stage 1a grade 3 endometrial clear cell treatment options

Unfortunately, I don't know much about your type of cancer but one of the ladies, Notimeforcancer, who frequently posts has shared her knowledge of the different types of Uterine cancers.  I found it very helpful.  If you haven't seen it, look for the link titled "Serous papillary endometrial Adenocarcinoma vs other uterine cancers".  It should be the fourth or fifth link on the uterine cancer page.  I hope your appointments next week will provide you with piece of mind and a plan of action.  

I had Creal Crell Adenocarcinoma. All llymphnodes were clear, but tumor invaded cevix wall.

So, my diagnosis was Stage 2, Grade 3, Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma.

I am not a doctor, but I wonder why yours was stage I, if some lymphs were infected. I though stage I was when tumor was vonfined.

Either way, as some else just said, there are protocols. Mine called only for chemo. My onco said we had to attach it aggresively, since clear cells are very agressive. I had 18 treatments of carbo and taxol.

I hope this helps!

caedmon22 said:

thanks so much, all of you,

thanks so much, all of you, for responding. very helpful.

w/respect to staging and lymph invasion -- it's stage 1a b/c i had a clean pelvic wash and margins, and the tumor had invaded well less than half of the uterine wall. my surgeon only took 2 nodes, and both were clear. however, they did find cells in the uterine lymph canals (my surgeon described that as "hanging around the freeway onramp" ). the tumor board recommended 5 weeks of external beam radiation and some brachy therapy (i'm spacing out on exactly how many) but no chemo. my surgeon had me make appointments with both radiology and medical oncs, but after the tumor board discussion she called both of them to get their hit on it. they both agreed with the tumor board. so radiation it is.

i met with the rad onc on monday and it's a really good group. my doc is mayo-clinic trained and very seasoned. he explained that it was entirely possible the surgery got it all, but b/c of the low sampling of lymph nodes and the fact that it was in the lymph inside the uterus, we can't be sure. and clear cell is very aggressive. he said doing the radiation would reduce the chances of recurrence (statistically anyway) from 20% to 10%...so that's pretty good odds.

the insurance stuff is still processing, so i won't have my first appointment until next week sometime, and then the week after that we'll start. kinda glad there's a delay. it gives my body some more time to heal from the hysterectomy before heading into radiation land.

big hugs and best blessings to each and all of you!

Hi Caedmond,, Did your Dr tell you why he doesn't recommend chemo? Clear Cell is such an aggressive cancer, I don't understand why he is relying solely on radiation. I would ask him again, or perhaps get a second opinion. My understanding is that chemo has a much better chance of killing all the wayward cancer cells anywhere in your body. Just my two cents, Sandy

Caedmon, I'm sorry you have this diagnosis. It is very scary, especially when you look things up on the Internet. I was diagnosed in March of 2012. I was stage 2 since it had spread to my cervix. I had 33 lymph nodes removed when I had my hysterectomy in April 2012 and no cancer was found in them. I had 3 brachytherapy treatments first and then six chemo treatments. I had a recurrence in my vagina in less than a year and then had 28 external radiation treatments. There has been no sign of cancer now in almost two years. Good luck to you with your treatments. 

caedmon22 said:

hi settledsue

hi sue. thanks for sharing your experience with me. it's good to know somebody else with the diagnosis who has been through treatment etc. and is doing well (although i am sorry you had it too!!!!). i'm halfway through the external rad (14 of 25 down) and then will have two brachy. i LOVE my rad/onc. love love love my rad/onc. really at each stage of this journey i've found myself in wonderful hands. i'm in week 3 and the side effects have kicked in more strongly. not fun, but i keep reminding myself it's in a good cause and this too shall pass. you're so right about internet research and clear cell. i don't do it any more. scared myself badly enough already .

Just diagnosed stage 1a, grade 3 clear cell. Recommendation: external radiation or bracy w/chemo. caedmon22 I see that you chose external radiation. Would you be willing to provide update on your status / treatment? I am reading studies that show long-term negative impact on bowel/bladder control with external radiation. I have about 3 weeks to decide on a treatment. Meeting with rad onc/medical onc in next 2 weeks.

ConnieSW said:

Hi, Welch

Caedmon decided to leave the group a couple years ago. We've  had lots of others who had external radiation so I'm sure someone will be here to help soon. Glad you found us. 

thank you for your reply. 

Hello all.

My surgery (total hysterectomy plus lymph nodes) is scheduled for 2-19th.(robbot de vinci). Everything appears to moving so fast. Would someone help me to understand, what's happening and will happen? II wa not sure what to ask the surgeon and my referring physician.

Thank you