Donna,
Brachytherapy is fairly uncommon here, only a few that I know of have had it. I would guess that the side effects would be reduced due to the local very nature of the treatment. Especially since it uses gamma rather than ionizing radiation.

I know even less about HDR brachytherapy.

Most of the side effect studies have been done for prostate cancer.

This link may help:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/e...list_uids=11958887&dopt=AbstractPlus

For me... 4 weeks post treatment my weight had dropped to about 9olb... I would sleep, wake up, puke, feed, puke, sleep, wake up, puke..... I think you get it. I couldn't walk to the bathroom without ricocheting down the hall way. I was so weak, low blood pressuare, wasting away, oh my gosh! & completely uncoperative with my family and loved ones who were just trying to help. I don't think doctors explain just how bad it can get post treatment.
But on a good note, i'm great now! Working full time and setting up my own business. For me things didn't start to improve until 12 weeks post Tx.
I do hope things start to look up for your mum soon though.
Michelle

[quote]The general rule is one month of recovery for each week of treatment.[/quote]Double ditto that. Recovery from radiation is a beeyatch. Like my RO told me, IT'S ALL ABOUT NUTRITION. I made it without a PEG, but had a tough time choking down 4 cans of Ensure every day, four 4 1/2 months, I ate no solid food.

1) Nutrition
2) Treat depression (Wellbutrin works for me)
3) Thyroid dysfunction coming down the pike

Best,
Riley

Thank you all so much for your input. It is so helpful. We had a good weekend - a physical therapist came in to help my mom. He will be coming twice a week to help her regain her strength, along with an occupational therapist. Baby steps are definitely the way forward, and although I am sure there will be some not so good days, I really appreciate the days that were better than the last. It is amazing how much I view an 8 minute walk as an accomplishment, and just have to hope that it is a sign of good things to come.

We have spent so much time in the last week evaluating her living situation. I know that she wants to go back to her own home, which I can entirely appreciate. I think we are to the point now where we are working to get her back there full time after her scans and appointment on 10/10. We will have to hire a full time, 24x7 nurse to live with her for at least a few weeks, but it is the only way it will work. This, of course, is the thought with the scan outcome being as good as it can be. I still cannot believe that the insurance company told us that they will not pay for 24x7 care and that they "expect family and friends to manage that". (This could be a whole different topic, and one that I do not dare venture into). I am just thankful that we have the resources to do that for a little while.

Thank you again. Donna, if you are reading this I am thinking of you and your mom today. I really hope everything goes well!

Amy

Good to hear you all are going forward- there wil be lots of reality checks along the way. And you just might have to "take on her Ins.Co., so let us know how that is progressing. Amy in the Ozarks