Endometrial cancer dx/query re recovery from surgery

Was just diagnosed from ob/gyn and have appt with ob/oncologist on 8/22. This site is very helpful to know there are others going through the same issues.

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Originally Posted by kamich52 Was just diagnosed from ob/gyn and have appt with ob/oncologist on 8/22. This site is very helpful to know there are others going through the same issues.

Hi Kamich52 and welcome to the group. I was diagnosed last Friday with a rare form of uterine cancer, called MMMT and I have my first visit to the GYN/ONC on this coming Monday. This site has been so helpful to me in reading the various posts, and I know that you will find lots of help here as well. Just knowing that somebody has gone thru the same thing and can answer questions allows for a little peace of mind.

Bonnie

I just got my surgery date of Sept 10. The doctor feels that it is early stage and a very good chance of being confined to the uterus and that taking out everything will take care of it. I think my biggest questions is the recovery and how quickly you are getting back to some sense of normalcy.

Hi Kamich:

Sorry to hear about your dx, but it sounds like it was caught early which is good news. The earlier it's caught, the better.

As for recovery, that is totally relative. We are all different and we all recover differently. It takes some longer than others (like me - I'm a "slow healer" according to my doc) and there are women who recover very quickly.

I had to have further treatment - radiation - so that really slowed my recovery. Hopefully, you won't need any further treatments so yours may be quick.

Hugs and prayers that your cancer was caught early and that you have a speedy and uneventful recovery.

Hi Kamich, I am sorry you are facing surgery but an early dx with endometrial cancer, as your's appears to be, often can mean the surgery alone can be the cure.
Recovery speed depends upon the individual and many factors can play into this too including your overall physical conditon before surgery, age, and of course how fast your body normally heals. This is major abdominal surgery so a six week initial healing period is considered the norm; during this time one needs to limit their activities considerably, avoid lifting over a certain weight, get lots of rest while taking intermittant walks, etc. It can take up to a year to fully recovery. In my case while I felt well and could return to my normal activities after about 6/7 weeks, I did not get my full energy (and I am a high energy person) back for over a year. I just tired more easily after even doing strenuous house work, etc.
Good luck with your surgery and pls keep us posted.
s

I would agree with everything PeggieSue said, and would add that recovery will also depend on whether you and your doctor(s) decide on an abdominal approach or a Laprascopic type surgery.

BOTH types seem to require a minimum of 6 weeks to return to almost normal activities of daily living, and BOTH will require up to a year to feel fully normal again, but the laprascopic approach can give you a slightly easier immediate post-operative experience.

Tomorrow will be a week since my TLH/BSO (DaVinci assisted), and I am beginning to be able to do without narcotics. Some people come off narcotics earlier.. but not me.

The main problem with Lap type surgeries is that you can feel so good so early, that you can overdo and give yourself a setback.

Hope this helps some.

I had the long, vertical surgical incision. I was told that the surgery alone would probably be the "cure". But, after surgery you get back the final pathology report (takes maybe 4 days). It was a bit more, but not much, and would require my having the external radiation.

After surgery, I definitely laid in bed a lot! Day by day, things slowly heal and you notice it feeling better. I healed with no problems, but did get incisional hernias, small ones. They don't bother me. (Don't vacuum and don't do anything they tell you not to do, to avoid healing problems and hernias).

After the healing, you kind of forget, but I do remember that the 6-8 wks. is necessary. I also remember thinking that the huge incision will never heal to look normal. Well, it did, but it took time. I couldn't believe it! There's still a pink scar, but nothing like the stapled up "zipper" you come home from the hospital with. The body is amazing, what it can do. And if my double-wide belly can do it, so can yours!

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer - a complete surprise- about a month ago. Had my surgery - TAH BSO - 10 days ago. Have been pretty surprised at how well I've been doing. Haven't had prescription pain killers since I left the hospital. No hero, just haven't needed anything more than Motrin. I'm up and around, and taking walks of a mile or so. Trying to get a nap every afternoon, but feeling pretty good a this early stage. But healing is an individual thing.Tough thing for me is waiting for the pathology report to find out the staging. Should be in by now and I have called but not heard back. I see the doctor in any case on Wednesday. Already know that the grade is not good - 3- because it is the rare clear cell type. So waiting to find out what additional treatment is required. This has all happened so fast - went from feeling really healthy to being a cancer patient in what feels like the blink of an eye. Thanks to all who post - it has been a godsend to read of people's experiences.