Preventative hysterectomy

Eldri, You are indeed the sex goddess.  How awesome you look, not only you hair but your persona..  Happy birthday and many more.  My 64th is headed my way and I listened to that tune not too long ago,  Glad you had a great birthday.  

Janaes, I hope your birthday is spectacular.  Part of your birthday gift is the knowledge that you are about to give yourself life and health..  not a bad gift for you and your loved ones.  And if you are going to splurge on you birthday then eat some chocolate for me.  I have loved chocolate all my life.. but this chemo crap has ruined it for me...  yeppp I don't want chocolate.  so just in case, eat a Heath Bar or a Mr. Goodbar for me..  :P    

Again, Happy Birthday both of you fine ladies.

and your hair - it looks great! You look so beautiful! Happy birthday to you!

I'm thinking that insurance has a lot to do with more people not electing to have preventive hysterectomies. Unless you can show them that it is medically necessary, they probably wouldn't cover it.

Happy, Happy Birthday!!!  And many, many more, dear one. Hair looks great!!!!

Your hair looks great! So glad it's coming back so thick and strong! Glad you are having a great birthday and remember that 60 is the new 50! Love and hugs, Sandy

We're both Geminis!  My bd is the 16th and I will be 69!  OMG.  That's close to a really big number.

About preventative hysterectomies, I have this silly non-medical theory:  the longer you keep it, the more it has the opportunity to sit and fester.  I was going to have a prophylactic hysterectomy because I had had 3 endometrial biopsies over the years and I was sick of needing to have one.  My gyn said I was a good candidate for prophylactic hysterectomy and she would perform it because of my history.  I was 62 and I was sick of needing biopsies.    Well, that last biopsy said I had cancer, so I did have the hysterectomy, but for endo cancer not to avoid it.  I thought about prophylactic hysterectomies a lot when I was diagnosed with cancer.  Most of my friends had had hysterectomies for various reasons already and they were not going to get cancer, but here I was, 62 years old with all my parts, and they got sick and had to go.  I understand surgery is a risk, but it would have been less of a risk if it had been done on a younger me rather than an older me.  Bottom line I'm afraid is docs do not want to unecessarily remove a healthy uterus and put a patient's health and future in jeopardy for no reason.  Our uterus does serve a purpose in supporting the bladder and maybe some other pelvic anatomical functions.  I guess.  All I know is if I would have had a hysterectomy as a younger woman, I would not have had endometrial cancer - or ovarian - or cervical.

Suzanne

Suzanne

Happy birthday ladies! My husband will e 64 this week and I will be in December:) hysterectomies.... Well I had some really heavy periods going through menopause. maybe that was a signal for cancer. I mentioned it to my Gyno and if it happened again to let her know and she would do something about it. Alas it didn't happen again. Maybe I missed out on my chance for a hysterectomy then. Ahh hind site ... At any rate enjoy those birthdays and celebrate your new hair:)!

Had my 58th in April - and never so happy to be this old. Birthdays are a wonderful thing. I am shouting from the rooftops about preventive hysterectomies. No uterus = no uterine cancer. I had no family or personal history and no bleeding. Just cramps and bloating and a 13 pound weight gain in a year, which everyone - including the gyn - chalked up to menopause. 18 months later, I'm still battling stage 4 endometrial. Now a brush fire in the lymph nodes. If I had the hysterectomy at the first appt for the internal ultrasound that showed a thickening uterus? I would've been stage 1 contained to the uterus. Saw my very first commercial for uterine cancer on TV last month. It said if you have bloating for more than 2 weeks, abdominal pain , or bleeding, go to your doctor to rule out cancer. Insead of ruling IN cancer, you know? There are 80,000 of us out here - diagnosed with uterine cancers every year - NOT including ovarian. Finally there's a commercial! Every step in the right direction is a step toward a cure - and better yet, more awareness for actively preventing this totally PREVENTABLE disease. I'll step off my soap box now -  xoxox my warriors!

Billie

At 84, have abnormal uterine bleeding and closed cervix makes it impossible to have biopsy. Gynecologists say it is not possible to get into uterus, even with anesthesia. They recommend hysterectomy without confirmation of cancer or pre-cancer cells. I don't know what to do, as I know surgery is tough at my age. I thought of a pelvic MRI. I have not had that, although I have had several ultrasounds (uterine wall measurement not reliable), pelvic exams, a negative Pap smear. Nothing confirms cancer, but my worry has stimulated the surgeon and my doctor to go with surgery to eliminate the possibility.

Fluteduo - Welcome to the board. I hope your surgery goes well and they find zero cancer in the process. Please let us know how you are doing as you move along in your treatments. And, feel free to ask anything. Someone will most likely have an answer.  I agree with NoTime. If you can have an Oncology GYN do your surgery, that is the best.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

fluteduo, you are right to be concerned about the risks associated with surgery.  No surgery is "simple" and certainly not risk-free.  I recall the list of possible side effects I could have had as a result of surgery and what they called "minor" I certainly considered "major".  

From all the things I have read since being diagnosed in 2012 bleeding after menopause is never good.  I wonder how the doctors know what they are going to put you on without even know what you have.  I don't want to scare you, I just am thinking out loud through the key board.  I recall speaking with a gyn onc once at an event  six months ago and she told me how she had a patient who was older and had other health issues - it makes recommending treatment more difficult.  Ultimately, they are looking at the patient on the whole, not as a part - like a uterous - and all the implications that are associated with surgery. 

fluteduo, since a D&C is through the cervix, I am not sure if they could do it.  Please let us know what you chose and how you are doing.