i was diagnosed in 2002 with a rare cervical cancer...had a radical hysterectomy...no treatments...then in 2005 it returned this time in my vagina...i had 8 weeks of radiation and chemo...then had a cone implant in the vagina for 3 days...and since i love to laugh and make others laugh i cracked a few jokes while the docs were down there doing there thing...since i was in a long distance relationship at the time they told me after the radiation to insert a white candle in the vagina to help keep it open since radiation in the pelvic area can shrink it (yeah)... i said why cant i use a mulberry candle cause it smells better...and was i supposed to light it once i got it in...i think having a positive attitude means so much when you have cancer...sure it's scary and you think oh no i'm going to die...those are normal feelings when you are diagnosed...but you have to get thru that and say i have this disease and i'm gonna deal with it...when the doctor was telling me the possible treatments for vaginal cancer could be taking out my vagina, i told him "well you had better cut me another one" cause i aint giving up sex...:-) i have 3 month checkups now and so far Thank God everything had been good... so never give up...when there is LIFE there is HOPE!

I am surviving cancer. I too, was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had the "candle" talk. I think to this date, it is quite possibly the funniest thing that anyone has ever talked to me about. We decided (my husband and I) to forgo the candle and got a BIG purple substitute instead. Definitely more fun
While my cancer has spread, I still have a very positive outlook. I don't believe that this is it. I can't. I am currently in a clinical study that seems to be stabilizing my cancers growth. And your line about life equating to hope...is completely true.
Hope is a thing that perches in your soul and sings the tunes without words and never stops.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kim g,

lololol- mulberry candle? I would have laughed at that joke- good one
I am a one year survivor of cervical cancer. I am in remission, but I was given a set of dilators to use to keep my vagina from scarring. I was also told to use moisturizers and vitamin e gel to help heal the burn from radiation. And I too, use a big blue substitute
Its nice to "meet" you girls, as I dont meet many women with CC. Take care and god bless.
Julie

Well I'm certainly glad to see other cervical cancer survivors. I was diagnosed earlier this year and did the whole radiation, chemo & even had internal radiation. So far so good. The docs can't find anything right now. I agree that a cheery, positive outlook can only help us get through this horrible time in our lives (helps to have a great support system too). My doctor gave me a dilator also to keep everything from "shrinking" too much, my husband is getting a kick out of this whole thing.... Never heard of the candle idea, but would much rather have a "substitute" would be more fun than a candle ... Keep up all of our good fights ladies.

Tonya