Told last week I have endometrial cancer, stage 1..in shock!

Just stopped by to wish you well and thank you for rescuing dogs! I have three (we lost our 4th this summer ) Bless you!

Hi Ann!
I am in the same diagnosis as the others. I had my hyst on November 5, 3 weeks ago tomorrow!! I was like you, completely healthy, never been sick a day in my life except to have my 2 children. I began having symptoms for about 2 months and thought it was my hormones (I am 58) after 2nd month, I knew it wasn't normal so went in to GYN, she did biopsy and presto, endometrial CA. I also strongly recommend the GYN/Onocologist. I saw one 2 days later and had total DaVinci hyst 6 days later!!! She removed everything, uterus, tubes, ovaries, cervix and did 15 lymph node biopsies. Everything turned out NEGATIVE!! My tumor had barely begun to invade the uterine wall by 1/3 so she is recommending for me "only precautionary" 3 light treatments of radiation just to make sure all the cells are gone. I was kinda bummed about that but don't have to do it until January.

My doc also said if you have GYN cancer, this is the one to get because it is curable with surgery. With the DaVinci surgery (robot) I went home the NEXT day before 1:00 - I am going back to work this Monday (3 weeks) and just got back from the gym doing 4 miles on the treadmill and eliptical! I feel wonderful, only a twinge of discomfort. I never took ONE pain pill, never had any real pain, just discomfort from all the gas and air in my tummy/intestines!! Once that gets out you are fine.
Hope you will stay in touch and let us know how you are.

You will make it fine - Mine was Stage 1 grade 1-B also once all the path reports got in. Hugs and prayers to you - we are here for you!

Laura

Hello to all,

I want to thank you all again for your valuable help. As a result of the suggestions I have been given here, I have a second opinion with a gyn/onc in Irvine tomorrow. So, I am doing my last minute homework on the forum!!!

I have many questions for him tomorrow. Fortunately, my emotional state is very good right now. I have accepted the dx of endometrial carcinoma, stage 1/grade1, and am looking toward the emotional and physical strength needed for the next stage. People have been wonderfully kind and supportive, which has been a great help.

My husband and I spent several hours on the phone navigating the medical maze on Wednesday in order to set up this appointment. He was on the phone tree with the insurance company, as I needed a special authorization from them for a second opinion. And I was on the phone with the doc's assistant and with medical records, as they had not sent the required records to Irvine, although I personally walked to the records department the Friday prior, and was told my records were available and would be sent.

Then, as the call with the helpful assistant was closing, she informed me that my insurance company has "cancelled their contract" with the hospital. Which means that if I decide to go with the gyn/onc for TAH or davinci, I will need a "special letter of agreement". Seems like I have a lot of hurdles and roadblocks in this process. The assistant complimented me on how well I was being my own advocate, but that's probably from years of navigating the insurance industry before I stopped taking insurance at all in my practice, for reasons that should be self-evident as listed above.

So, I know one way or the other this will be resolved. I am just hoping there is not a lot of insurance minutia on top of the physical challenges ahead of me. When will that health care bill be passed, anyway?????

I have been reading on the stories pages, and notice quite a bit of variation from individual to individual with both the TAH and the davinci. Some people seem to have symptoms and pain/discomfort for a couple of months after the davinci, and some seem fine the next day or so. The TAH seems to have a similar range. I guess this is hard to predict.

I had another question, but don't know if anyone can answer this. I have quite a bit of lower back pain and stiffness. I do yoga and when I miss it, my back begins to tighten up. Could this be related to the cancer or my fibroid engulfed uterus? I thought it was just age and sitting.


Also, because I have quite a few large fibroids, can anyone tell me if I have any hope of losing a few pounds when I am no longer carrying my uterus around?


Well, ladies, I will hold you all with me spiritually as I navigate the medical hallways tomorrow and ask my questions.

And, yes, thanks, I will be taking my voice recorder. What a great sugggestion!

Also, just wanted to add that I am not looking forward to having my french press coffee for one or so days. Looks like I am going to have to try to wean myself from my caffeine addiction pre surgery.

Be well,

Ann

I am at the same place as you. I had post menopausal bleeding in July (5 years past menopause) so I had a pelvic ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, and D & C, all inconclusive, but tentatively diagnosed as Endometrial Cancer. I had surgery on Nov 17. The surgeon initially said that it didn't look like there was any cancer but the pathology report last week confirmed the diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer stage 1A.

It was caught at the earliest stage. I still can't believe I have cancer. I have read everything I can find about it and it seems that having diabetes, (which I do, Type 2) and being over weight (which I am) are two factors in getting this kind of cancer. It seems that the fat releases estrogen and "bathes" your "female parts" and causes problems. That's why I had an easy menopause!

I will keep reading this website to allay my fears, but it is hard.

Good luck with your recovery.

Bonnie L.
LAVH/BSO November 17, 2009 Endometrial Cancer Stage 1A Grade1-2. So far no other treatment necessary

Hi Bonnie -- thanks for your post. My gyn/onc. said one important thing to me after the surgery. You do not have cancer any more. Remember those words. We were lucky -- we got right on it Hope you are recovering well from your surgery. I was on Prempro for 20 years or more and he told me it was estrogen related. Now, no more hormones so am doing my best with that. Please stay in touch with me and let me know how you are doing. I can imagine your shock when you got your oriiginal dx. It's so scary. Jut getting over the after effects of the surgery. Let me know how you are doing and stay in touch.

Shirl

Thanks Shirl, remembering I HAD cancer is a good way to think of it. We don't have cancer in my family (until NOW) so it is very scary for me.
I appreciate the response.
Bonnie L

Hey..I had grade2 and the other sisters are right, you won't know your stage until the actual surgery and then I waited another 9 days for that after I got home. I had abdo wash, clear, 30 lymph nodes, all clear, they took my omentum, tubes, ovaries, cervix. Onc recommended 3 braceytherapy rads but the onc radiation dr said it wouldn't benefit me much so I am on 3 month checks and watchful waiting. Its a lot, believe me I know but in a couple of months you will have a better handle on it. It takes a while but please know its very cureable..wishing you a good, complete recovery and a fantastic path report...I'll be watching for you....Brenda

Irescuedogs:

I could have written your post! I went through everything you did except that there is no cancer in my family at all (except for my grandfather who died in 1960), so it came as an incredible shock to me.

I'm 51 years old and was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in August. One week later I had my TAH. Now that it is several months later I feel great. I do yoga, pilates or core classes every day after work. I went down from a size 6 to a size 2 or 4 in pants and that's with a slight swelly belly every once in a while. For some strange reason I have more stamina than I did before my operation. I wish I could have told myself in August that I would be alright. I wish I hadn't wasted those precious six weeks away from work having a pity party. I wish I hadn't been so afraid that I couldn't handle what would lie ahead. It wasn't easy, but I survived it and you will too.

Endometrial cancer is usually found at the very early stages and has one of the highest survival rates of all the cancers. Let the doctor get that monster out of your body and you will start to feel better sooner than you think. The very worst part of the entire process is waiting for the operation.

Best of luck on your upcoming surgery. I promise you that you will do fine.

This for Saridah3. I read your post and I went through everything you went through with same dx. I am almost three weeks post op and have always worked out. Not back to the same routine yet, but getting there. My question for you is how are you hormonally? Did you go through menopause after surgery. I haven't as yet. Hope that doesn't happen. Being in good shape sure does help recovery and you are doing great. Shirl

	Quote:
Originally Posted by PattieO The only thing I want to add, is please take the time to make sure a gyn/onc is at least present... There have been stories, of people just having their gyne do the surgery and then needing a 2nd staging surgery... This can be prevented. I waited a month to get a gyn/onc on board and it was well worth the wait.

I AGREE! I think I am going to have a staging surgery soon. BUT in my case the cancer issue didn't exist before my hysterectomy. I had my hysterectomy for other reasons and then they found the pre-cancer. If I had known I would have had an a gyn/onc, but I didn't...darn!