Age 57 Post-Radiation from Stage III C1 Cervical Adenocarcinoma

These photos are from a 57-year-old woman currently in remission from Stage III cervical adenocarcinoma.

Chronologic reproductive, menstrual, and contraceptive history 

  • Reproductive years: regular periods lasting a few days.
  • Before pregnancy (pre-46 years): used combined oral contraceptive pills.
  • Age 46: two miscarriages.
  • Age 47: gave birth vaginally to a healthy son after natural conception. She had undergone an unsuccessful IVF cycle the month before conception.
  • Postpartum: had a Mirena IUD (levonorgestrel intrauterine device) in place for 6 years.
  • Menopause: menstrual cycles ceased between 2020–2021.
  • 2021: started estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal symptoms.

Pap/HPV and colposcopy history 

  • 2005: LEEP procedure.
  • 2008: NILM (negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy).
  • 2009: LGSIL, HPV negative; colposcopy → CIN 1.
  • 2010: High-risk HPV positive, cytology unsatisfactory; colposcopy → CIN 1.
  • 2011: Colposcopy → CIN 1.
  • 2012: HPV positive for type 16; colposcopy → CIN 1.
  • 2013: HPV high-risk type 16 positive; colposcopy → atypia.
  • 2014: Colposcopy performed.
  • 2015: NILM, HPV negative.
  • 2016: NILM, HPV negative.
  • 2021: NILM, HPV negative.
  • 2023: NILM, HPV negative.
  • April 2025: Cytology/pathology reported adenocarcinoma, HPV high-risk type 16.

Cervical cancer diagnosis and staging

  • April 2025: Diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma, staged as Stage III C1 (tumor with spread to pelvic lymph nodes).
    • Primary lesion: approximately 2 inches (≈5 cm) on the cervix.
    • Nodal involvement: cancer identified in two pelvic lymph nodes.

Surgical and oncologic treatment timeline

  • May 2025: Surgery performed — removal of the affected pelvic lymph nodes and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (ovaries and fallopian tubes removed). 
  • June–August 2025: External beam radiation therapy combined with weekly cisplatin chemotherapy for six weeks.
  • July–August 2025: Brachytherapy (internal radiation) administered.
  • Post-radiation: Started immunotherapy with pembrolizumab (Keytruda); this is ongoing.
  • Surveillance PET scans: October 2025 and March 2026 — both consistent with remission.

Current status 

  • Imaging: PET scans (Oct 2025, Mar 2026) show remission!
  • Ongoing care: receiving pembrolizumab immunotherapy and continued oncology follow-up and surveillance.

What you see in the Photos – Post-treatment cervical appearance 

  • These photos of her cervix show mild scattered telangiectasias (dilated blood vessels) and mucosal atrophy (thinning of tissue), changes that are consistent with prior radiation therapy.

     

     

     

    5 Months Post-Radiation

    Note mild scattered telangiectasia (dilated blood vessels). Cervix is a slit shape due to vaginal childbirth.

    5 Months Post-Radiation closeup

    Clear speculum holding open vaginal tissue. The surface of the cervix has blotches of red telangiectasia (dilated blood vessels) caused by radiation.

    7 Months, 15 Days Post-Radiation

    Scattered red spots on cervix are mild telangiectasia (dilated blood vessels). Oncologist noted mucosal atrophy (thinning of tissue), also caused by radiation treatment. She is in remission.

    7 Months, 21 Days Post-Radiation

    The red blotches below the os are dilated or broken blood vessels called telangiectasia and were caused by radiation treatment.