Cervical Adenosquamous carcinoma with mets to supraclavicular

missymcg

Hi fighters,

My sister in law had suspected fibroid tumor surgery 6 weeks ago and it has been downhill ever since. The quick summary is that she is 41 with adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix....no mets to major organs but mets to para aortic and supraclavicular. They've done a radical hysterectomy and removed some of the pelvic nodes. They are now looking to do an agressive course of chemo for a few weeks, then radiation, then another scan etc. We're dealing with a very rare form of cervical along with a very rare form of adeno with rare mets to the collarbone. She has 3 little ones....trying to digest it all. Looking for survivors, hope and doctor recomendations.

Many thanks in advance,

Missy

ccfighter

Hi missy,
I too have
Hi missy,
I too have adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix. I was diagnosed in November, 2011. I am so glad you found this sight. I am 33 with three small children. I had a hysterectomy in November and it was discovered that my cancer had mets to pelvic lymph nodes. I am on a similar treatment plan as your sister in law, did three rounds of carbo/taxol and then 5 weeks external pelvic radiation with concurrent cisplatin, and am scheduled for two more rounds of carbo/taxol. I am so sorry for your sister in laws diagnosis. It is tough but I plan to be a long time survivor of this. The treatment is not the easiest in the world but she will get through it. Please plan on giving her lots of support throughout the process, especially with the kids. The hardest part of cancer treatment outside of the emotional roller coaster is that it is exhausting. It's hard to keep up with little ones when your so tired. My friend set up a meal train account to help with meals. This was extremely helpful, since by the end of the day I really did not feel like dealing with dinner. I wish your sister in law all the best. Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck. I will be praying for you all.

missymcg

ccfighter said:

Hi missy,
I too have
Hi missy,
I too have adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix. I was diagnosed in November, 2011. I am so glad you found this sight. I am 33 with three small children. I had a hysterectomy in November and it was discovered that my cancer had mets to pelvic lymph nodes. I am on a similar treatment plan as your sister in law, did three rounds of carbo/taxol and then 5 weeks external pelvic radiation with concurrent cisplatin, and am scheduled for two more rounds of carbo/taxol. I am so sorry for your sister in laws diagnosis. It is tough but I plan to be a long time survivor of this. The treatment is not the easiest in the world but she will get through it. Please plan on giving her lots of support throughout the process, especially with the kids. The hardest part of cancer treatment outside of the emotional roller coaster is that it is exhausting. It's hard to keep up with little ones when your so tired. My friend set up a meal train account to help with meals. This was extremely helpful, since by the end of the day I really did not feel like dealing with dinner. I wish your sister in law all the best. Please let me know if you have any questions. Good luck. I will be praying for you all.

Thank you
Thank you so much for posting....it helps so much just to know we're not alone out there in this battle. You are amazing for getting through this with 3 little ones....but I'm guessing they are also your inspiration. How are you doing today? Has the treatment plan been working for you then? We are planning on surrounding her with the support she needs....dinners, help with the kids....etc.

May I ask, did you seek a second opinion with your diagnosis?

Thank you again....keep fighting....

Missy

ccfighter

missymcg said:

Thank you
Thank you so much for posting....it helps so much just to know we're not alone out there in this battle. You are amazing for getting through this with 3 little ones....but I'm guessing they are also your inspiration. How are you doing today? Has the treatment plan been working for you then? We are planning on surrounding her with the support she needs....dinners, help with the kids....etc.

May I ask, did you seek a second opinion with your diagnosis?

Thank you again....keep fighting....

Missy

Hi missy,
I did not seek a
Hi missy,

I did not seek a second opinion for a few reasons. One, everything went into super fast overdrive at my diagnosis. Two, my gyn oncologist is highly respected, young, thorough and aggressive. Three, i did alot of my own research and knew I could get varying opinions from other oncologist, mostly with a less aggressive regimins, consisting of only 5 weeks of EBRT with cisplatin, and then I would be left trying to decide if I wanted to take an easier way out. It would have been easy to chicken out and go with a less aggressive route. I didn't want to tempt myself.
It is hard getting through treatments with little kids, but you are right, they are my inspiration and I want to be around a long long time to watch them grow up, get married...I want to be a grandma one day. It makes that Keizer commercial all the more effective, "when I grow up I want to be an old woman."
My diagnosis was a shock, I have been for my annual exams without fail, all paps have been normal for the past 8 years, and thre is no gyn cancers in my family, no cancers at all on my moms side. This is emotionally very difficult, not only because it is what it is, but also because there are very few concrete answers. Treatment, follow up, it's all a waiting game and there is no telling when the disease will make itself known again.
So far, I have not had any symptoms of recurrence, but I also have not had a pet/ct since before my surgery. I need to wait three months after I finished radiation before I could get a scan, since the radiation causes I flamation that could be false positive for the scans. So, here I sit and wait.
Today I am doing well, I can get along with bussiness as usual, although the knowledge of my condition never leaves my side, and I occasionally find myself balled up sobbing with the thoughts of my life without me. But, the loss of innocence is all that is, for no one gets to know how long they have here, what is going to happen in the next moment, whether it is disease or an airplane slamming into a building, or an earthquake or tornado or food poisoning or whatever. But, that loss of innocence is a hard pill to swallow, and I do so miss the carefree days of playgrounds and icecreams with the kids and not another care in the world. I try to live in the moment now, but some moments are harder than others.
Another website I find particularly helpful for support is hystersisters. If your sister in law is up for it, that can be a wonderful place to vent, ask questions, feel connected.
How old are her kids? Mine are 4,7,8. This has been especially hard for my 8year old. It seems she is old enough to understand the gravity of the situation.

beckyracn

Missy,
Your sister-in-law is
Missy,
Your sister-in-law is going to need lots of support in the upcoming months. This is an ugly dragon to fight, and the battle a hard one, but one that can be won.
Everyone reacts differently to the treatments, but most everyone experiences some similarities...so just ask if you have questions. Frequently, she will find the docs giving up little information because of this fact.

ccfighter

beckyracn said:

Missy,
Your sister-in-law is
Missy,
Your sister-in-law is going to need lots of support in the upcoming months. This is an ugly dragon to fight, and the battle a hard one, but one that can be won.
Everyone reacts differently to the treatments, but most everyone experiences some similarities...so just ask if you have questions. Frequently, she will find the docs giving up little information because of this fact.

Hi Becky!
It so good to see you around heren again. How are you doing? I hope things have been good for you.

missymcg

beckyracn said:

Missy,
Your sister-in-law is
Missy,
Your sister-in-law is going to need lots of support in the upcoming months. This is an ugly dragon to fight, and the battle a hard one, but one that can be won.
Everyone reacts differently to the treatments, but most everyone experiences some similarities...so just ask if you have questions. Frequently, she will find the docs giving up little information because of this fact.

Yes....it can be one
Thanks for your comments....I am all too familiar with the ups and downs and long road ahead with cancer....I was a widow at 28 when I lost my first husband to angiosarcoma. We did find out yesterday that the left supraclavicular is involved. We spoke with the NCI and found clinical trial that involves very agressive radiation and chemo that she is qualified for....we should hear back from the doctor Monday....

I appreciate your support.....stay strong!!

missymcg

ccfighter said:

Hi missy,
I did not seek a
Hi missy,

I did not seek a second opinion for a few reasons. One, everything went into super fast overdrive at my diagnosis. Two, my gyn oncologist is highly respected, young, thorough and aggressive. Three, i did alot of my own research and knew I could get varying opinions from other oncologist, mostly with a less aggressive regimins, consisting of only 5 weeks of EBRT with cisplatin, and then I would be left trying to decide if I wanted to take an easier way out. It would have been easy to chicken out and go with a less aggressive route. I didn't want to tempt myself.
It is hard getting through treatments with little kids, but you are right, they are my inspiration and I want to be around a long long time to watch them grow up, get married...I want to be a grandma one day. It makes that Keizer commercial all the more effective, "when I grow up I want to be an old woman."
My diagnosis was a shock, I have been for my annual exams without fail, all paps have been normal for the past 8 years, and thre is no gyn cancers in my family, no cancers at all on my moms side. This is emotionally very difficult, not only because it is what it is, but also because there are very few concrete answers. Treatment, follow up, it's all a waiting game and there is no telling when the disease will make itself known again.
So far, I have not had any symptoms of recurrence, but I also have not had a pet/ct since before my surgery. I need to wait three months after I finished radiation before I could get a scan, since the radiation causes I flamation that could be false positive for the scans. So, here I sit and wait.
Today I am doing well, I can get along with bussiness as usual, although the knowledge of my condition never leaves my side, and I occasionally find myself balled up sobbing with the thoughts of my life without me. But, the loss of innocence is all that is, for no one gets to know how long they have here, what is going to happen in the next moment, whether it is disease or an airplane slamming into a building, or an earthquake or tornado or food poisoning or whatever. But, that loss of innocence is a hard pill to swallow, and I do so miss the carefree days of playgrounds and icecreams with the kids and not another care in the world. I try to live in the moment now, but some moments are harder than others.
Another website I find particularly helpful for support is hystersisters. If your sister in law is up for it, that can be a wonderful place to vent, ask questions, feel connected.
How old are her kids? Mine are 4,7,8. This has been especially hard for my 8year old. It seems she is old enough to understand the gravity of the situation.

Kids
Her children are 12, 8 and 6. And yes, the oldest certainly senses something is very wrong....stay strong!!

ccfighter

missymcg said:

Yes....it can be one
Thanks for your comments....I am all too familiar with the ups and downs and long road ahead with cancer....I was a widow at 28 when I lost my first husband to angiosarcoma. We did find out yesterday that the left supraclavicular is involved. We spoke with the NCI and found clinical trial that involves very agressive radiation and chemo that she is qualified for....we should hear back from the doctor Monday....

I appreciate your support.....stay strong!!

I am so glad she will be
I am so glad she will be getting aggressive treatment. She can kick this thing to the curb, and go on for many many years in good health. Please keep me posted on her treatment and recovery. I wish you all the very best. I am so sorry you lost your husband at such a young age. That is about the age my cousin lost her husband to melanoma, and it was such an unexpected and terrible loss. I keep you all in my prayers.