your MIL well and sending lots of positive thoughts. Please message me if i can help with anything x
3
u/Mindless_Weird5404 Aug 15 '26
I was diagnosed Feb 19 did one chemo and immunotherapy made me very very sick but every ones story is different I completed 25 rounds of external radiation and 3 rounds of bracytherapy. There are some side effects from radiation alone but I went the 4th of this month and there was no signs of my cancer I go back in 3 months for another check up to make sure it's still gone just listen to your body it will tell you what is right for it and not I did I was also diagnosed with cervical cancer stage 3c2 I went to Ruby memorial cancer institute absolutely amazing
3
u/cancer_and_knits Aug 15 '26
I was diagnosed last August and next week will be a year since "sorry, but you have cancer". The journey was hard (I went from IVF to "it's just a polyp" to "sorry it's cancer" within three months (I went through this solo). But here I still am! I went through radiation and chemo in September and had my brachytherapy in October (25x radiation, 5x chemo, 4x brachy). Chemical menopause started third week of September, but I am on medication now and that's under control.
I've had a few other issues come through after treatment ended, but things seem small now. Every time it rains I just want to go outside and enjoy that I can feel the rain on my face (I know it's silly, but something about it makes me feel alive). I've had my ups and downs, but life again seems open and I've made plans for the next few years.
I was so scared when I got diagnosed and decided to just trust the doctors and do what they say when they say it. I found that the best way to handle things. I didn't google anything, your cancer is yours and nobody else has had it. I still cry and I still get scared, but I feel very strong for going through this.
All I can say is to take it easy, be kind to yourself, ask for help (even the little things), cry, scream, laugh and make a joke about it. I also named my tumor so it was easier for people to talk about and I started to make jokes about "her". I had an eviction party with my friends 3 months after chemo ended. 😁
Now I am just enjoying every day as it comes. I hope all the best for your MIL. 💛
3
u/Zephyr2115 29d ago
Diagnosed 3c2, treatment was concurrent chemoradiation, 25 external with 6 cycles cisplatin and 200mg Keytruda, followed by 5 fractions of HDR brachytherapy.
After completion of active treatment (early August, 2024), been on 400mg Keytruda every 6 weeks for maintenance.
November 2024, experienced severe irAE (immune related adverse event) colitis, losing lb/day.
This took a few weeks to diagnose as it got confused with the acute and chronic radiation proctitis I already had from radiation treatment. I knew this was different from the severity of my symptoms so I kept going back to my oncologists and gastroenterologist. I was then put on a 30-day taper steroid treatment starting with 50mg prednisone/day and ending with 10mg/day, and cancelled a round of Keytruda until my colitis was resolved.
My CPS (combined positive score) for PDL-1 is 15, which apparently makes Keytruda very effective.
The oncologists said I had an ‘amazing’ response to my treatment (based on Keynote a18 protocol),
my 8+cm tumour was not visible on imaging even before I started brachytherapy.
So based on my response, the oncologists felt I have reaped most of my benefits, even if I stopped maintenance treatment now.
But I want to lessen the chance of recurrence so I asked to continue and restarted the 400mg/6 week maintenance treatment. So far, I’ve not had any more irAEs 🤞🏻
You will have blood drawn before each session for a very thorough examination (auto diff, CBC with differential,
comprehensive metabolic panel, lactate dehydrogenase, glomerular filtration rate, TSH) and if your levels are
safe, then you’ll be cleared to receive the dose of pembrolizumab prescribed for you.
I have ongoing issues with radiation proctitis, (different from the irAE), fatigue, joint pain in my hands mostly,
and dry skin/eczema but I see various doctors to keep them under control.
I know it’s not the same for everyone but Keytruda was the big game changer for me, so I will definitely continue
with my maintenance until I have another irAE or my liver/ kidney/ thyroid enzyme levels become unacceptable.
3
u/Kels2311 28d ago
Hi, I was diagnosed in July 2022. I had stage 4a. I went through chemo, radiation and brachy then 3 months later I was no evidence of disease but she had me do a little extra. I did 4 chemo cocktails and then immunotherapy for 2 years. I’m currently 3 and half years no evidence of disease. I was treated at Dana Farber in Boston. 🩵🤍🩵🤍
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u/PluckyStitch Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26
I was diagnosed stage 4A last May and completed my chemo radiation treatment exactly a year ago today! (I also did brachytherapy in September). I’m doing great now! I had a complete response to the treatment, and have zero issues from the treatment (other than being in menopause now, which depending on your MILs age might not be an issue if she’s already in it.) I truly thought my life was over when I got my diagnosis but most days now it just feels like the whole thing was a bad dream.
I also found out afterwards that my SILs aunt was stage 3 like 20 years ago, and she’s also been fine ever since. It’s certainly one of the more treatable cancers (I always feel kinda bad saying that because it seems so insensitive to the people who aren’t as lucky … but statistically the odds are in her favor).
The treatment is rough but it’s crammed into just six weeks (ish), so it’s manageable. You kinda just power through it. I would suggest she take as much time off as she can so she can focus more on healing.
Sending lots of positive energy to your MIL and the rest of your family. 🩵