New here -Looking for support - from breast to uterus?

Kaleena said:

Welcome

Sorry you have to seek this site out, but as you will find out, the women (and sometimes men) on this site are there for you.   You will find that if you just want to vent, it is ok.  If you have questions, someone will respond (sometimes not right away, but they will).    

As I am sure you are aware, CA125 can be effected by many factors.   If you are having inflammation or you have an infection somewhere, that can rise the CA-125.  Just so you know, there are some women on this site with CA125 in the thousands.   However, I am glad you finally sought a physician since you are experiencing bleeding.

Anyway, we are here if you need to vent.

My best to you.

Kathy

Hi-

I cannot even remember why they did a CA 125 on me. But it has been fairly steady, from 75 moving to 150. appreciate the warm welcome!

NoTimeForCancer said:

Livelovebelieve, you have

Livelovebelieve, you have come to a good place.  You can vent, cry, laugh, ask questions, everything! It is safe here and you are among friends.

The ladies before me have given you good advice.  Bleeding after menopause is not a good sign and CA125 is really not a good indicator of having/not having cancer.  I don't mean to sound harsh, but want to make sure you push your doctor to get you all the tests you need.  Alexandra is right about a CT.  It is a very good diagnosis tool, and is often given pre-surgery so the surgeon knows what he is dealing with.   

You have a full plate my dear woman, but push for answers and keep us posted.  We are here to listen and share what we know.  Everyone is different, so what works for some may not work for others. 

 

Hi - Agree fullheartedly re. no time!!!!  Appreciate the wisdom so much - it is not harsh counsel at all.  

I was looking for a place where I could find others who are also pushing for answers - I have only been here one day and am very thankful!  I appreciate the recognition that we are all different too - patients know that; docs don't always, at least in my previous go-through with cancer.  Nice to meet you and I agree, no time:)  I hope that you are doing well.

pinky104 said:

Ultrasound

My UPSC was initially found by an ultrasound.  I had a regular ultrasound.  The tech apparently saw something in the process, and she called in my OB/GYN, who decided to do a transvaginal ultrasound.  The physician found a large polyp and scheduled me for a D&C, promising me that polyps are almost always benign.  I'd had about 6 on my cervix throughout the years and one on my endometrium prior to this that were benign.  But this one wasn't.  I was diagnosed with UPSC after my D&C, referred to a gyn/onc, who did my surgery.  It turned out I was stage IVb.  The worst CA-125 I had during the whole process was only 94.  I'm four years and almost 4 months out from my surgery now, and my last CA-125 in June was 6.3.  A mass was found in May in my peritoneum, and I have to have another CT scan on Monday to see if it's grown or gone (there was a possibility that it was a fluid collection from having had my lymph nodes removed). I guess this just proves that the CA-125 results can be all over the place.  Mine was so low compared to so many other women's.  I had another CA-125 on Aug. 28 but won't know my results until I go to my gyn/onc on 9/15.  I feel fine, as good as you can feel at 65 years old.

Your having gotten cancer a second time is almost certainly due to having been exposed to so much stress in your life.  You've had a very hard road to follow, and I don't know how you've been able to handle it.  I have a friend who has two sons with serious problems, both grown now.  One had cerebral palsy and some mental problems and the second definitely had some mental problems which were never officially diagnosed.  She was able to find a group home for the one with cerebral palsy, and that made her life a lot simpler.  The second one joined the military, was kicked out, and had a child that he wouldn't let his mother even see.  Perhaps you can find a place that will do some respite care for you while you're under the weather.  Do you have insurance that might help out with something like this or maybe you can get help from Medicaid if you have that in your state.  If you have exorbitant medical bills, you might qualify for help when you wouldn't otherwise.  Good luck to you, and I hope things improve for you.  It's hard enough handling this on your own without having additional worries.    

Pinky -

Thank you for sharing the information with me, and the encouragement.  I just asked about what UPSC means - but it does not sound too good.  I'm glad that you feel ok - and hope that the 9/15 visit is a positive one.  

Sorry to hear about your friends with kids issues.  Yep, stress certainly affects health.  One to one correspondence.  I try to stay above the fray as my kids "stuff" has always been here - but now that they are getting older, it is harder; you would think it would be the other way around.  I love them so much - and I am so tired, if that makes sense.  

My immediate family (parents are alive) are of the opinion that you have a problem, you brush it off and keep going.  With the breast cancer, that is what happened and actually it all worked out for the best.  No one was crying, or moaning - but a small side of me wanted a hug.  But in my family, it was all gone and done with.  The theory being that we cannot ever be a burden to each other.  My son's mental health issues - family say he should just get on with it; my daughter's anorexia - she should just eat.  I gain strength from friends outside of my parents; sister is in the UK and my brother has MS. But again, my families take on it is "it could be worse".

And that is true, in some ways.  I love that the name of this group is "survivors" - I consider myself one and am honored to be helped by others who see themselves that way too.  

But it can just suck.  The medical bills - right now I read that there is a new program (?) where your credit can be affected less?  My son's hospitalization in Jan was for 9 days - I had good co-payment for that one, and now it is the outpatient co-pay visits that are tough.  My daughter's inpatient stay was covered (weird with anorexia - look it up!) but her day treatment program was exorbitant - she sees a nutritionist and psychologist once a week, and has physical therapy 2 times a week.  She sees the medical doc and psychiatrist monthly. So the bills cannot be increased by me!

Take care - you sound strong!

Ro10 said:

Live love believe

UPSC is Uterine Papillary Serous  Carcinoma.  They say it is a rare and aggressive type of Uterine cancer.  I am not so sure it is so rare with so many  others posting with UPSC.  They say ten per cent of Uterine Cancers are UPSC.  It acts very much like ovarian cancer.  So I follow both the  Uterine and Ovarian Boards on the csn site.  I hope you do not have this cancer, or any cancer.

Learning lots. Now I kinda "get " more of the connections. Hope you are ok today.