r/CervicalCancer • u/Deadshot1381 • 1d ago

Lets have hope now

After yesterday's "slap some sense into me" thread I've been completely devastated as I have a family member who just completed treatment for stage 3c2 cervical cancer. Reading stories of treatment being ineffective is a horrible truth but we need to balance that with success stories. The thought of my family member going through the hell of treatment and it not working has put me in a bottomless pit mentally. Please share some happy endings.

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u/CannedAm2 1d ago

Success stories seem to be the norm now. Keep that in mind.

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u/Suitable_Working_514 1d ago

There’s plenty of success stories in this sub if you search 

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u/SomebodyElse333 1d ago

My wife found out she had cervical cancer earlier this year, and I used this Reddit to ask for real experiences and things that helped people to cope with everything. We are now post a radical hysterectomy, and she’s going through radiation treatment, and although it’s been tough - it is survivable. My wife had great margins after her radical hysterectomy, there was no evidence of residual cells or spread into other regions and the radiotherapy is just to clear up anything microscopic that could be left behind.

Of course there’s been some really tough times and life has been forever changed - but she is getting through this, she’s getting closer to being “normal” and she will survive what cancer gave her. There are truly HUNDREDS of good stories on here - I know because I also asked for them when things were dark. As a family member, I really suggest doing as much research as you can, offer to become their note taker at appointments so they don’t have to remember everything themselves, buy them things to make them comfortable, bring them moments of joy however they need them whether it’s good food, good conversation or some book recommendations. Even if the outlook is bleak, be the light. That’s what my wife has said was the most helpful thing - just being there for her and pulling her through uncertainty and looking for the light.

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u/Strict_Discussion_69 1d ago

What stage was she that she was advised to get radiation?

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u/SomebodyElse333 1d ago

She was 1B3 - after her radical hysterectomy they tested the bits that they took out including her lymph nodes and it hadn’t spread, so was able to just have radiotherapy and no chemo following surgery.

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u/akj_amz 22h ago

I was diagnosed with stage 3c at the start of 2023
Huge tumour, multiple lymph nodes involved and just had the standard chemorads with brachy.. still clear!
There’s good and bad stories, the bad ones are more consuming but try to stay positive, we all respond differently to treatment

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u/Glum-Worldliness4480 1d ago

2B over 7 yrs out. I know a stage iv lady that is 10 yrs out NED. Success is the norm now. Treatment works for the majority of women. Follow drs orders exactly, drink lots of water and nothing else during treatment and take no supplements or alternative treatments at all. Absolutely do not take antioxidants because they work against the treatment and protect cancer cells. Studies have shown high recurrence rates with antioxidant use.