Radiation & Gastric Bypass

I am 35 and I had a TAH on 3/10/04 for uterine cancer at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA.

Surgery went well, recovery is going along fine.

They found a tumor in my uterius, polycistic ovaries, plus loads of fibrods on uterius. The tumor turned out to be more agressive than the typical uterine cancer so they've recommended RADIATION therapy.

Tomorrow I see Dr. Singh, Radiation Oncologist.

My question is, I had a gastric bypass last year. With all the side effects I'm reading about potential damage to the intestines, has any radiation patients out there (1) had a gastric bypass and (2) any intestinal issues due to radiation?

Thanks!

Be well

I don't know much about radiation, the doctors have recommended that to me as well. I'm supposed to receive it in a month. Most everyone on the site I've spoken to haven't had major side effects other than diarhhea which can be treated with Immodium AD. Personally, its 3 weeks post-op for my TAH and I still can't get my bowells working correctly.

((((candlelady))))
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Hope this helps a little. Lambie

I, too, had external radiation and in radiating the pelvic area, my doctor explained that they're most concerned about the bowels and bladder. Am I right that it was your stomach which was operated on with the gastric bypass? If so, I'm sure that it's too far from the tumor field.

I experienced a lot of bowel and bladder problems, but my last radiation treatment was mid-August of last year and once all the treatment was done, I healed up very nicely.

BIG suggestion: Whenever you encounter a new side effect of radiation, get in that doctor's face! Tell them what you're dealing with and get whatever prescription they can give you.

I was undergoing chemo at the same time that I was getting the radiation therapy. Some of the drugs they give you for chemo cause constipation.

There were days that I'd be constipated and then have a bout of diarrhea. Oy! I didn't know that was possible! I developed hemmorhoids (and did you know that there are drugs for hemmorhoids? I didn't). I got radiation uritis. You name it, I had it. Drugs helped. A lot.

Good luck to you.

I work on a floor where we have many post-op gastric bypass patients. In a gastric bypass they reroute the small intestine; radiation for uterine cancer usually affects only the large intestine. You might have to be even more careful about dumping syndrome than usual, and keep your fluid intake up higher than a person who hasn't had a bypass, but it really shouldn't affect the rerouted bowel.

Thanks to all for your helpful responses.

I've lost almost 200 lbs with the gastric bypass so radiation shouldn't be hard, right? That is what I am hoping.

My Uterine cancer was caught early (stage 1B) but the tumor was verrrryyy agressive. Everyone tells me that they've never seen such an agressive tumor in uterince cancer. Thank God that it was caught early!

Treatments start on 4/28 and will last 6 weeks.

I will drink lots of fluids and watch out for dumping. Sort of looking forward to loose bowels as I'm still having constipation issues. Maybe that'll clear out the system :-)

Gotta find the silver lining somewhere!

Be well,
Kristen

Total radical hyst. - 3/10/04 State 1B Uterine Cancer.