HELP!!!

juggo
juggo Member Posts: 16
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
My mom was recently diagnosed with cancer. she has an appointment later this week for mri.
her endometrial biopsy report shows that she's diagnosed with:

ENDOMETRIUM (SPECIMENS A AND B)
HIGH GRADE ADENOCARCINOMA WITH CLEAR CELL FEATURES (CLEAR CELL ADENCARCINOMA)
BIOPSY FINDINGS CORRELATE WITH CONCURRENT CYTOLOGY.

i have no idea what it means. can somebody please tell me as to what stage do you think she's in?

please help!

Comments

  • Fayard
    Fayard Member Posts: 438 Member
    #2
    Hello
    Hi,

    I was diagnosed with the same type of cancer on November 2012, clear cell adenocarcinoma stage 2 grade 3.
    According to my oncologist/gynecologist, this type of cancer is aggressive, but curable depending of the stage.

    The grade indicates how aggressive the cancer cell is. The stage is determined based on whether the cancer is confined or if it has metastasized to other parts of the body.

    What I learned from my experience is that the stage has to be done after having surgery, hysterectomy, scans and lymph nodes removal to check for metastasize, when applicable.

    During my surgery, my oncologist was able to see that my tumor invaded the cervix wall, myometrium, more than 50% and therefore the stage went from 1 to 2.
    However, all lymph nodes were clear, thank God.

    I had 6 rounds of chemo, 18 treatments total, and no radiation.
    I finished treatment last July, and I am still recovering from it.

    How old is your mom?
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #3
    Fayard said:

    Hello
    Hi,

    I was diagnosed with the same type of cancer on November 2012, clear cell adenocarcinoma stage 2 grade 3.
    According to my oncologist/gynecologist, this type of cancer is aggressive, but curable depending of the stage.

    The grade indicates how aggressive the cancer cell is. The stage is determined based on whether the cancer is confined or if it has metastasized to other parts of the body.

    What I learned from my experience is that the stage has to be done after having surgery, hysterectomy, scans and lymph nodes removal to check for metastasize, when applicable.

    During my surgery, my oncologist was able to see that my tumor invaded the cervix wall, myometrium, more than 50% and therefore the stage went from 1 to 2.
    However, all lymph nodes were clear, thank God.

    I had 6 rounds of chemo, 18 treatments total, and no radiation.
    I finished treatment last July, and I am still recovering from it.

    How old is your mom?

    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for replying. I feel much relieved and I have hope for my mom. My mother is 47. U don't have cancer anymore right?
  • Fayard
    Fayard Member Posts: 438 Member
    #4
    juggo said:

    Thank you so much for
    Thank you so much for replying. I feel much relieved and I have hope for my mom. My mother is 47. U don't have cancer anymore right?

    Hola
    So far, so good!
    I finished treatment about 8 months ago.
    Your mom is very young, so that will help her fight better.

    The ideal scenario at this time is to have an oncologist who is also a gynecologist.
    Before your mom goes to her appointment, please brainstorm some questions with her that you both might want to ask the doctor.
    Try to take notes as much as you can, and also ask for copies of all test/surgery results

    Please keep us posted and ask questions.

    Hugs and prayers to you! :)
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #5
    Fayard said:

    Hola
    So far, so good!
    I finished treatment about 8 months ago.
    Your mom is very young, so that will help her fight better.

    The ideal scenario at this time is to have an oncologist who is also a gynecologist.
    Before your mom goes to her appointment, please brainstorm some questions with her that you both might want to ask the doctor.
    Try to take notes as much as you can, and also ask for copies of all test/surgery results

    Please keep us posted and ask questions.

    Hugs and prayers to you! :)

    Thank you so much for all
    Thank you so much for all your help! I really appreciate it. I'll def keep u posted! She had an appointment this fri with oncologist this Friday. Please keep my mom in your prayers
  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    #6
    juggo said:

    Thank you so much for all
    Thank you so much for all your help! I really appreciate it. I'll def keep u posted! She had an appointment this fri with oncologist this Friday. Please keep my mom in your prayers

    If you Need any Suggestions, let me know

    Depending on what treatment is prescribed for your mom, let me know and I'd be happy to pass along suggestions based on the treatment I got from my integrative doctor.

    If she is prescribed chemo in the form of taxol/carboplatin, let me know; not everyone reacts badly to it or gets nauseated, by the way.

    Best,
    Rosey
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #7
    RoseyR said:

    If you Need any Suggestions, let me know

    Depending on what treatment is prescribed for your mom, let me know and I'd be happy to pass along suggestions based on the treatment I got from my integrative doctor.

    If she is prescribed chemo in the form of taxol/carboplatin, let me know; not everyone reacts badly to it or gets nauseated, by the way.

    Best,
    Rosey

    Continue praying for my mom
    I will definitely keep u guys posted. She's seeing her oncologist today. Let's see what happens... Please keep my mom in your prayers. I'm really thankful for all the support I'm getting from you guys! I really want my mom to beat her cancer and want her to get well.
  • light42day
    light42day Member Posts: 62 Member
    #8
    juggo said:

    Continue praying for my mom
    I will definitely keep u guys posted. She's seeing her oncologist today. Let's see what happens... Please keep my mom in your prayers. I'm really thankful for all the support I'm getting from you guys! I really want my mom to beat her cancer and want her to get well.

    I'll keep your Mom in
    I'll keep your Mom in prayer, too! And for you and your family. This isn't an easy thing for the whole family to go through.
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #9
    light42day said:

    I'll keep your Mom in
    I'll keep your Mom in prayer, too! And for you and your family. This isn't an easy thing for the whole family to go through.

    oncologist
    my mom just got back and she's scheduled for surgery april 9th. first they were going to do robotic surgery but after her ultra sound they decided that they were going to do the surgery themselves cuz her uterus seemed bigger than they actually thought it was... anyone have any idea about it?
    how painful is the surgery and how long does it normally take?
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #10
    Fayard said:

    Hola
    So far, so good!
    I finished treatment about 8 months ago.
    Your mom is very young, so that will help her fight better.

    The ideal scenario at this time is to have an oncologist who is also a gynecologist.
    Before your mom goes to her appointment, please brainstorm some questions with her that you both might want to ask the doctor.
    Try to take notes as much as you can, and also ask for copies of all test/surgery results

    Please keep us posted and ask questions.

    Hugs and prayers to you! :)

    my mom just got back and
    my mom just got back and she's scheduled for surgery april 9th. first they were going to do robotic surgery but after her ultra sound they decided that they were going to do the surgery themselves cuz her uterus seemed bigger than they actually thought it was...have any idea about it?
    how painful is the surgery and how long does it normally take?
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #11
    Fayard said:

    Hola
    So far, so good!
    I finished treatment about 8 months ago.
    Your mom is very young, so that will help her fight better.

    The ideal scenario at this time is to have an oncologist who is also a gynecologist.
    Before your mom goes to her appointment, please brainstorm some questions with her that you both might want to ask the doctor.
    Try to take notes as much as you can, and also ask for copies of all test/surgery results

    Please keep us posted and ask questions.

    Hugs and prayers to you! :)

    my mom just got back and
    my mom just got back and she's scheduled for surgery april 9th. first they were going to do robotic surgery but after her ultra sound they decided that they were going to do the surgery themselves cuz her uterus seemed bigger than they actually thought it was...have any idea about it?
    how painful is the surgery and how long does it normally take?
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #12
    juggo said:

    my mom just got back and
    my mom just got back and she's scheduled for surgery april 9th. first they were going to do robotic surgery but after her ultra sound they decided that they were going to do the surgery themselves cuz her uterus seemed bigger than they actually thought it was...have any idea about it?
    how painful is the surgery and how long does it normally take?

    ???
    I'm not sure what you mean by "doing the surgery themselves". Does this mean open surgery? If so, that is the surgery that I think is best since the doctor/s cut down the abdomen and can have access to the organs and lymph system. They can explore and see what's going on rather than rely on cameras and manipulating a robotic arm.

    This would be good news to me since your mother has an aggressive cancer and getting a clear look at her insides for debulking surgery and proper staging makes sense to me. The recovery takes awhile and most people recover well taking things slow in beginning.

    Hang in there. Hugs, Mary Ann
  • snowbird_11
    snowbird_11 Member Posts: 160
    #13
    juggo said:

    my mom just got back and
    my mom just got back and she's scheduled for surgery april 9th. first they were going to do robotic surgery but after her ultra sound they decided that they were going to do the surgery themselves cuz her uterus seemed bigger than they actually thought it was...have any idea about it?
    how painful is the surgery and how long does it normally take?

    I second the comment that
    I second the comment that the open surgery is best given the grade of the cancer and the abnormality on the US. The doctor really can't predict length of surgery before they get inside and see what is going on. If all is contained within the uterus the surgery will be much shorter than if they find any evidence of spread. Each person handles the pain and recovery differently depending on pain tolerance and general physical condition. These will be managed post-op carefully as being pain-free and able to get up and move about will their first goal for her. She will have to be careful while the incision heals for at least six to eight weeks. Pushing too fast can lead to incisional hernias - patience is a good thing. Your Mom is fairly young which will be a great help in her recovery.
    Hope all goes smoothly for her!
    Annie
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #14
    snowbird_11 said:

    I second the comment that
    I second the comment that the open surgery is best given the grade of the cancer and the abnormality on the US. The doctor really can't predict length of surgery before they get inside and see what is going on. If all is contained within the uterus the surgery will be much shorter than if they find any evidence of spread. Each person handles the pain and recovery differently depending on pain tolerance and general physical condition. These will be managed post-op carefully as being pain-free and able to get up and move about will their first goal for her. She will have to be careful while the incision heals for at least six to eight weeks. Pushing too fast can lead to incisional hernias - patience is a good thing. Your Mom is fairly young which will be a great help in her recovery.
    Hope all goes smoothly for her!
    Annie

    yes, i mean open surgery.
    yes, i mean open surgery. sorry for the confusion. the doc said that my mom might not need chemo after surgery... is this a good or a bad sign?
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #15
    juggo said:

    yes, i mean open surgery.
    yes, i mean open surgery. sorry for the confusion. the doc said that my mom might not need chemo after surgery... is this a good or a bad sign?

    VERY good!!

    VERY good!!
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #16
    daisy366 said:

    VERY good!!

    VERY good!!

    great :)
    they will find out
    great :)
    they will find out after surgery! if the cancer is at its last stage can the doctors tell before surgery? what do they normally tell the patient before surgery? do they give any headsup? im sorry im asking so many questions but i'm so confused at this point.
    if one is at its last stage how does that patient feel? symptoms? how do you feel if you are at an early stage?
    my mom doesn't have any pain but she bleeds and feels tired and weak...
  • daisy366
    daisy366 Member Posts: 1,458 Member
    #17
    juggo said:

    great :)
    they will find out
    great :)
    they will find out after surgery! if the cancer is at its last stage can the doctors tell before surgery? what do they normally tell the patient before surgery? do they give any headsup? im sorry im asking so many questions but i'm so confused at this point.
    if one is at its last stage how does that patient feel? symptoms? how do you feel if you are at an early stage?
    my mom doesn't have any pain but she bleeds and feels tired and weak...

    good questions
    I think people are so different. There are many here that never felt bad but have later stage serious cancers. Many are healthy in every other way except for having cancer. My husband is hospice social worker and has had patients that died soon after diagnosis! I don't think there is a norm.

    The surgery and pathology reports will determine stage and treatment. I recommend that you ask for a tissue assay/functional profile - this will help docs determine best treatment path to take.

    My docs didn't tell me much before surgery. I was already in hospital with a mass that was likely cancer and they would do what they needed to do. The doctors and nurses will help you prepare (I had to prep like a colonoscopy - total clean out - I guess if they needed to cut into intestines).

    Try not to project or worry - it really just does no good. Ask all your questions to doc or nurse. I had a nurse assigned to me that was available by phone and very helpful. try to stay in the here and now and take each step as it comes.

    My best to you and your mom. Mary Ann

    PS. Start collecting copies of records.
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #18
    Fayard said:

    Hola
    So far, so good!
    I finished treatment about 8 months ago.
    Your mom is very young, so that will help her fight better.

    The ideal scenario at this time is to have an oncologist who is also a gynecologist.
    Before your mom goes to her appointment, please brainstorm some questions with her that you both might want to ask the doctor.
    Try to take notes as much as you can, and also ask for copies of all test/surgery results

    Please keep us posted and ask questions.

    Hugs and prayers to you! :)

    Fayard,
    how long and what
    Fayard,

    how long and what symptoms were you having before you were diagnosed with cancer?
  • juggo
    juggo Member Posts: 16
    #19
    daisy366 said:

    good questions
    I think people are so different. There are many here that never felt bad but have later stage serious cancers. Many are healthy in every other way except for having cancer. My husband is hospice social worker and has had patients that died soon after diagnosis! I don't think there is a norm.

    The surgery and pathology reports will determine stage and treatment. I recommend that you ask for a tissue assay/functional profile - this will help docs determine best treatment path to take.

    My docs didn't tell me much before surgery. I was already in hospital with a mass that was likely cancer and they would do what they needed to do. The doctors and nurses will help you prepare (I had to prep like a colonoscopy - total clean out - I guess if they needed to cut into intestines).

    Try not to project or worry - it really just does no good. Ask all your questions to doc or nurse. I had a nurse assigned to me that was available by phone and very helpful. try to stay in the here and now and take each step as it comes.

    My best to you and your mom. Mary Ann

    PS. Start collecting copies of records.

    thanks daisy and light42day

    thanks daisy and light42day

Discussion Boards