Question about Symptoms

HorseLvr

ckdgedmom

Bleeding

Bleeding after menopause is a symptom of cancer. I urge you to go through with the appointments and let him get the biopsy...I know it is scary but it could save your life....

I didn't have any of the discharge issues you mention just a lot of bleeding (I was pre-menopause) but my oncologist said that any bleeding after menopause is a sign there is something wrong.

For me it took a few weeks to get the results of the biopsies...

Please see your doctor!

ConnieSW

My opinion

First of all, there are  no such thing as TMI or taboo subjects  on this board. We are a pretty frank lot. 

My only symptom was a tannish, watery discharge with a distinctive odor ( I'm a nurse and I recalled having a patient with uterine cancer many years ago who had an odor. I couldn't remember if it was the same, but I thought of her immediately so I think my brain knew). 

 

Considering your physical limitations I think your doctor's  plan is a good one. The biopsy isn't easy and if you can't get through it, you'll have to go the other route anyway and be even more apprehensive. He's got things in his bag of tricks to help you once he knows your history. 

Biopsy results take about a week but after the ultrasound  my gyn told me to expect the cancer diagnosis. 

You can do this and we are here for moral support. 

Soup52

I had similar symptoms, first

I had similar symptoms, first with the watery discharge and increased urination, so I first thought urinary tract infection.checked out no, then to urologist. Some other test scheduled and then light bleeding sent me to gynecologist. She did an vaginal scan which showed thickening. She tried biopsy but fervid qhouldmt open so I had a d and c. I was asleep for it and it wasn’t bad. I toourge you to have further evaluation. 

MAbound

Blunt Talk

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do in spite of your fears and phobias and other physical issues. You've been having these very concerning symptoms for years now and have been told you are high risk for endometrial cancer. This is no time to think you can get away with putting off or evading getting diagnosed for what's causing your symptoms. You really need to get to the bottom of this. I get that panic attacks are no joke, so you when talk to your doctor ask him about some anti-anxiety meds. You really can't talk or bargain your way out of doing this; there is no hiding from cancer and there's a better chance of a cure the earlier it's caught.

NoTimeForCancer

HorseLvr, the ladies here

HorseLvr, the ladies here have given great advice.  Please let us know how it goes, even if it turns out to be nothing.  

Donna Faye

Do it ASAP

Good advice from ladies who know the drill. Cowgirl Up and don't be afraid. The fear is greater than the actual!  

MAbound

Horselvr, it really sounds

Horselvr, it really sounds like you have a strong need to be in control here, but you may be getting in the way of your own best interests and setting yourself up for another scary, painful experience that won't give you the answers you need. I had a normal ultrasound just a week before being sent for a biopsy and it found a grade 3 endometrial cancer. So much for a normal ultrasound!

Your history is presenting with some issues that makes getting a good biopsy sample more difficult than normal and you really want your doctor to be able to get a good one given the fact that cancer is strongly suspected. Post menopausal bleeding, even intermittent, is nothing to take a wait-and-see or trial-and-error approach with.

An ultrasound will not be as difinitive as a biopsy is, so please don't use it as a bargaining tool trying to avoid what is scaring you. Make sure your doctor knows about your past issues so that he has a plan to help you cope and make sure he discusses that plan with you ahead of time so you can have some confidence that you won't suffer like that again. Go ahead and get a second opinion about your options for getting this done, but get it done soon. A lot of us would suggest getting that 2nd opinion from a gynecological oncologist because they are the experts our gynecologists turn to in these kind of circumstances. I'm sure your concerned specialist would have no problem with referring you to one.

I'm sorry that I'm giving you a hard time about this, but I so recognize how you are trying to get out of doing something that scares you like I tried to get out of radiation therapy back when I was in frontline treatment. It was others on this board giving me information, support, and blunt talk that got me to do what I needed to do and I am so grateful for that. I hope you can conquer your fear to do what really can't be avoided. 

CheeseQueen57

Don’t think an endometrial biopsy is painless

Just want you to know that an endometrial biopsy hurts like hell and they rarely get enough tissue to accurately diagnose anything. A D&C is pretty painless and you are out and is pretty definitive. I think an endometrial biopsy is a painful waste of time st this point. 

NoTimeForCancer

CheeseQueen57 said:

Don’t think an endometrial biopsy is painless

Just want you to know that an endometrial biopsy hurts like hell and they rarely get enough tissue to accurately diagnose anything. A D&C is pretty painless and you are out and is pretty definitive. I think an endometrial biopsy is a painful waste of time st this point. 

I know you are right about

I know you are right about the pain, CQ!  I was originally scheduled for the endometrial biopsy...ha!  The dr quit and said, "I'm not going to even charge for this" and sent to schedule the D&C.  I am glad she did.  The D&C gets the entire lining and that biopsy might have missed the poylp that was the cancer.  (I love my doctor)  

In the end, I know everyone has to do what is best for them.  HorseLve, I think you see a lot of women here who have found a place to share their experiences and they are truly seasoned professionals.

MAbound

CQ May have a point

I had no pain with my biopsy, but it was the first invasive procedure my uterus ever had outside of childbirth. I've heard that biopsies can be painful if you've had them previously.

CQ may have a very good point about the D & C, though. According to Cancer.net, People who have abnormal vaginal bleeding before the test (biopsy) may still need a dilation & curettage, even if no abnormal cells are found during the biopsy. Given how this is all so traumatic for you, you may want to revisit having a D & C so you only have to endure the one procedure. 

 

Editgrl

HorseLvr said:

He told me the biopsy would

z

Everyone is different

It's possible a biopsy would feel like a cramp.  Mine did.  However, other women have had much more painful experiences.  Quite honestly, in your situation, I think I would opt for the D&C.  As others have said, it is not unusual for a biopsy to miss the spot where the cancer is, while the D&C is pretty definitive and with all of your symptoms, definitive is what you need.

Please work with your doctor to come up with a plan that can address your anxieties and fears.  I am so sorry that anesthesia is such a trigger for you. You really do need to have these procedures done.  They may put your mind at ease. And if it does turn out to be cancer, then you and your doctors can come up with a plan to treat it.  

ConnieSW

Famous last words

My gyn looked me in the eye at my initial visit and told me, " You do not have cancer."  Lucky for me my body shed cells that were picked up on my Pap smear or I would have gone my way and been later diagnosed at a more advanced stage than 1a. It is  nearly 6 years later and without that lucky fluke I might not be here now. 

If you do have cancer and choose to have it treated, you will have to face anesthesia.  Let your doctor help you through your fears and do the best diagnostic workup he can. 

 

We once had a well liked member on here  who kept postponing treatment and picking and choosing which recommended procedures she would accept.   She died. This is serious business. 

barnyardgal

I understand being scared. I

I understand being scared. I wasn't scared of the biopsy, but that hurt. I was a little nervous about the hysterectomy as I had never had surgery before, but it wasn't bad at all. After having a reaction to my first chemo drug, I am a little scared of trying again, but I have to. As a friend of mine, and a two time cancer survivor likes to say it's better than pushing up daisies and having your husband have to mow over you. She always makes me laugh, but she's right. None of this is fun or easy, and it's often scary, but sometimes we just have to do it or face worse consequences. 

I hope it's not cancer, and all goes well!

Jeannie123

Vaginal cuff reacurrance

This is my first post I just joined so am not sure if I am in the right area to post?

I was just diagnosed with vaginal cuff reacurrance.  I had uterus cancer in 2009.  I am so confused the doctor who did the biopsy recommended radiation and brachytherapy so I went to Stanford for a second opinion hoping I could get surgery, that did not happen. I know they do surgery but wondered if anyone out there has had surgery or radiation and what their opinions are? It has now been 3 months of doctors appts and I am no closer to a decision?  I do have lymphafrom my surgery. Any input would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks.

TeddyandBears_Mom

Jeannie123 said:

Vaginal cuff reacurrance

This is my first post I just joined so am not sure if I am in the right area to post?

I was just diagnosed with vaginal cuff reacurrance.  I had uterus cancer in 2009.  I am so confused the doctor who did the biopsy recommended radiation and brachytherapy so I went to Stanford for a second opinion hoping I could get surgery, that did not happen. I know they do surgery but wondered if anyone out there has had surgery or radiation and what their opinions are? It has now been 3 months of doctors appts and I am no closer to a decision?  I do have lymphafrom my surgery. Any input would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks.

Jeannie123, Welcome to our

Jeannie123, Welcome to our board and so sorry you have to be here! My understanding is that radiation is the first line of defense on a vaginal cuff recurrence.  I'm assuming you did not have radiation initially?  I had the internal radiation (brachytherapy) as part of my front line treatment. It really wasn't a difficult treatment for me. There is a thread titled 'Let's talk about radiation' that you may find helpful. I hope you get the answers you need to make a decision. Please come back and let us know how you are doing and ask us anything. someone will most likely have answers to your questions.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

Jeannie123

TeddyandBears_Mom said:

Jeannie123, Welcome to our

Jeannie123, Welcome to our board and so sorry you have to be here! My understanding is that radiation is the first line of defense on a vaginal cuff recurrence.  I'm assuming you did not have radiation initially?  I had the internal radiation (brachytherapy) as part of my front line treatment. It really wasn't a difficult treatment for me. There is a thread titled 'Let's talk about radiation' that you may find helpful. I hope you get the answers you need to make a decision. Please come back and let us know how you are doing and ask us anything. someone will most likely have answers to your questions.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

Rsponse

 Thanks for your response I added two comments and did not see yours?  I already had radiation on my breast.

they want me to have 25 radiation and 3 brachytherapy but someone in my cancer group is steering me towards surgery because I already have lymphadema in my upper legs?  Do you have any problems with lymphadema? No radiation initially. 

Thanks, jean 

hopeful56

I am staged 1a with

I am staged 1a with microcscopic cancer.  If I had the biopsy done in the office more than likely would not have been picked up.  Talk to you doctor about your fears of anesthesia.  There is a lot they can give you.  During the hysterscopy procedure, the surgeon was able to see on the wall the spot that did not look right.  That is where the cells were. I then had to have a hysterectomy. 

It is your choice, but you have to weigh what will be the best procedure to find, if any, evidence of cancer or to rule it out. 

Good luck with your decision.

Sandra

MeinMississippi

I'm a big girl too, and I

I'm a big girl too, and I also suffer from sleep apnea. I had ultrasounds that did not show anything wrong, but ultimately I did have cancer. Maybe you could ask the doctor to give you an anti-anxiety pill before your procedure. I'm not a medical professional, but I most definitely think you need that D&C. If you have just the biopsy and you have a bad experience I feel like that would bring your anxieties to an even higher level. 

Before my D&C I talked to the nurse anesthetist who happened to be a friend of mine. He said when you go under general anesthesia it's a lot easier for them to control your airway and breathing. I have horrible obstructive  sleep apnea and have never experienced a problem with them getting my airway  Also, the Propofol will not erase your memory. At least that's my experience. I've had 13 surgeries. The propofol just helps put you under. I remember everything before I was put to sleep and after I woke up. Please get that D&C. You'll make us all feel better!!  You can do this!!  

MeinMississippi

HorseLvr said:

Thank you so much for the

z

I'm so glad your doctor is

I'm so glad your doctor is going to sit down with you and address your concerns. When I talked to my gynecologic oncologist before my hysterectomy I wrote down all my questions and she answered them beautifully. It eased my mind so much. I think with your mobility issues you need to be able to be relaxed and I feel like they can control that through IV medication. Again, I'm no medical professional, I just know what I experienced. The medical team will also know how to address your diabetes and sleep apnea. The pre op bed should be easy to get on to so that should be helpful. Also, not to freak you out, but definitely get the doctor to address your vulvar issues because that could be a serious health issue as well. Please let me and all of us know how it goes. I go Thursday to have my bladder mass removed, and I'm very nervous, so I'm right there with knowing how you feel. However, we can do this. There are so many sweet ladies on this board that have been through so much more than I, and they give me the inspiration to keep going. We're all going through this together. I will keep you in my prayers and I pray that your anxieties will be calmed. 

ConnieSW

I'm so glad

the two of you linked up. This board is a wonderful place and I'll always be grateful to Linda P. for getting it started.