Endometrial and Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma

gopi

Hi,

Can some one tell me if Endometrial Adenocarcioma and Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma are one and the same or what is the difference??
thanks

groundeffect

Hi gopi,

The Oncology Channel (www.oncologychannel.com/endometrialcancer/types.shtml) has this description of the two:

Endometrial adenocarcinoma
About 90% of all endometrial cancers are typical endometrial adenocarcinomas. Adenocarcinomas are cancers that arise in the epithelium (the surface layer of cells). Endometrial adenocarcinomas are cancers that originate in the epithelium of the uterine lining. There are three types of adenocarcinomas based on the percentage of tumor growth: grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3. Grade 1 tumors are the least solid. They have at least 95% normal endometrial tissue, and the glands that are so prominent in the endometrium are distinct from the cancer cells. Grade 3 tumors are characterized by solid tumor growth, and the endometrial glands are not well differentiated.

Rare cell types
The other 10% of endometrial cancers are caused by rare cell types (papillary serous carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma, papillary endometrial carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma). In general, these rarer cancers are associated with later age, greater risk for metastases outside the uterus, and a poorer prognosis.

From what I've read about clear cell cancers (which can describe ovarian and other types, too), it's a description of how they look under the microscope: the inside of the cells appears clear.

maier

Hello Everyone -
I see it's been a while since there was a posting, so I thought I'd keep it going. Here is my story and God Bless us all.

I am a 39 yr old mother of 3 (5, 3, and 1). I had been having very heavy periods for a few months, just figuring it was from childbirth last Aug. I finally called my OB, he said to have a sono. They found a large fibroid tumor (size of a baby's head) and said it was benign so not to worry but I needed to have a hysto. So my hubby and I put if off until Sept. Ten days later I got my monthly again, but much worse so I called my OB again and they got me to surgery within a week(6/24/04). The procedure went well, but my OB was surprised at the tumor size (1 & 1/2 size of a football). My last day in the hospital, my OB/GYN told me they found a leiomyosarcoma in my uterus which surprised him, because cancer was not visible from the outside. They told me I was lucky to get it early. The cancer was encapsulated in the fibroid and did not appear anywhere on the outside. MY D&C was clear, as well as the endo curretings and I've had 1 clear CTScan in July. I've seen 2 GYN Oncos. for opinions. My first Onco. was great, very positive and the second was very negative who told be it's between me & God. But they both agreed not to radiate the area but to see if it metastizes. I have to have a pap smear every 2 mths. and CT Scans every 3 months. I feel like a sitting duck. I have an appt. scheduled at Johns Hopkins on 9/1 and they seem to be more thorough (they want all my surgical slides, CT films, and surgical reports). I am trying to be as positive as possible and so far I am cancer free.

I have been through a lot of grief in my life but I've never been so scared. It seems as if things were too perfect, life just jumped up and bit me in the butt. I am much closer to God now and feel sure things will work either way. I cry every time I think about leaving my little kids. I'm not so afraid of dying, but afraid of hurting my kids. My hubby is very positive and keeps assuring me it's not coming back. All I can say is to be a positive as possible and to keep praying and ask God for acceptance and strength. I appreciate every moment I have with my family and I simply ask God for strength and thank him for the day.

CynKib

maier said:

Hello Everyone -
I see it's been a while since there was a posting, so I thought I'd keep it going. Here is my story and God Bless us all.

I am a 39 yr old mother of 3 (5, 3, and 1). I had been having very heavy periods for a few months, just figuring it was from childbirth last Aug. I finally called my OB, he said to have a sono. They found a large fibroid tumor (size of a baby's head) and said it was benign so not to worry but I needed to have a hysto. So my hubby and I put if off until Sept. Ten days later I got my monthly again, but much worse so I called my OB again and they got me to surgery within a week(6/24/04). The procedure went well, but my OB was surprised at the tumor size (1 & 1/2 size of a football). My last day in the hospital, my OB/GYN told me they found a leiomyosarcoma in my uterus which surprised him, because cancer was not visible from the outside. They told me I was lucky to get it early. The cancer was encapsulated in the fibroid and did not appear anywhere on the outside. MY D&C was clear, as well as the endo curretings and I've had 1 clear CTScan in July. I've seen 2 GYN Oncos. for opinions. My first Onco. was great, very positive and the second was very negative who told be it's between me & God. But they both agreed not to radiate the area but to see if it metastizes. I have to have a pap smear every 2 mths. and CT Scans every 3 months. I feel like a sitting duck. I have an appt. scheduled at Johns Hopkins on 9/1 and they seem to be more thorough (they want all my surgical slides, CT films, and surgical reports). I am trying to be as positive as possible and so far I am cancer free.

I have been through a lot of grief in my life but I've never been so scared. It seems as if things were too perfect, life just jumped up and bit me in the butt. I am much closer to God now and feel sure things will work either way. I cry every time I think about leaving my little kids. I'm not so afraid of dying, but afraid of hurting my kids. My hubby is very positive and keeps assuring me it's not coming back. All I can say is to be a positive as possible and to keep praying and ask God for acceptance and strength. I appreciate every moment I have with my family and I simply ask God for strength and thank him for the day.

Hi,

I know just how you feel. I had endometrial adenocarcinoma and have been through an abdominal hysterectomy, radiation and chemo. The docs thought they had caught this early since I am very young for this cancer but it was in my lymph nodes. This was found by accident. My periods were very heavy for a lot of years and I was told that is how things are as you get older and that the fibroid tumors also caused the flows to increase. One day I just could not take it anymore and called my OB/GYN for an appointment. She said that she could remove the ling of the uterus so that I would never have a period again. Whoopi, a solution! It is a stadard procedure to do a biopsy on the lining for cancer and mine came back positive. Then my life changed forever. I treasure every moment but I find myself very frustrated with my job. I have been having memory problems and I am not able to deal with the stress or pressure as I used to. My energy level is still quite low. The ladies that I work with do not have positive attitudes which brings my spirits down. Maybe I can't seem to find a really good reason to be there other than the health insurance that I need more than ever. I am concidering a career change. I have so much to be thankful for but I guess I need to find another direction to take my life. I am feeling great and think often about the cancer returning. There must be some way to learn to live with this fear. With God's help I have made it this far.

mtw

CynKib said:

Hi,

I know just how you feel. I had endometrial adenocarcinoma and have been through an abdominal hysterectomy, radiation and chemo. The docs thought they had caught this early since I am very young for this cancer but it was in my lymph nodes. This was found by accident. My periods were very heavy for a lot of years and I was told that is how things are as you get older and that the fibroid tumors also caused the flows to increase. One day I just could not take it anymore and called my OB/GYN for an appointment. She said that she could remove the ling of the uterus so that I would never have a period again. Whoopi, a solution! It is a stadard procedure to do a biopsy on the lining for cancer and mine came back positive. Then my life changed forever. I treasure every moment but I find myself very frustrated with my job. I have been having memory problems and I am not able to deal with the stress or pressure as I used to. My energy level is still quite low. The ladies that I work with do not have positive attitudes which brings my spirits down. Maybe I can't seem to find a really good reason to be there other than the health insurance that I need more than ever. I am concidering a career change. I have so much to be thankful for but I guess I need to find another direction to take my life. I am feeling great and think often about the cancer returning. There must be some way to learn to live with this fear. With God's help I have made it this far.

Hello CynKib,
I hope this is not too personal a question, but I am facing a decision about whether or not to have radiation after total abdominal hysterectomy. The cancer was clear cell stage 1a, the earliest possible stage and very small. Some doctors do not recommend radiation but my team is recommending it. The down side is the radiation will cause scarring of the vagina, and tightnening which can make sex painful or difficult. I'm happily married and this possibility scares me and makes me very sad. Does anyone have anything positive to suggest to handle this problem? Is the stenosis (scarring and tightening) permanent or just for a while after the radiation? Any advice is welcome!
Many thanks.

shari63

mtw said:

Hello CynKib,
I hope this is not too personal a question, but I am facing a decision about whether or not to have radiation after total abdominal hysterectomy. The cancer was clear cell stage 1a, the earliest possible stage and very small. Some doctors do not recommend radiation but my team is recommending it. The down side is the radiation will cause scarring of the vagina, and tightnening which can make sex painful or difficult. I'm happily married and this possibility scares me and makes me very sad. Does anyone have anything positive to suggest to handle this problem? Is the stenosis (scarring and tightening) permanent or just for a while after the radiation? Any advice is welcome!
Many thanks.

Feb. 2004 I was diagnosed with clear cell adenocarcinoma stage 1a, very small. I had a hysterectomy and then radiation 5 weeks 5 days a week. Then a couple weeks after that I had the cesium implant inserted for 2 days. The radiation oncologist recommended a post radiation vagina dilator to help keep the vagina stretched and opened.

Unknown

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