My mother's Hysterectomy
My mother just got back from a 4 day hospital stay following a hysterectomy. They removed her Uterus, ovaries and lymphnodes.
Her bladder Dr.(not sure what they call that) was also present during the operation and said it looked good (she had bladder cancer several years ago and recovered from that).
My mother also had lung noduals show up on her Pet scan-too small to biopsy).
I spoke with the gynocological oncologist who preformed the operation after it was over and he said there was a mass on the uterus, but thathesawnothing else. When I asked about the lung noduals he said if the cancer had spread that far, he would have expected to have seen more than just the mass on her uterus.
Now, I know fro reading posts on this site that they can't really know what's what until after they examine the organs removed during the operation-but is it really a good sign when the surgeon doesn't see anything obvious besides what they were expecting to find beforehand-nothing extra I mean? Thanks!
I should also say that it was about 4 months from the time she first noticed post-menapausal bleeding until she actually had the hysterectomy.
Comments
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Hello.
It was good that theyHello.
It was good that they found nothing else. From what I am reading from your post, you did not say whay type of cancer they just removed. Your mom can have several "primary" cancers. The first one, is the bladder cancer. Your mom would have seen a urologist for that. As the lung nodule is too small to biopsy, it is hard to say where that is coming from. The uterine mass will still have to be diagnosed as it is either a new primary cancer or it is cancer that metastisized from the bladder cancer. If the cancer in the uterus was endometrial, it is usually a slow growing cancer. However, it really depends on the Grade (1, 2 or 3) and the Stage.
I hope all is well.
Kathy
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It's endometrial. The massKaleena said:Hello.
It was good that theyHello.
It was good that they found nothing else. From what I am reading from your post, you did not say whay type of cancer they just removed. Your mom can have several "primary" cancers. The first one, is the bladder cancer. Your mom would have seen a urologist for that. As the lung nodule is too small to biopsy, it is hard to say where that is coming from. The uterine mass will still have to be diagnosed as it is either a new primary cancer or it is cancer that metastisized from the bladder cancer. If the cancer in the uterus was endometrial, it is usually a slow growing cancer. However, it really depends on the Grade (1, 2 or 3) and the Stage.
I hope all is well.
Kathy
It's endometrial. The mass was on her Uterus. She had the biopsy a while ago and has now had the hysterectomy.
I just wanted to know if the fact that the Dr. found nothing else besides the original mass they saw on the PET scan-if that is a good thing?
Is that a sign that maybe the cancer hasn't gone further than the Uterus?
The urologist was there during the operation because the PET scan showed some kind of shadow or something on the bladder-she'd had bladder cancer years ago and the urologist checked the inside of the bladder recently in preparation for the hysterectomy, but the inside of it looked fine. He was there at the operation to make sure the Endometrial cancer hadn't spread to the outside of the bladder, and it turns out it hadn't.
The surgeon said he doesn't think the Uterine cancer spread to any distant sites because if it had he would have expected to see more than just the mass on her Uterus.
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mrsBee
My mum had a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago for endometrial cancer. The surgeon noticed 2 small spots in her lungs in the scan at the time but dismissed them because he didnt find anything else outside the uterus. At that time she received local radiotherapy and was advised she is ned from stage 1a cancer. 15 months later she went into emergency due to abdominal pain. When they scanned her they found both her lungs covered with cancer tumours and now untreatable! Please get a second opinion. Cancer is a very mysterious kind of illness. Noone knows how it works fully.
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Good morning, mrsBeeDiya said:mrsBee
My mum had a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago for endometrial cancer. The surgeon noticed 2 small spots in her lungs in the scan at the time but dismissed them because he didnt find anything else outside the uterus. At that time she received local radiotherapy and was advised she is ned from stage 1a cancer. 15 months later she went into emergency due to abdominal pain. When they scanned her they found both her lungs covered with cancer tumours and now untreatable! Please get a second opinion. Cancer is a very mysterious kind of illness. Noone knows how it works fully.
I am sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but you came to the right place for answers. Cancer spreads 3 different ways: through the blood, the lymph nodes and/or the tumor grows larger. In your mother's situation, the less cancer involved in the debulking surgery the better. Individual cancer cells cannot be detected by cat scan, pet scan or the naked eye. To determine if her small lung nodules are cancer, the doctors will often do another scan a month to several months later to see if the nodules have grown. If these nodules remain the same size, than it is likely not cancer. I recommend that your mother gets copies of both the operative report and the subsequent pathology report. The path report is the most telling as you will receive the name of the specific type(s) of uterine cancer she had as well as the stage (if possible) and grade. I was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that can show up next in a distant organ such as my lungs or liver. It is the nature of this beast.
Warm Wishes,
Cathy
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The Dr said the pathologyAbbycat2 said:Good morning, mrsBee
I am sorry to meet you under these circumstances, but you came to the right place for answers. Cancer spreads 3 different ways: through the blood, the lymph nodes and/or the tumor grows larger. In your mother's situation, the less cancer involved in the debulking surgery the better. Individual cancer cells cannot be detected by cat scan, pet scan or the naked eye. To determine if her small lung nodules are cancer, the doctors will often do another scan a month to several months later to see if the nodules have grown. If these nodules remain the same size, than it is likely not cancer. I recommend that your mother gets copies of both the operative report and the subsequent pathology report. The path report is the most telling as you will receive the name of the specific type(s) of uterine cancer she had as well as the stage (if possible) and grade. I was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that can show up next in a distant organ such as my lungs or liver. It is the nature of this beast.
Warm Wishes,
Cathy
After the operation the Surgeon said the pathology report would be back to him in 6-7 days, which would be today or tomorrow-but he's not having my mother back for an appt for another week from now to take out her staples from the hysterectomy.
Is it usual to wait this long to discuss staging? I mean, if they know now-why wait another week?
Is this a good or bad sign-or just normal proceedure?
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Its normal. After myMrsBee said:The Dr said the pathology
After the operation the Surgeon said the pathology report would be back to him in 6-7 days, which would be today or tomorrow-but he's not having my mother back for an appt for another week from now to take out her staples from the hysterectomy.
Is it usual to wait this long to discuss staging? I mean, if they know now-why wait another week?
Is this a good or bad sign-or just normal proceedure?
Its normal. After my hysterectomy, I didn't find out that I even had cancer until my follow up appointment to take the staples out and I also had a foley catheter in. What a shock! Then I had to have another surgery a month later for staging because they didn't know I had cancer when they did the hysterectomy.
That was in September. I didn't even start chemo until end of November. So it is normal procedure.
Kathy
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In my caseMrsBee said:The Dr said the pathology
After the operation the Surgeon said the pathology report would be back to him in 6-7 days, which would be today or tomorrow-but he's not having my mother back for an appt for another week from now to take out her staples from the hysterectomy.
Is it usual to wait this long to discuss staging? I mean, if they know now-why wait another week?
Is this a good or bad sign-or just normal proceedure?
the patholoogy was back in a week, but I didn't know the results until my post-op appointment three weeks after surgery.
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A few days or weeks won't make a difference with adjuvant Tx.Editgrl said:In my case
the patholoogy was back in a week, but I didn't know the results until my post-op appointment three weeks after surgery.
I found out about a week after my gynecoliogic oncologist got the results. That's pretty normal. I highly recommend getting a copy of the pathology results. And don't disregard a second or even a third opinion about adjuvant TX- that is, treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.
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Thanks.Dr (surgeon)calledAbbycat2 said:A few days or weeks won't make a difference with adjuvant Tx.
I found out about a week after my gynecoliogic oncologist got the results. That's pretty normal. I highly recommend getting a copy of the pathology results. And don't disregard a second or even a third opinion about adjuvant TX- that is, treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation.
Thanks.
Dr (surgeon)called today to reschedual my mother's appointment for this Friday. That's only ten days after the operation.
The waiting is pretty awful.
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I would think it a entirelyMrsBee said:I was wondering if it's
I was wondering if it's normal for someone to get tired early in the evening a week after a hysterectomy.
My mother is 82, but she never turns in before 11pm. Last few nights she's been going to bed at about 8.
I would think it a entirely normal. I tired easily for several weeks after my hysterectomy. I am recovering from an other surgery now and at 3 1/2 weeks I still am very tired and fatigued. Each day gets a little better, but surgery takes a lot out of you. Your mom needs time to recoup. Hugs and prayers for you and your mother. Lou Ann
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Totally normalMrsBee said:I was wondering if it's
I was wondering if it's normal for someone to get tired early in the evening a week after a hysterectomy.
My mother is 82, but she never turns in before 11pm. Last few nights she's been going to bed at about 8.
I usually stay up until 11 or later, but after my hysterectomy, I was in bed much earlier. Major surgery takes a lot out of your body.
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Pathology ReportMrsBee said:Thanks to you both.
Thanks to you both.
The Dr.said my mother's Uterin cancer is Stage 3A. The mass had gotten through to the Uterin wall.
He also said both the lympnodes and ovaries were negative for cancer, but that the wash they did contained some cancer.
It sounds like-at least it could be, the cancer has stayed in the pelvic area and possibly went no further than the original mass. That's possible, right?
She's going to start a series of 6 chemo sessions in 6 weeks.
He also said he wants her to have one Radiation treatment after the first 3 Chemo treatments.
She will have 21 days to recuperate between the chemo treatmnets.
My mother took the news very well and is in good spirits tonight.
She has a friend who's going through chemo and radiation treatments for Prostate cancer. I think she's taking all of this well partly because she sees him doing very well-I mean, she's certainly not as afraid of the chemo and radiation as she would be if she didn't have his example.
Another good thing-on the drive back from the dr.s today-she got hungry for the first time since her operation. We had to stop at McDonalds.
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That is the normal treatmentMrsBee said:Pathology Report
The Dr.said my mother's Uterin cancer is Stage 3A. The mass had gotten through to the Uterin wall.
He also said both the lympnodes and ovaries were negative for cancer, but that the wash they did contained some cancer.
It sounds like-at least it could be, the cancer has stayed in the pelvic area and possibly went no further than the original mass. That's possible, right?
She's going to start a series of 6 chemo sessions in 6 weeks.
He also said he wants her to have one Radiation treatment after the first 3 Chemo treatments.
She will have 21 days to recuperate between the chemo treatmnets.
My mother took the news very well and is in good spirits tonight.
She has a friend who's going through chemo and radiation treatments for Prostate cancer. I think she's taking all of this well partly because she sees him doing very well-I mean, she's certainly not as afraid of the chemo and radiation as she would be if she didn't have his example.
Another good thing-on the drive back from the dr.s today-she got hungry for the first time since her operation. We had to stop at McDonalds.
That is the normal treatment protocol. Just for your reference I was duagnosed with Grade 2 Stage 3a in Sept Of 2005. Ten years ago. thry found cancer in my uterus cervix and left ovary. I had a recurrence in early 2010 and had some microscopic cells in a lymph node.
I am glad your mom spirits are positive and she is getting her appetite back. It's good she has you! Take care of yourself too. It can be very stressful for you.
My best to you and your mom
Kathy
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Hi. MrsBeeMrsBee said:Thanks for that!
I understandThanks for that!
I understand you're saying your diagnosis was slightly worse than my mother's and yet you're doing great ten years later.
Thanks!
Did you get a copy of the pathology report? What type of uterine cancer did your mother have? What grade is it? Cancer is graded 1, 2 and 3 with 1 being the least bad and 3 being the worse. I was diagnosed on 10/14/13 with Uterine Papillary Serous carcinoma, always a grade 3. Mine was stage 3a like your mother's diagnosis. My cancer spread from the uterus into and outside my left ovary. My pelvic wash was positive for cancer. I am still NED after finishing 6 rounds of chemo- Taxol and Carboplatin. My gynecologic oncologist expects me to recur at some point, but he's not God and maybe he's wrong! In the meantime, I have managed to move on. I bought a new car recently and I will be installing new tile throughout most of my home in November. I realize that this reflects a gigantic HUGE change in my attitude. I realize that I no longer think it is a waste of time and money to purchase something for myself when I am not likely to be here long enough to enjoy the purchases. I can remember not buying even a lousy pair of shoes that I wanted because I asked myself "What's the point? Some stranger will buy my shoes from a thrift store before I even have a chance to break them in." Yes, pathetic, I know. Strange how this cancer diagnosis effects one's thinking.
Wishing you and your Mom the very best,
Cathy
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No we didn't get the grading
No we didn't get the grading number. We'll ask the when she returns in 2 weeks.
I was going to ask for the pathology report but suddenly realised I didn't know what I needed it for.
I mean to say, if the Dr. or my mother asked why I wanted it-I'd have to say I didn't know.
What I'm really worried about now are the side effects from the chemo therapy my 82 yr old mother
is going to have to go through. Is there something they can do to lessen things like bone pain, for example?
That sounds pretty awful.
What did people do in these situations before the internet?
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Before the internetMrsBee said:No we didn't get the grading
No we didn't get the grading number. We'll ask the when she returns in 2 weeks.
I was going to ask for the pathology report but suddenly realised I didn't know what I needed it for.
I mean to say, if the Dr. or my mother asked why I wanted it-I'd have to say I didn't know.
What I'm really worried about now are the side effects from the chemo therapy my 82 yr old mother
is going to have to go through. Is there something they can do to lessen things like bone pain, for example?
That sounds pretty awful.
What did people do in these situations before the internet?
we suffered all alone. I've yet to meet anyone in the flesh with my diagnosis. I am so very grateful and appreciative that I have all of you.
I don't think anyone will ask why you want the path report. It's accepted that as educated consumers we will want our own copies of such things. 20 years ago someone may have raised an eyebrow at such a question but not today.
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How true, Connie!ConnieSW said:Before the internet
we suffered all alone. I've yet to meet anyone in the flesh with my diagnosis. I am so very grateful and appreciative that I have all of you.
I don't think anyone will ask why you want the path report. It's accepted that as educated consumers we will want our own copies of such things. 20 years ago someone may have raised an eyebrow at such a question but not today.
Without this Board and the Internet, I probably would suffer emotionally in silence, like my grandmother did in 1979. She died from uterine cancer and no one would even talk to her about it because it was not talked about openly in those dark ages. I was told not to travel from Indiana to New York to see her before her death because if I did, my grandmother might think there was something terribly wrong with her health. REALLY?? Gee, they really thought she didn't have a clue?
I have copies of my operative report, surgery pathology report and the results of my Pet Cat scan and two Cat scans. I know intimately about my cancer and available treatment, allowing me to ask the right questions and to evaluate what treatment is best for me personally. I am and will remain an informed consumer of health care services. If one does not understand her health situation than how could she provide her treating physician with the requisite informed consent?
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