Another with USPC

I was diagnosed with IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma) in May 2015.  I had a masectomy of the left breast with immediate tissue expander and Alloderm placement.  After many, many, many infections and other trials the tissue expander was removed in late August.  I began hormonal treatment with Tamoxifin in late July.  I saw my medical oncolgoist for a check up in mid Sept and she recommended that I be followed by a OBGYN instead of my primary care doctor since I was on Tamoxifin.   She gave me a referral to a OBGYN.  I had an appointment with the new doctor on the 24th of Sept.  I was due for a PAP so we decided to do that and a quick ultrasound to look at some spotting that I had developed within the past few weeks.  Up to this point there had been zero signs of bleeding or a period since I started taking Tamoxifin. 

When the OBGYN did the PAP she said, as she clipped it off, "Oh, you have a small polyp hanging from your cervix.  Don't worry I'm just taking it off" and she held it up in a small speciem dish.  My face tells a story and my panic certainly showed!  She immediately said "don't worry! These things are very rarely anything other than bengin.  We will send it to pathology "just in case" but don't even give it another thought."

Fast forward a few days, I get a call from her while at a conference in CA.  It is indeed cancer -high grade endometrial adenocarcinoma with necrosis and components consistent with serous (not on the path report but the pathologist that she spoke with hedged on whether serous cells were present).  Needless to say...a second cancer diagnosis in less than 4 months was incomprehensible. 

I had a radical hysterecotomy (Da Vinci) on Oct 9.  Everything was removed including 27 lymph nodes (pelvic and aeortic).  The final pathology confirmed the serous cell tumor (4.0cm) which had invaded the myometrial 17/21mm.  One of the pelvic lymph nodes was also found to be positive but all other areas were clear of invastion.  Final staging IIIC1, Grade 3. 

The current plan is a sandwiched treatment like many of you have undergone.  3 chemo rounds with Taxol/Carboplatin 21 days apart, followed by 25 external radiation treatments, and 3 additional chemo cycles.  I had my first chemo cycle last Wed.  Side effects are well controlled by meds given pre chemo and by prescription.  Days 3 & 4 were horrible with bone pain but it seems to have lessened in the last couple day.  I actually feel pretty good today (knocking on wood ). 

I meet with a radiology oncolgist the 4th of December to put together a plan for radiation.  I am also meeting with two other oncologist (one breast, one GYN) the 10th of Dec. to talk about treatment and get a second opinion.  It seems that much of the treatment for USPC is "on a wing and prayer" so to speak so meeting with another onocologist for a second opinion seems critical in my mind.   I'm also meeting with an interventional specialist to discuss and schedule meeting with a dietian, accupunturist, and massage therapist during treatment.

I work full time and just returned to work yesterday from my medical leave due to the hysterectomy.  I'm hoping to continue to work throughtout treatment. 

Anything I have overlooked or any pointers on getting through this???   I'm doing okay most days but going on 5 months of mutliple surgeries, treatments, and long periods of limited or no activity have taken their toll - phyically and mentally at times.  I'm ready to get back to life!!