Hello, I just had a total Da Vinci hysterectomy on 4/10/14 because of endometrial cancer, stage 1b, grade 2. They took 59 lymph nodes and they were negative. The Doctor is recommending radiation to the upper area of the vagina only as a precaution to lower the risk from 15% to 1% of the cancer coming back in the vagina. My cervix wasn t affected. I would prefer not to get radiation unless a pap smear shows there are cell changes or cancer in that area. Would you suggest that it would be a good idea to avoid radiation for right now. I would like to avoid radation side effects and the radiation effects on lymphedema.
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. In my opinion you should take radiotherapy (radiation) in upper part of vagina. The reason is to decrease the local site recurrence. In hysterectomy surgery, due to tumor handling chances of tumor spillage are high in lower part of peritoneal cavity. So due to these chances of local recurrence are high. So to prevent this radiation is needed. Nowadays brachytherapy is newer option of radiation.  In this small pallets of radioactive material are locally inserted at desired site. It will release radiation to the specific site. So by this technique side effects are reduced. So discuss this with your oncologist.