Cancer or not?

i had my TAH on 1/26/09 i went back to the dr. he said the lab work came back showing i HAD cancer cells does this mean i had cancer he said he got it all i'm confused when family ask do i say yes i did or no i didn't have cancr please help

Hi robin22134 and

I think it would be a good idea to ask your medical provider the very same question you asked in your post. Your doctor can explain this to you so that, in turn, you will then be able to inform your family members accurately.

I am a cancer patient myself so I understand that loved ones want to know your status with regard to this disease.

Many s and Best Wishes,

It is normal to be confused when first hearing the "C" word. Ask your Dr. for a thorough explanation of what was found, what was done, and what you can expect. It might help to go to this meeting with a tape recorder (although some Dr's might not want to be taped) or at the very least, a caring friend who can help you ask all your questions (you might get confused again in the office....that is a normal response to stress) and write down all the answers. If you have a decent and caring Dr., you won't be rushed, you deserve to get your questions answered clearly, even if the answer is "we don't know". I received a "C" diagnosis many years ago, I remember the confusion and "stupidness" that overcame me whenever I talked about it with my Dr. I had to ask the same question several times, I was lucky that my Dr. was patient, it would have been better for me if I had brought someone with me who could help me in this way. Good luck to you. Mindy

I often wondered if a person had cancer cells, did they have cancer and what now? best thing is to ask your doctor and that way you will know for sure, write the questions you have so do dont forget them when you are speaking to him.

pls, let us know what he say, praying all goes well

I'm hoping, I'm remembering this correctly from my nursing days........

If you had CANCEROUS cells and your doc says he/she got it all with surgery, then yes... you PROBABLY had (early stage?) cancer. (I did!)

If you had PRE-CANCEROUS cells and your doc says he/she got it all with surgery, then no... you did not YET have cancer, but it could eventually turn into it. (Sometimes, in some pre-cancerous conditions, the body's immune system can eliminate the cells on it's own.)

To be sure, I'd recommend that you ask your surgeon for clarification, in plain english. Also, ask for a copy of the pathology report (call ahead and ask a staff member to prepare a copy for your next visit) and have your doc show you or highlight the area that mentions your organ's condition.