What are the odds and when will i know?

Dear Jamie:

If you haven't shared this with your husband, I think you should.    Whether this is simply a benign condition or something else, you should have someone with you.   If not, the fear can just overwhelm you and you won't be able to enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday anyway.    The waiting is the hardest.  Waiting to get tests, waiting for results.    So you need someone you can talk to.  

My best to you,

Kathy

I would say you definitely should have someone go with you.  I can't tell you how many times I haven't remembered something that the person who came with me did.  I was so nervous that I was focusing on "poor me" when I should have listened more carefully to what was being said.  There is always a lot of information to process at these appointments. 

The longer you put off telling your relatives, the harder it will get for you to do it.  You need their support NOW.  I doubt there is one person on this site who wasn't really scared like you are.  You have to just take it one step at a time.  I've had surgeries where I'm still conscious and others where I've had general anesthesia.  The nurses give you IV's to partially sedate you either way.  I never knew when the mask was put over my face to put me "out" with the general anesthesia, and I've had that a couple of times.  I was already asleep both times.  If that's what's bothering your claustrophobia, there's no reason to worry about that at all ( unless you're a redhead).  I've learned that redheads require extra anesthesia.  I actually prefer being totally "out" as I felt nothing.  I had a colonoscopy once where I was partially conscious and I remember pushing the nurse's hand out of the way when she was pushing too hard on my belly and it hurt. 

I was so nervous about my cancer surgery after I read my CT scan report that I had heart palpitations for 3 days before surgery.  My gyn/onc had to call in a cardiologist to make sure it was safe to operate on me the day of surgery.  And my sister, a nurse, came along and recommended to my gyn/onc that I have my gallbladder out that day, too, so I didn't need another surgery later (my CT scan had shown multiple gallstones). My gyn/onc, a very busy man, hadn't read my report until the day he was to operate on me.  I had gone to the hospital that day expecting robotic surgery.  In an hour from when I got there, I found out I was having major surgery without the robot and having the cancer removed, the gallbladder removed, and my appendix removed (just for good measure).  My gyn/onc found a gastroenterologist who did the GI part, so I had two surgeons, one I'd never even met before.  Talk about a day from Hell!  I was in the hospital for 6 days and had to have a transfusion of two units of blood because I'd lost so much.  I was stage IVb.

I think you're right to brace yourself for the worst.  When you expect the worst, things can either be what you expect or they can be better.  You'll feel so much stronger when you get through all this.  Don't think too far ahead.  Sometimes it's good not to be in control.  After all, how would you cure yourself if you are found to have cancer?  You have to rely on someone with the expertise to fix you.  I'm five years out now and I never expected to make it this far with stage IVb. Maybe you can ask for a prescription for some anti-anxiety meds to help you get through this.  Don't be so hard on yourself for your fear.  Believe me, fear is normal when you hear you have cancer. 

I wish you peace. 

Hugs, Jamie.  You are not alone.  Please know there are people out here in this world-wide-web that can help as well. 

JamieL59 said:

My mind cant wrap around this

First of all, i really appreciate all the comments; i read them over and over again, trying to find that courage you speak of. I would like to know though if any of you felt pretty good, minus old age aches, before your diagnosis and so therefore it came as a complete shock?

Jamie, I felt great prior to my diagnosis and except for a single bit of pink spotting, I had no symptoms.  I was cycling 3-4 times a week and dancing a couple of times a week, working in the yard and considered myself in excellent shape.  To say it came as a shock is an understatement. My OB/GYN and I were both stunned.  

Should it turn out that you do have cancer, and there are many other conditions that can cause vaginal bleeding, you will find that you are stronger than you think.  I totally sympathize with what you are feeling now.  The waiting to find out can be agonizing and fear of the unknown can be overpowering.  But, between now and the 30th and the days beyond, try to do things that you enjoy to take your mind off what may or may not lie ahead.  There is no harm in practicing the art of distraction and I would enlist your husband to help you with that.

Thinking of you,

Chris

Lou Ann M said:

Felt great

Very seldom sick..  Didn't even have many colds.  I had no symtoms.  I went to my GP with what i thought was a yeast infection ( Ihad never had one before).  It was a yeast infection, But he saw a small spot on my cervix..  the next two weeks are still a blur as things moved very fast.  Turns out It was Endometrial cancer that had already spread down to my cervix.  That was 3 years ago and I am still here.  I have many more good days that bad.

Everyone is different    What ever happens, you will find you have unbeleivable strength.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

i have a bit of arthritis but otherwise completely healthy and don't take any prescriptions.

Abbycat2 said:

Jamie, I have been athletic

most of my life and even had the opportunity to train for the 1968 swimming Olympic try outs. You can be vibrantly healthy, slender and fit and still get cancer, just like I did. There is no rhyme or reason to what may happen to anyone. The fact that you have had menopausal bleeding does not automatically mean you have cancer. You may have polyps. Also, as much as 90% of uterine cancer is the slow growing garden variety type called endometriod. This type is most frequently a grade 1 cancer and curable although more rarely it can be a grade 3 cancer. When I met with my gynecologic oncologist the first time- 10/17/13 - he did a uterine biopsy in his office. It scared me that he would do this without anesthesia in his office. Well, I was surprised by how painless it was! 

Don't let this ruin your holidays. Celebrate your husband and son's birthdays. I will be celebrating mine on 11/29/15.

Warm wishes to you! I hope all will be well with you, too!

Cathy

 

 

that I should take anyone with me for diagnostic testing.  I did tell my husband what was going on tho.  As most of you know, I was diagnosed with 2 primary cancers, so I had a bit of testing to do.  It just never entered this old brain that I would take anyone with me.  So I had a pelvic ultrasound first (which I put off because I just didn't "get it" that it was important).  In fact, I was being efficient and I scheduled my (then routine) mammogram to follow so I wouldn't have to make 2 trips.  So I had the US done, and had the mammo.  Went home and got callbacks on both.  I still didn't get it!!  I had had endometrial biopsies done previously and I knew what to expect and went prepared to talk about having a prophylactic hysterectomy because I didn't want any more biopsies.  I had the biopsy and then went shopping, still not worrying about a thing.  Afterall, previous biopsies had always been fine.  I went back for my breast biopsy with a friend, simply because she was a house guest, but I still felt it was going to be nothing as 80% of breast lumps are nothing "they" said,  and I wondered why on earth there was a woman waiting with me who was frightened and crying.  Had my biopsy and went home.  I got a call that night about the endometrial biopsy.  I said,   can we wait until I know what's going on with the breast thing before you refer me to a gyn oncologist?  The gynecologist said well, she'd just go ahead and put the referral in anyway, and that this was "important but not urgent" (I had Type 1 cancer, not 2).  Then approximately 4 days later I got the call that said I had breast cancer.  From this point on, my husband went with me to all of my appointments.  (He no longer does - it's been 5 years - and once again, I think everything is fine, but I do what I have to in keeping follow-up appointments).  Just saying that I was perfectly fine doing all of the prediagnostic stuff alone, but I did tell my husband about it all.  And as soon as I received the reality check, then not only did he want to go with me, but I requested it.  We did not tell our children (who are all grown and away from home) until a treatment plan was decided and in place, tho.  And I still think that was a good decision for our family. 

If you feel you need support for your testing, by all means, take him with you or at least ask him.  He may want to go with you.  I was simply too stupid to even consider that.  Best of luck and remember, November 30 will soon be behind you.  Takes around 4-7 days for biopsy results.

Suzanne

JamieL59 said:

Also, were you able to go

Also, were you able to go back to work the same day you had your ultrasound and biopsy?

the day I had those procedures done, but I could have worked.  I hope things go easily for you tomorrow.

Chris

JamieL59 said:

Also, were you able to go

Also, were you able to go back to work the same day you had your ultrasound and biopsy?

I scheduled my ultrasound first thing in the morning so I did go to work after it was over.   The entire procedure was manageable and there was no pain.  My biopsy was done at my gynecologist's office and again it was a simple procedure with no after effects. 

With regards to your other comment about seeing and hearing cancer references all over TV and radio, I too have that increased awareness.  i also see references to cancer on billboards when I am driving.  I know it was all there before but I thnk it has become personal to us and so we see it everywhere.

Good Luck

Cathy