Adenocarcinoma: Which Surgery?

rojoju

I have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and am trying to decide between a radical hysterectomy and radical trachelectomy. My onco/gyn is not as hip to the trachelectomy becuase of the nature of glandular cell cervical cancer, and there's no guarantee that the place he chooses to cut the cervix would leave no cancer behind. Has anyone had this decision to make? Specifically, I'm looking for women with adenocarcinomas in early stage (1A2) that had one surgery versus another and WHY. My hubby and I are not ready for kids, although I'm 31, but I don't think want to let go of the option, no matter how slim. Any advice would be great!!!
Ro

nkern

I can't really help much. I had the radical hysterectomy with lymphandectomy but was also not given a choice, which may have had more to do with my circumstances than with anything else. I already have one child and although I wanted more, I was too afraid I wouldn't be around for the first one if I wasn't really aggressive. Talk to as many doctors as you can and if you want kids do what it takes to have them. I don't regret the radical hysterectomy afterall I'm here today for my son, but it really is tough when I hold my 10 month old niece. Good luck with your tough decisions that lie ahead, you will be in my prayers.

Amata

Hi Ro,
I was diagnosed with glandular cervical cancer in Feb. 2004. Stage 1A2. My doctor performed a radical abdomen trachelectomy because I wanted to have another child.(I have a 2 year old boy.) During the operation, my lymph nodes, samples of my uterus and surrounding tissues where tested by the lab to see if I had anymore abnormal cells. Since I did not have more, my cervix was removed and my uterus had a cerclage (a stitch) place at the bottom. My healing process was long due to complication after the surgery, but it has been 3 months and I feel back to normal. IF my doctor would have found abnormal cells, my lymph nodes and uterus would have been removed. When I woke up my surgery, my first question was "Do I have a uterus?" I was so blessed to think I still have the opportunity to conceive. This helped my emotional recovery. Talk to your doctor. My doctor basically said.. The plan was a trachelectomy but once he was inside and if the lab results showed one other abnormal cell.. the other tissues and uterus would need to be removed.
I hope this reply has helped you. You can email me directly if you have any other questions. Good luck Ro and God bless.
agonzale@bloomington.k12.mn.us

Sharona

Ro,
I had a similar situation as amata. I had glandular cell cervical cancer 1a2. I had a trachelectomy done with no complications since. I would not even consider hysterectomy. I think it's just too physically and emotionally life changing and if you can get the trachelectomy done, thats what I would do.
Hysterectomy is just too final. I know its necesarry for many women, but not in all cases.
It would be too weird not to get a period at 31, when I had the surgery.

good luck,
Sharon

rojoju

Sharona said:

Ro,
I had a similar situation as amata. I had glandular cell cervical cancer 1a2. I had a trachelectomy done with no complications since. I would not even consider hysterectomy. I think it's just too physically and emotionally life changing and if you can get the trachelectomy done, thats what I would do.
Hysterectomy is just too final. I know its necesarry for many women, but not in all cases.
It would be too weird not to get a period at 31, when I had the surgery.

good luck,
Sharon

Sharon, Amata and nkern,
Thanks so much for your responses!! I have decided to have the radical hysterectomy, because I want to be sure that all of the cancer is removed, and because I can't handle all of the difficulties that bearing children after trachelectomy entails. After all, I would be a high risk pregnancy without the cancer, so imagine my chances after surgery. My hubby and I are OK with surrogate or adoption, and we have 2 rescued retired racing greyhounds that are enough if we decide not to have kids at all. Thanks again for your feedback! It was very helpful, especially to talk to others who had the rarer glandular cell cancer. My best wishes to you all!!!
Ro

hanesher

rojoju said:

Sharon, Amata and nkern,
Thanks so much for your responses!! I have decided to have the radical hysterectomy, because I want to be sure that all of the cancer is removed, and because I can't handle all of the difficulties that bearing children after trachelectomy entails. After all, I would be a high risk pregnancy without the cancer, so imagine my chances after surgery. My hubby and I are OK with surrogate or adoption, and we have 2 rescued retired racing greyhounds that are enough if we decide not to have kids at all. Thanks again for your feedback! It was very helpful, especially to talk to others who had the rarer glandular cell cancer. My best wishes to you all!!!
Ro

ro-
it has been nearly seven years since i had a modified radical hysterectomy (they left my ovaries, but took everything else including alot of pelvic tissue) for adenocarcinoma of the endocervix, in situ. i had 'skip lesions', which meant that while the cone biopsy came back positive, the first margin was clear... but a second margin (my gyn was overzealous and undoubtably saved my life) showed positive for even more cancer cells. in all, according to the postsurgical pathology report, there were seven seperate cancer lesions, all of them, thanks God, in situ.

i had given birth to my only child earlier that same year, so even though i had hoped (and planned) for at least two children, i am grateful for my one.

from where i stand today i can tell you that every once in a while, i reach a new place of understanding what it means, and it is often surprising because i had thought it was all behind me.

i have no regrets over the surgery i chose because i am alive today. having no regrets, however, does not mean that i don't ever feel the gravity of my losses (of my body before cancer and surgery; of children i might have had; of menstruation).

when those moments hit me, i count my blessings, and do something i might not otherwise have done--a hike, tea with a friend, go flying... to celebrate the fact that i am alive.

i hope your surgery was successful, and that you are now, and continue to be, cancer free.