Post laparoscopic hysterectomy (morcellation) of endometrial adenocarcioma
Hi. I am trying to find anyone who has had a laparoscopic hysterectomy (morcellation) and found out AFTER the surgery that they had endometrial adenocarcinoma. I am finding many scary stories. Does this procedure always spread the cancer?
Comments
-
laparoscopic surgery.
I had heard that laparoscopic surgery because of the method can cause spread,therefore I reasoned the method in my head , then I refused it and insisted on vaginal complete hysterectomy.
Method; Diseased organs are cut up into small pieces and pulled through the small openings in abdomen, My question to surgeon, What happens to bits of cancer cells that may fall off in my abdominal cavity enroute, and those tiny bits thats left at site from the cuttings ? will they not stick to whatever organs they fall on,? " We hope that doesn't happen ",was the answer so for that and other reasons I declined the method.
However,I had uterus, overies and fallopian tubes removed completely intact ,just the connecting ligaments and tissues were cut not the organs themselves, none of those organs were opened inside of my body and was sent to pathology dept to be disected. YET on this date 9 months later recurrence happened in my abdomen . even with no lymph node involvement at surgery and even to date ,no lymph node involvement. It begs the question, How could this be ? NO BODY ALIVE KNOWS.
Our guess is as good as the doctors , They don't know much about this cancer neither do we. So once your surgery is already done you can't change anything so don't import worry ,If you haven't yet had surgery then reach out to the doctors for answers then do your analysis and make decisions accordingly.
0 -
Morcellationmolimoli said:laparoscopic surgery.
I had heard that laparoscopic surgery because of the method can cause spread,therefore I reasoned the method in my head , then I refused it and insisted on vaginal complete hysterectomy.
Method; Diseased organs are cut up into small pieces and pulled through the small openings in abdomen, My question to surgeon, What happens to bits of cancer cells that may fall off in my abdominal cavity enroute, and those tiny bits thats left at site from the cuttings ? will they not stick to whatever organs they fall on,? " We hope that doesn't happen ",was the answer so for that and other reasons I declined the method.
However,I had uterus, overies and fallopian tubes removed completely intact ,just the connecting ligaments and tissues were cut not the organs themselves, none of those organs were opened inside of my body and was sent to pathology dept to be disected. YET on this date 9 months later recurrence happened in my abdomen . even with no lymph node involvement at surgery and even to date ,no lymph node involvement. It begs the question, How could this be ? NO BODY ALIVE KNOWS.
Our guess is as good as the doctors , They don't know much about this cancer neither do we. So once your surgery is already done you can't change anything so don't import worry ,If you haven't yet had surgery then reach out to the doctors for answers then do your analysis and make decisions accordingly.
This method was in the news some time ago. I thought it had surely stopped being done this way. How awful. When I read my path report, I was impressed to read what had been done to prevent seeding. The organs were placed in a bag, the surgeon regloved ( more that I don't recall), then bag was removed vaginally.
0 -
This has been a newsworthy itemlaura25 said:It happened to me
That's how my uterine cancer was found. I had no idea I had cancer until after the procedure was done.
because it happened to a physician who went in for what she thought was a routine hysterectomy. and even with her knowledge, she didn't "get it" and had laparoscopic surgery with everything being removed chopped up in a bag via the small incisions. And guess what?
I was completely naive before my robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy but for some reason I asked "how will you get it out"? At that time, I was told that whenever cancer is suspected, organs are removed intact, so while I had laparoscopic surgery, my uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and I assume lymph nodes were all removed intact, vaginally. Glad I was asleep. ...
I hope the morcellation procedures will cease to exist, the bottom line is they really don't know if everything is ok, until it is out and sent to pathology. I guess it is a known risk yet it is still happening. So sorry that it happened to you.
Suzanne
0 -
<<I hope the morcellation</b>Double Whammy said:This has been a newsworthy item
because it happened to a physician who went in for what she thought was a routine hysterectomy. and even with her knowledge, she didn't "get it" and had laparoscopic surgery with everything being removed chopped up in a bag via the small incisions. And guess what?
I was completely naive before my robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy but for some reason I asked "how will you get it out"? At that time, I was told that whenever cancer is suspected, organs are removed intact, so while I had laparoscopic surgery, my uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and I assume lymph nodes were all removed intact, vaginally. Glad I was asleep. ...
I hope the morcellation procedures will cease to exist, the bottom line is they really don't know if everything is ok, until it is out and sent to pathology. I guess it is a known risk yet it is still happening. So sorry that it happened to you.
Suzanne
<<I hope the morcellation procedures will cease to exist>>
It mostly has. Many insurance companies will no longer cover it. You can still have a vaginal hysterectomy, but it won't involve morcellation. This is good. My Mom recovered from her vaginal hysterectomy at 75 far better and faster than I did an open hysterectomy at 54. In my case, a vaginal hysterectomy wasn't even considered given that I already had a biopsy showing that I had an aggressive cancer.0 -
Suzanne, my mother wasDouble Whammy said:This has been a newsworthy item
because it happened to a physician who went in for what she thought was a routine hysterectomy. and even with her knowledge, she didn't "get it" and had laparoscopic surgery with everything being removed chopped up in a bag via the small incisions. And guess what?
I was completely naive before my robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy but for some reason I asked "how will you get it out"? At that time, I was told that whenever cancer is suspected, organs are removed intact, so while I had laparoscopic surgery, my uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes and I assume lymph nodes were all removed intact, vaginally. Glad I was asleep. ...
I hope the morcellation procedures will cease to exist, the bottom line is they really don't know if everything is ok, until it is out and sent to pathology. I guess it is a known risk yet it is still happening. So sorry that it happened to you.
Suzanne
Suzanne, my mother was convinced I had this type of surgery and I told her I would ask the gyn onc. He said anytime they (my group of surgeons?) suspect cancer they never consider mocileration.
Heck, I have one larger incision scar and my gyn asked "what's that?" When I saw the gyn onc it was because he said he had to put his hand inside and feel around - something the robot can't do. My gyn onc is a big guy - like 6' 3" at least! He has hands to match!!
0 -
Morcellation debatemolimoli said:laparoscopic surgery.
I had heard that laparoscopic surgery because of the method can cause spread,therefore I reasoned the method in my head , then I refused it and insisted on vaginal complete hysterectomy.
Method; Diseased organs are cut up into small pieces and pulled through the small openings in abdomen, My question to surgeon, What happens to bits of cancer cells that may fall off in my abdominal cavity enroute, and those tiny bits thats left at site from the cuttings ? will they not stick to whatever organs they fall on,? " We hope that doesn't happen ",was the answer so for that and other reasons I declined the method.
However,I had uterus, overies and fallopian tubes removed completely intact ,just the connecting ligaments and tissues were cut not the organs themselves, none of those organs were opened inside of my body and was sent to pathology dept to be disected. YET on this date 9 months later recurrence happened in my abdomen . even with no lymph node involvement at surgery and even to date ,no lymph node involvement. It begs the question, How could this be ? NO BODY ALIVE KNOWS.
Our guess is as good as the doctors , They don't know much about this cancer neither do we. So once your surgery is already done you can't change anything so don't import worry ,If you haven't yet had surgery then reach out to the doctors for answers then do your analysis and make decisions accordingly.
This debate has also been going on in the UK. I had no idea this procedure even existed and I am horrified that it should be performed on anyone, whether or not cancer is suspected. Womb cancer is a sneaky beast and can be there even when it's not expected! After atypical hyperplasia was found during a D&C, I had an "open" hysterectomy, with everything removed intact. My surgeon wouldn't consider anything else - he wanted a good look around! Pathology came back clear - no cancer. Even with all that care, I had a "recurrence" in the pelvis 7 years later. Like Molimoli, no one can explain it. I have no lymph node or organ involvement. At first it came back at the vaginal vault, which was treated with radiotherapy, then surgery and chemo. Then it came back again on the pelvic sidewall. Surgery not possible due to the location, so now on anti-hormone therapy (tamoxifen) and finished a course of Cyberknife radiotherapy last October (just had a scan and will know in a week or two if it has had any effect). I don't believe I will ever be NED again, but I have adjusted to a new normal and I enjoy every day. I have even started helping half a day a week at a horse rescue centre - something I never thought I would have the energy to do ever again!
Kindest wishes
Helen0 -
I WISH YOU continued energy spurts.HellieC said:Morcellation debate
This debate has also been going on in the UK. I had no idea this procedure even existed and I am horrified that it should be performed on anyone, whether or not cancer is suspected. Womb cancer is a sneaky beast and can be there even when it's not expected! After atypical hyperplasia was found during a D&C, I had an "open" hysterectomy, with everything removed intact. My surgeon wouldn't consider anything else - he wanted a good look around! Pathology came back clear - no cancer. Even with all that care, I had a "recurrence" in the pelvis 7 years later. Like Molimoli, no one can explain it. I have no lymph node or organ involvement. At first it came back at the vaginal vault, which was treated with radiotherapy, then surgery and chemo. Then it came back again on the pelvic sidewall. Surgery not possible due to the location, so now on anti-hormone therapy (tamoxifen) and finished a course of Cyberknife radiotherapy last October (just had a scan and will know in a week or two if it has had any effect). I don't believe I will ever be NED again, but I have adjusted to a new normal and I enjoy every day. I have even started helping half a day a week at a horse rescue centre - something I never thought I would have the energy to do ever again!
Kindest wishes
HelenWonderful Helen ,you seem to be taking things in it's stride, getting out doing something you love, thats great. sorry about the recurrences I wish them away
. but the journey comes with them, it seems , These uterine diseases are all so resistant to treatment ,with only luck of the draw long remission, that seem to be all that we can hope for realistically .
Have you had much side effects from the treatments you have had,? Do you feel comfortable sharing?,if you don't that's ok too. WE all understand 'not feeling up to it'.
Happy to hear the acceptance of the new normal. Acceptance lightened my load, gave me peace of mind and steared me away from the the unclimbable mountains to little hills that I can climb one day at a time.
I found that acceptance In Sept when one of my oncologist [ head of the dept ] said, "Don't waste precious time worrying about if it's coming back I can assure you it will always find it's way back, no matter what we do it"s the when that we will try to control not the if, until someone finds the cure I am your UPSC manager that.s all.. " and in true Peewe Hermon Style I blurted out " I knew that" She Shook her head ,rolled her eyes gave me a squeeze on the shoulder, She knew that I sensed that but needed to hear it from her, That was my AHA !! moment. Worry will change nothing.I began to live again
Moli.
0 -
That "AHA" moment.....molimoli said:I WISH YOU continued energy spurts.
Wonderful Helen ,you seem to be taking things in it's stride, getting out doing something you love, thats great. sorry about the recurrences I wish them away
. but the journey comes with them, it seems , These uterine diseases are all so resistant to treatment ,with only luck of the draw long remission, that seem to be all that we can hope for realistically .
Have you had much side effects from the treatments you have had,? Do you feel comfortable sharing?,if you don't that's ok too. WE all understand 'not feeling up to it'.
Happy to hear the acceptance of the new normal. Acceptance lightened my load, gave me peace of mind and steared me away from the the unclimbable mountains to little hills that I can climb one day at a time.
I found that acceptance In Sept when one of my oncologist [ head of the dept ] said, "Don't waste precious time worrying about if it's coming back I can assure you it will always find it's way back, no matter what we do it"s the when that we will try to control not the if, until someone finds the cure I am your UPSC manager that.s all.. " and in true Peewe Hermon Style I blurted out " I knew that" She Shook her head ,rolled her eyes gave me a squeeze on the shoulder, She knew that I sensed that but needed to hear it from her, That was my AHA !! moment. Worry will change nothing.I began to live again
Moli.
You describe it so well. My "aha" moment came when the third recurrence appeared. By then, I knew that if it had survived radiotherapy, two lots of surgery and chemo, that it wasn't going to lay down and die with any of the currently known treatments. But neither was I, darnit! To be honest, it was a horrendous week. We'd just moved house the day before the news of the 3rd recurrence and my dearly loved dad died a few days later.
But I picked myself up, got on with what had to be done and decided that whether the time left was long or short, I was going to enjoy it, get rid of things that stress me (like work) and LIVE! I don't have a bucket list, I just enjoy each day. But I am a little less tolerant of spending time doing things that I don't enjoy!
As for side effects. Well, the second surgery was hard. It involved a colostomy which took some getting used to. But it really has just become a part of my life now and I don't really think about it much. The chemo was tough while it lasted but I am so lucky that I have no lasting side effects from it apart from a very sllight numbness in my big toes some days! The hormone therapy is much more manageable. Apart from the hot flashes and night sweats I really wouldn't know that I was taking anything!
Now I wait to hear whether the Cyberknife radiotherapy that I had in October has had any effect. In the meantime, I stay on tamoxifen to starve the little devil of what it needs to grow! I feel well and, apart from a slight lowness of mood, caused by the awful wet, dark British winter, I am fine.
As you say, worry will change nothing. I don't think anyone has ever slid into their grave thinking "I wish I'd worried more"!
Kindest wishes
Helen0 -
Yes, that is exactly what
Yes, that is exactly what happened. The doctor performed a laporoscopic robotoic davinci hysterectomy. A week later at the follow up, he told my Mom there was cancer. The uterus (and cancerous tumor) were morcellated. My Mom was diagnosed with MMMT in Oct 2014. We had to be aggressive after this "surgical spill". So Mom endured 33 rounds of external/internal radiation and 6 rounds of chemotherapy. Dealing with chemo for a year and the ongoing effects of radiation has been awful, but Mom has a positive attitude. She had been clear for 2 years. However, over the last month she had been extremely fatigued and her stomach extended. She also had stomach pains. Her one year PET Scan was scheduled in March but she moved it up a month due to these symptoms. Today we found out the CT-PET Scan shows the tumor has returned. We are located in Southeast Florida, and hope the doctors here will make the best decisions to treat this very rare and aggressive cancer. Mom thought we had dealt with this and could move on, but always looking over her shoulder. The doctors say it will likely be chemo and surgery to remove the mass. Has anyone else had such a recurrence? Do you know of what type of chemo or other treatment has proven most effective to treat recurrence?
0 -
So relieved to have found this thread
I was diagnosed with anal cancer (very rare) in March of this year. I also have been diagnosed with dysplasia on my cervix and was scheduled for a LEEP. These cancers are related. I have been experiencing pain in my right ovary, so the doctor did a pelvic ultrasound. Fibroids were found, so condsidering my other history, I am to discuss a hysterectomy next week with him. My reason for posting is that the nurse explained he does the da vinci method with morcellation. I had remembered seeing something about this spreading cancer if cancer is present from several months ago. I have been researching this for the last several days and am horrified. My doctor is on vacation this week, so I cannot speak with him. I don't even really know him, as I am a new patient. I am standing my ground and refusing this type hysterectomy. Granted I have to give him a chance to give me other options and not make assumptions, but my question is this ... Why in the world would any doctor take a chance? Sure, as I have read the odds are low, but again why take a chance? The odds are low for a lot of things but since I am already one of the few that will get anal cancer this year, seems my odds went up just with that fact alone. I am also curious as to why there is not more outrage. This type of surgery should be banned ... period.
0 -
YesSMD15 said:So relieved to have found this thread
I was diagnosed with anal cancer (very rare) in March of this year. I also have been diagnosed with dysplasia on my cervix and was scheduled for a LEEP. These cancers are related. I have been experiencing pain in my right ovary, so the doctor did a pelvic ultrasound. Fibroids were found, so condsidering my other history, I am to discuss a hysterectomy next week with him. My reason for posting is that the nurse explained he does the da vinci method with morcellation. I had remembered seeing something about this spreading cancer if cancer is present from several months ago. I have been researching this for the last several days and am horrified. My doctor is on vacation this week, so I cannot speak with him. I don't even really know him, as I am a new patient. I am standing my ground and refusing this type hysterectomy. Granted I have to give him a chance to give me other options and not make assumptions, but my question is this ... Why in the world would any doctor take a chance? Sure, as I have read the odds are low, but again why take a chance? The odds are low for a lot of things but since I am already one of the few that will get anal cancer this year, seems my odds went up just with that fact alone. I am also curious as to why there is not more outrage. This type of surgery should be banned ... period.
I agree!
0 -
'Given your history" . . .ConnieSW said:Yes
I agree!
it seems that morcellation would not be considered and that you should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist. Maybe you are and it may be that the nurse is not aware that your doc would not do morcellation in your case. I remember my pcp thought I would be having morcellation and I was much too stupid to even question it. She was wrong because she's not a surgeon nor a cancer specialist. I asked prior to my surgery how the organs would be removed because I got smarter as the days got closer. I did have robotic surgery but my organs were removed - intact - via my vagina. and that's what they do when cancer is suspected - the organs are removed intact, not all chopped up and put in a bag!
There are lots of ways to do a hysterectomy. "Given your history" and knowing what you know, I would refuse morcellation and ask for referral to someone else if you learn that this is the procedure that the SURGEON (not a nurse) says will be done. You may be relieved when you actually have an appointment. I hope so.
Suzanne
0 -
Thanks SuzanneDouble Whammy said:'Given your history" . . .
it seems that morcellation would not be considered and that you should be referred to a gynecologic oncologist. Maybe you are and it may be that the nurse is not aware that your doc would not do morcellation in your case. I remember my pcp thought I would be having morcellation and I was much too stupid to even question it. She was wrong because she's not a surgeon nor a cancer specialist. I asked prior to my surgery how the organs would be removed because I got smarter as the days got closer. I did have robotic surgery but my organs were removed - intact - via my vagina. and that's what they do when cancer is suspected - the organs are removed intact, not all chopped up and put in a bag!
There are lots of ways to do a hysterectomy. "Given your history" and knowing what you know, I would refuse morcellation and ask for referral to someone else if you learn that this is the procedure that the SURGEON (not a nurse) says will be done. You may be relieved when you actually have an appointment. I hope so.
Suzanne
I am hoping you are right. I don't usually panic about things. In fact, with the anal cancer I was calm as can be. I even questioned what was wrong with me not getting all worked up about it (probably numb). However, since my last surgery for it, I seem to be really hyper-sensitive about anything else being done. I will definitely let him do the talking and see what he has to say, but I will be ready with a response if he talks about morcellation. I did a little checking around and saw a female group of ob/gyn doctors that prefer a vaginal hysterectomy. Hopefully he will take everything into account like you said.
Vaginal is still a good way to go with my history ... right?
Michelle
0
Discussion Boards
- All Discussion Boards
- 6 CSN Information
- 6 Welcome to CSN
- 121.2K Cancer specific
- 2.8K Anal Cancer
- 440 Bladder Cancer
- 306 Bone Cancers
- 1.6K Brain Cancer
- 28.4K Breast Cancer
- 391 Childhood Cancers
- 27.9K Colorectal Cancer
- 4.6K Esophageal Cancer
- 1.2K Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine)
- 12.9K Head and Neck Cancer
- 6.3K Kidney Cancer
- 666 Leukemia
- 789 Liver Cancer
- 4.1K Lung Cancer
- 5.1K Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin)
- 235 Multiple Myeloma
- 7.1K Ovarian Cancer
- 53 Pancreatic Cancer
- 486 Peritoneal Cancer
- 5.3K Prostate Cancer
- 1.2K Rare and Other Cancers
- 532 Sarcoma
- 717 Skin Cancer
- 647 Stomach Cancer
- 190 Testicular Cancer
- 1.5K Thyroid Cancer
- 5.8K Uterine/Endometrial Cancer
- 6.3K Lifestyle Discussion Boards