Diagnosed with Uterine Cancer

Hi Liz, I hope that by now you have received more medical guidance and help. I think a GYN/ONC is essential, you are close to Toronto, have you considered doctors in the GTA region? Hopefully you can (or already have) found a GYN/ONC nearby. The hysterectomy is essential for staging of the cancer... You can get a comprehensive list of Qs from the Canadian Cancer Society website. A colonoscopy is good to get in case cancer has spread from uterus, but my doc had that scheduled after recovery of the hysterectomy (and prior to chemo) - have not reached that step yet. Try to stay positive and breathe in the spring fresh air!

Hi all and welcome to week #5 of 'Pre-Op Pause'.

Let's begin with this....

I have my surgical date...again! I was given the 14th of May on Tuesday of this week and then I came down with a cold on Wednesday. You guessed it..I got bumped. I guess it is for the best as I expect I will have enough to contend with after surgery without the constant dry hack I have right now. My new date is June 6th, 2012.

Has anyone used the cooling belly binder? How well does it work and how big is it around the waist? Thoughts?

Liz
Princess in training

	Quote:
Originally Posted by TSuzy I had laparaoscopic hysterectomy with removal of ovaries and tubes and fat pad on Apr. 10 following a diagnosis of endometriod and serous cancer from the pathology report after a polypectomy and d & c on Feb. 3. The doctor said he didn't remove lymph nodes from my pelvis or around my aorta as planned, because he didn't see any evidence of spread of cancer. My uterus was removed intact and is being examined for pathology and staging. I don't know if he did a pelvic wash, and/or biopsy of lymph nodes, hope he did. There is concern about small nodules found on my chest xray, so I'm having a CT scan in a few weeks to get more detail of those. I've only told selected people about the cancer, others I've told only that I had a hysterectomy. It's been a very difficult time for me, very scary, since I don't know anyone else who's had this. I see my gyn/oncologist on May 3. Trying to be positive, ask help from those I like to be around, but everyone is busy with their own lives, including my three daughters who have families f their own and full time jobs. They each took off 1 day to be with me during and post surgery, that's it.

Hi Suzy,

Out of curiosity...and perhaps I shouldn't be asking but what is the "fat pad" and where is it?

Liz,
Princess in training.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by stillrunning Hi Liz, I hope that by now you have received more medical guidance and help. I think a GYN/ONC is essential, you are close to Toronto, have you considered doctors in the GTA region? Hopefully you can (or already have) found a GYN/ONC nearby. The hysterectomy is essential for staging of the cancer... You can get a comprehensive list of Qs from the Canadian Cancer Society website. A colonoscopy is good to get in case cancer has spread from uterus, but my doc had that scheduled after recovery of the hysterectomy (and prior to chemo) - have not reached that step yet. Try to stay positive and breathe in the spring fresh air!

Thanks Sister, still breathing...Ahhhh.


Liz
Princess in training.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Liz26 Hi Suzy, Out of curiosity...and perhaps I shouldn't be asking but what is the "fat pad" and where is it? Liz, Princess in training.

The fat pad is called the omentum. Here's info from Everyday Health website: "The omentum is a layer of fatty tissue that covers the abdominal contents like an apron. Cancer sometimes spreads to this tissue. When this tissue is removed, it is called an omentectomy. Sometimes the omentum is removed during a hysterectomy to see if cancer has spread there."

By the way, I had my follow up visit and pathology report, which said that the cancer was confined to the polyp inside my uterus, and had not spread at all, even to the lining. Also, it was endometriodal cancer, FIGO grade 1, caused by a hormonal imbalance, and my staging was 1A, the mildest form.

The surgeon said I was now cured, there was no need for follow up treatment of any kind! Also, the CT scan of my lungs indicated scar tissue from an old infection, not cancer. So I am very, very lucky.

If caught early, uterine cancer is curable! I wish you all the best!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by TSuzy The fat pad is called the omentum. Here's info from Everyday Health website: "The omentum is a layer of fatty tissue that covers the abdominal contents like an apron. Cancer sometimes spreads to this tissue. When this tissue is removed, it is called an omentectomy. Sometimes the omentum is removed during a hysterectomy to see if cancer has spread there." By the way, I had my follow up visit and pathology report, which said that the cancer was confined to the polyp inside my uterus, and had not spread at all, even to the lining. Also, it was endometriodal cancer, FIGO grade 1, caused by a hormonal imbalance, and my staging was 1A, the mildest form. The surgeon said I was now cured, there was no need for follow up treatment of any kind! Also, the CT scan of my lungs indicated scar tissue from an old infection, not cancer. So I am very, very lucky. If caught early, uterine cancer is curable! I wish you all the best!

Hi,

Thanks so much for explaining this. I'm really relieved that your battle with cancer is over and my hope for you is that it never, ever gives you grief again. You get to breathe again and pick-up your life where it left off.

As I go through my battle I will try to keep your great results in mind and focus on the good that can come out of this and not how bad it can or might be. Waiting is hard.

Thanks again for your kind words and support.

Liz
Princess in training...

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Liz26 Hi, Thanks so much for explaining this. I'm really relieved that your battle with cancer is over and my hope for you is that it never, ever gives you grief again. You get to breathe again and pick-up your life where it left off. As I go through my battle I will try to keep your great results in mind and focus on the good that can come out of this and not how bad it can or might be. Waiting is hard. Thanks again for your kind words and support. Liz Princess in training...

I followed the Gerson Therapy, a vegetarian diet with juicing, for a month before my surgery. It gave me a sense of being proactive, and having some control. I also kept fit and walked a lot, and contacted caring family and friends and neighbours who would help me with shopping, cooking, and keeping me company when I got back home from the surgery. I live alone, so this made a big difference to me. Keeping positive is very important, though really hard, but it can help a lot. Meditation and gentle exercise help a lot too. Wishing you the very best! Sending you healing hugs!

Hi everyone!

I had my TAH on May 1st because my OB/GYN saw a abdominal mass of unknown origin and suspected it was cancerous. Turned out both ovaries had cancer cells in them, so it was a good thing the TAH was done. However some of the fluid in my abdomen still has microscopic cancer cells in it, so I'm diagnosed as having stage 1C ovarian cancer. I'm waiting for the scheduling for the 1st chemo treatment now. I'm probably going to need to push for a date since it's at a public hospital and they mentioned that it's difficult to get a date on the calendar. To me better to start now and not delay, even if it is a relatively early stage of this disease.

Positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated. :-)

LadyRaiderFan, I'm sorry you have had to join our club, but you're very welcome. I have just fiished my chemo, it's not nice, but the time went really quickly. I waited 6 weeks betwee diagnoses and startig treatment. It seemed like ages, but they did MRI's CT scans ad the plannig for my radiotherapy in that time. Keep yourself busy while your waiting, I was working, so tried to keep my normal routine going. I'm sure they'll put you down to get your chemo asap.

I hope you hear from them soon and if not, give them a nudge.

Liz,
Is your surgery May 29th or in June? I hope you're doing ok and have found a good Gyn/onc to do the surgery. It's normal to feel fearful as the day draws near. I don't think I could have made it through it all without prayers from other people. It really gives you a sense of peace. I remember that as I was being "put under" before the surgery I told God that I was in His hands and then was out.

I woke up in recovery and said well, I made it and I'm still here! The first night after surgery was the worst but I felt ok by the next day when I went home. But if you have TAH the recovery will be a little longer for you.

I hope you find supportive people near you but if not you have all of us here on this forum. It helps so much to have someone to talk to as you go through all this.

You will be in my prayers and I hope that your cancer is an early stage and you don't need any other treatment.

Blessings and hugs for you!