Am I doing the right thing??

Hi
I am having my hyster and repairs due mainly to my prolapses but before the surgeon realised Ive had 2 bouts of pre cancerous cells removed from my cervix he was looking at trying to just do the repairs and try to leave the womb. When I pointed out to him the previous problems with my cervix he agreed that it was probably best to remove the uterus then
However the last bout of pre cancerous cells were found over 4 years ago and I wonder if it is a good enough reason to take the uterus and cervix. What do you girls think?? I wouldnt want to regret having the hyster if I didnt really have to have it done in the first place!
Alison

Hi.

Wow. I guess with some of the doubts you are having, my suggestion would be to either speak further with your current doc about your questions or better yet....get another opinion from another specialist.

When you have doubts, I believe you need to dig your heels in a bit and research more on what is concerning or confusing you.

Cancer is scary. I hope that maybe some sisters here who have possibly dealt with cancer issues, can shed some light here for you. I am one of the lucky ones that has not had cancer problems.

You might get a lot more responses if you posted on the post-op boards. Women who have had similar circumstances, have gone through the surgery and have some personal experiences to share. Check with one of the moderators to see if this post is something that could be placed into the postop boards.

I hope you can get more info on your questions and possibly another opinion as to what would be the next best step for you.

Best wishes,

Sarah

I'm sorry I don't have any real answer for you, but I'm hoping other ladies who have had issues such as yours will come forth with their experiences.

The only thing I can suggest is to get additional medical opinions if you're not sure -- and it sounds like you aren't.

Hi, Alison...

That's a tough one, isn't it?

I notice that you have 4 kids. Do you want more? Is preserving your fertility an issue?

What happened before with your precancercous cells on your cervix? Did you have to have them removed?

I had carcinoma in situ on my cervix (had it removed with a LEEP) 14 months before my hyst. My doc talked me into keeping my cervix, I suspect because he wanted to do a robotically assisted surgery (very high tech!), and if he had done a LAVH he wouldn't have gotten to use the robot.

I very much regret that decision. I've had 6 months of mini periods and a lot of cramping. Next week I'm going to have my cervix removed by my old doc who treated me during my pregnancies. He was hopping mad when he found out this other doc had left my cervix given my particular history. We are removing it now because I'm having other problems as well, and while we're in there.....

The thing about those pre-cancerous cells is that they can behave themselves for years and years, and then for whatever reason start causing you problems. So, if you don't want to ever worry about cervical cancer again, I guess I'd have the total hyst. On the other hand, cervical cancer is *usually* slow growing and can be caught before it does any damage if you are faithful about getting your paps. In my case, I went for 20+ years of perfectly normal paps to carcinoma in situ (pre-invasive cancer) in one year. That's scares me! So, since I'm having another surgery anyway, I'm going to use this opportunity to remove the cervix and the worry. I'm 42 and done having kids, so fertility was not an issue for me.

I would get more opinions, but I think that most docs feel that if you're doing surgery anyway, it makes sense to remove a potential future cancer risk area. You are considered higher risk because you've had bad paps before.

But, you don't have to. If you're comfortable continuing to monitor your cervix, go for it. Just know that just because you haven't had problems for 4 years, it does not mean you will not have problems in the future. That virus that causes cervical problems (HPV) never leaves your body once you have it. Chances are good that it will behave itself. But, sometimes it doesn't!

If only we could see the future!

Good luck with your decision and feel free to PM me if you want to talk more.



Margot

Thankyou Margot(what a lovely name)
I am going to have the hysterectomy. I am done having kids and have a huge problem with most forms of contraeception, The only thing that used to agree with me now makes me bleed all month!! I am gonna go for it, in for a penny in for a pound!! ( that may be a saying only used here in UK).
I had 2 loop excisions for the pre cancerous cells they were cin II.
may I wish Myou all the best for your surgery and recovery.
You helped me to decide as i do not want to have to go through another op in 5 or 10 years.
Alison

Alison,

So glad to have helped! Your decision makes a lot of sense to me...no more need for birth control, no more periods and no more worry about cervical cancer. (Actually, there are many who believe that you should continue getting paps even if you don't have a cervix anymore....there is still a small chance of vaginal cancer because of that darn HPV).

Good luck with your surgery. You'll feel so much better after you're healed. Thanks for your kind wishes. By the way, what *does* "in for a penny, in for a pound" mean?!



Margot