Are TAH and Radical the same thing?

I know it really doesn't matter, in the grand scheme of things, but I just want to make sure I have the 'lingo' correct.

I am having everything removed, which I'm guessing is considered a Radical. It's being done Abdominally, which is where I think I have the two confused.

Am I making any sense, or am I rambling?

Thanks!

Hi there! The acronyms and names are sometimes confusing -- so don't worry a bit about it!

What you're having is a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo oophorectomy -- the acronym for this is TAH/BSO. Any time you're having the uterus and cervix removed, it's considered to be a "total hysterectomy" because the word hysterectomy refers to the removal of the uterus, and the cervix is actually part of the uterus. Thus, my surgery was a TAH even though I didn't have my ovaries removed.

It's only a "partial hysterectomy" if the cervix remains after surgery, and then it's called a supracervical hysterectomy.

When a radical hysterectomy is chosen, it's usually because advanced cervical cancer is present, and this procedure includes removal of part of the upper vagina and surrounding tissues. So there's quite a difference between "total" and "radical". You'd know if the doctors were planning a radical hysterectomy for you because they'd tell you it was a radical procedure.

Hope this helps.