Check Ups after Surgery for Uterine Cancer

Hi!
I had a TAH/BSO on Sept 24 for uterine cancer, grade 1 stage 1. My gyn said the only follow up treatment (after all the normal post op visits) needed was a yearly pap to check for reoccurence at the vaginal cuff. I'm reading in here that many of you are getting check ups more frequently. Does once a year sound right for grade 1 stage 1? The gyn oncologist who did the surgery said if it was grade 1 stage 1 I would not see him after I left the hospital because no follow up treatment was needed. Does this sound right??? I don't want to be "looking for trouble" where it doesn't exist, but I want to do everything possible to ensure that this does not come back, or if it does that it is caught very early.
Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Linda

Hi Linda
I was also dx with a stage 1a endometrial cancer. I had a follow up appt with my gyn every 3 months the first year and have now graduated to every 6 months for 2 years and then i think I will go to once a year. I also have blood work and a chest xray before each exam. She does a pap and exam at each visit.

Hi Linda -

I also was diagnosed with grade 1 stage 1a and had my surgery Sept 17th. I am seeing my GYN for six week check up on Monday and have been advised I will have a pap every three months for the first two years. My GYN tends to change her mind often - so that could change!

Jan

Linda--

When you say your cancer was a stage 1, was it a stage 1a, 1b, or 1c? Endometrial cancer has three sub-stages to a stage 1 cancer. With a "b" or "c" there would have been invasion of the tumor into the myometrium or uterine muscle wall. If you were a 1a, the tumor would have been limited to the endometrium.

I had a 1c (but a grade 2) and had very close follow-up including CA-125 tests and CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis for the first two years in addition to pelvic-rectal exams and paps every three months for the first year, and every four months for the second year.

I would ask for a copy of your pathology report which would provide information on the precise staging of your cancer.

Take care.

MoeKay

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling a bit adrift here. I too had a stage 1, grade 1. (No A, B, or C). I had a 5 month follow up with surgeon/gyn and she said see ya next year. I asked if it shouldn't be more often and she said no. That it was only in the endometrial lining.. no spread or invasion to anything. I did get my path and surgical report after surgery so I know it was very early, superficial and really stage 1. I was concerned also about why only once a year. She convinced me that it really was not likely to do anything and that yearly paps would be fine. Since everyone here seems like they are doing more, it worries me some. I do have regular checks with my internal med. doc for other issues. My gyn is very convinced that it was caught so early that I'm "cured"... Maybe we just did get very lucky. She keeps telling me that I was the one that "saved" my life by being in-tune to my body and going to the doc when I did...it stills feels like something more should be going on...for now, I will feel grateful and lucky...

Josie--

If your doctor advised you that your tumor was confined to the endometrium, it would be a stage 1a. If it had invaded less than half of the thickness of the myometrium, it would be a 1b, and if it had invaded more than half the thickness of the myometrium (as mine did) it would be a 1c.

Cervical involvement would make it a stage 2--a or b--depending on the extent of the tumor invasion into the cervix. My doctor was convinced, that my tumor had invaded the cervix, so he clinically staged me as a 2b even though I was surgically staged by the pathologist at 1c. I'm the only one I've met to date with two different stages for one cancer, one pathological and one surgical.

I found all the surgical staging information at the very bottom of the second page of my pathology report.

MoeKay

You are awesome.. I went back and read my surgical and pathological report from surgery and you are right.. Mine was Stage 1A. I think I knew that from when I first got it and read it, but guess it got lost in brain fog. Thanks. I've read many of your posts and I can't imagine what many of us would have done without your insight..Thanks..

Linda, I had my surgery 4 years ago this week. I went back in 6 weeks, then six months, then once a year. It was confined to the lining of the uterus. All has been well, and I'm doing fine. Good Luck, Candy

Thank you all so much for getting back to me so soon. I don't know if I am 1a, b, or c. I remember the doctor telling me that the tumor was less than 5% (?) invasive. I go in Wed for a 5 week check up and I will definitely ask for a copy of the final path report.
Thanks again!
Linda

Linda - I just now got off the phone with the pathologist re: my report, because I was unsure of my stage...1a or 1b. I too had 2 areas where invasion was <5%. His answer was 1b - but just about as close to 1a as I could be! So I hope this helps.