Someone teach me what Stages are?

ronmybaby
ronmybaby Member Posts: 20
in Gynecological Cancers (other than ovarian and uterine) #1
I am new on here I don't understand what people are talking about with all this 4A and 4B and stage this and that. I am sure once I see the doctor next week my education will start. I haven't yet started up the chemo/radiation but it's coming soon.

Comments

  • ccfighter
    ccfighter Member Posts: 476 Member
    #2
    The stages are different for
    The stages are different for different types of cancer. Generally stage four means the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. What kind of cancer do you have?
  • ronmybaby
    ronmybaby Member Posts: 20
    #3
    ccfighter said:

    The stages are different for
    The stages are different for different types of cancer. Generally stage four means the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. What kind of cancer do you have?

    info on stages...
    I guess it would be vagina cancer. The cancer was on a tumor that sat on the cervix/vagina area. Doctor said cancer was left on the vagina and some on the rectum because had she cut it out of the rectum area I would have had a "bag" so now I know I have it in two areas: rectum wall & top of vagina canal. So I don't know what it's called. You seem pretty knowledgeable about all of it. Like you I had a radical hysterectomy. that was 16 days ago. thanks.
  • babe12
    babe12 Member Posts: 103
    #4
    I'm so sorry to hear about
    I'm so sorry to hear about your dx. I am a stage 4a vaginal cancer survivor. My cancer had spread from the vagina to the rectum. I underwent chemo/radiation therapy that actually shrank my 7mm tumor to nothing. I still had to have a rad. hysterectomy, removal of the vag. posterior wall(w/ reconstruction) and I have a colostomy. It's a small price to pay to be cancer free. It wasn't easy, but I made it. I was lucky to have a husband who told me we would take it 1 day at a time and keep our sense of humor. I was dx. 9-23-11 and was clean after my surgery on 2-3-12. Just had my last PET scan a week ago and all clear. There is hope, just keep your faith and humor. I wish you all the best with this journey. If you have any questions, please let me know. By the way Kitty, I am 53 and live in Ga. also.
  • ronmybaby
    ronmybaby Member Posts: 20
    #5
    babe12 said:

    I'm so sorry to hear about
    I'm so sorry to hear about your dx. I am a stage 4a vaginal cancer survivor. My cancer had spread from the vagina to the rectum. I underwent chemo/radiation therapy that actually shrank my 7mm tumor to nothing. I still had to have a rad. hysterectomy, removal of the vag. posterior wall(w/ reconstruction) and I have a colostomy. It's a small price to pay to be cancer free. It wasn't easy, but I made it. I was lucky to have a husband who told me we would take it 1 day at a time and keep our sense of humor. I was dx. 9-23-11 and was clean after my surgery on 2-3-12. Just had my last PET scan a week ago and all clear. There is hope, just keep your faith and humor. I wish you all the best with this journey. If you have any questions, please let me know. By the way Kitty, I am 53 and live in Ga. also.

    babe12
    Write to me sheltiluvr@yahoo.com so we can talk. I will start chemo/radiation soon. thanks for your kind words and info. Kitty

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