Advice for biopsy and ablation

junippa56

Hello,

My name is Kate. I do not have a cancer diagnosis and it is with much love and prayers of healing for all that do or have had that I visit here tonight. I’m hoping that someone may be able to offer some advice or perhaps share an experience that is similar to mine, as I want to make sure I am asking the right questions and making the right decisions.

I’m a 44 year old mother of two and I began having heavier than usual periods a number of years ago. I routinely brought it up at my OB visits, but I was never told to do anything other than “let us know if it gets worse” Fast forward to a few months ago when I finally demanded bloodwork and was diagnosed with sever anemia. I’ve been receiving iron infusions and have a few left for my cycle. In the meantime, I had an endometrial biopsy which came back clear and a week later a Trans vaginal ultrasound that showed a mass (1.6 x 1.3 cm) which they said was a “suspected polyp” in my uterus. A week after that (December 7th) I got my period and I have not stopped bleeding since. It was very heavy for 2 weeks straight and then a week of a lighter period and now it’s very light. I’m having on and off cramping most days as well which I’ve never had with my periods. (FYI- My period has never been long..just very heavy for 6-7 days) My Doctor prescribed me the mini pill which I started taking 5 days ago and I have a hysteroscopy and ablation scheduled for January 14th. My question is, does an endometrial biopsy pick up cancer 100% or is there still a possibility that this mass/suspected polyp is something to be concerned about? I know that they will remove and biopsy it, but should I for sure be having the ablation before those results? I certainly don’t want two surgeries and definitely need to control my bleeding ASAP, but I just wanted to see if there was a thought on this? Also, has anyone heard of or experienced pre-menopausal bleeding like this that was indeed a symptom of cancer? I know the answer will be in the biopsy, and I really did try to find more information in general on line, but I’m so grateful for anyone who may read this or have some feedback. Thank you so very much

NoTimeForCancer

junippa56, a D&C would really do a thorough job of getting everything out and give them the opportunity to really examine at all of it. An endometrial biopsy is hit or miss on what they get while the D&C is better.

You are smart to not jump to a cancer assumption, my twin sister had horrible fibroids when we were 37 and had an iron deficiency, eventually having a hysterectomy to make it stop.

Can you ask for a D&C?

junippa56

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691883#Comment_1691883

I will for sure ask my Doctor about a D&C. I didn’t know that was an option. It wasn’t brought up as one, but I’m going to see what their thoughts are. Thank you so much!

Forherself

Welcome junippa56. No harm in coming here with questions. It's good you are taking it seriously. I think I read in one of the medical articles that ablation was no longer recommended. I will look and see if I can find it. Yes biopsies can miss focal points of cancer. I have also read that. I had a polyp and thickened endometrium, and carcinoma was found in the polyp only. So I'm glad they are biopsing your polyp. I think that is what I read. The hysteroscopy will allow the doctor to look for any lesions he or she thinks looks suspicious, so I like that you are having that too. We are pretty pro active here because we are the ones with positive biopsies.

junippa56

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1691952#Comment_1691952

I’m so very sorry that your polyp turned out to be malignant and I hope your recovery is going well. And thank you for your reply and sharing your experience. It’s a weird time (that in between not knowing phase) and I’m very grateful for the feedback. I hope your New Year is a happy and most importantly healthy one.

Forherself

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1692146#Comment_1692146

Thank you. It has been 3 1/2 years. So far so good. Only 1 in 10 polyps is positive for cancer and 80% of those are low grade. So there is that for you. We tend to imagine the worst, but your chances at this stage are for good news.

junippa56

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1692157#Comment_1692157

Thank you again, very much