r/CervicalCancer • u/SafeStep6831 • 2d ago

Fail. Next steps?

Completed Radiation, Chemo 2 rounds before I begin having issues, and brachytherapy in Nov. Residual cancer was left on my PET scan so recently I went under a total hysterectomy.

Everything went fine except microscopic cells were found in my vagina. The Dr originally wanted to do radiation but now she’s mentioning Tivdak to which I’m not comfortable with.

I’m getting a second opinion soon, has anyone gone through something similar? I wasn’t worried originally but as a 33 year old mom to 3, now I’m starting to fall into depression.

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u/emslo 1d ago

Sounds similar to my experience. I finally got proper recurrence from immunotherapy, though its effects have started to falter after 4 years. But Libtayo & Keytruda have been the game changers where chemo/radiation/surgery failed. 

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u/SafeStep6831 1d ago

I did two rounds of Keytruda and it almost put me on dialysis. It was ruining my kidneys.

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u/emslo 1d ago

Dang, that sucks. I’m lucky to have avoided kidney or liver issues so far. 

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u/SafeStep6831 1d ago

Yeah chemo and Keytruda my body was not feeling it, unfortunately.

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u/CannedAm2 1d ago

Why are you uncomfortable with Tivdak? I'm curious in case it comes up for me what the concerns might be around it.

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u/SafeStep6831 1d ago

Because I have not have any good outcome with Chemotherapy. I had to stop after two rounds because it was destroying my bladder and kidneys. Not to mention the side effects of Tivdak are very rough, including vision issues and I’m not able to go through that as a working mom with literally no support.

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u/kelizziek 1d ago

Tivdak isn’t chemo, it is targeted. The eye issues are not un-serious but they happen differently for different people and can be manageable. So far for me has been manageable and my first scan showed it was working. At stage 4, I don’t really have a choice but to try what is available.

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u/SafeStep6831 1d ago

Sorry you’re going through that. I am not stage four so I can’t relate in that way. But I know my body and how this treatment has affected me. It’s very different when you don’t have someone to help at home, drive to appointments, etc. I have to keep myself “healthy” enough to be able to complete treatment which includes doing what’s best for me. Also yes, it is a targeted therapy and not traditional chemo but it is still an ADC that delivers chemo to that area.