Uterine cancer...mammogram

Janissi1
Janissi1 Member Posts: 34
edited June 2017 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Hi everyone,

I was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer in February 2017. I had a complete hysterecomy on May 5, 2017, and when the pathology report came back, I was told I had not only ovarian cancer, but uterine cancer. My chemo regimen changed (they removed one of the ovarian cancer treatment meds and added another med for the uterine cancer.)

I was told that uterine/ovarian cancer can metastisize to the breast. In fact, it happened to my relative's friend. His wife had a complete hysterecomy and just found out she had breast cancer.

I'm very concerned. What are your thoughts on this subject.

Note: If this subject has been exhausted, please let me know.

Thanks so much!

 

Comments

  • janaes
    janaes Member Posts: 799 Member
    #2
    janissi1, hello welcome to

    janissi1, hello welcome to our board.  No one wants to have to be here, but I will tell you this is a wonderful support group of wonderful women.  Lots of wisdom and knoledge here.  I can tell you when I was diagnosed with uterine cancer in May 2017 and I had my oncologist picked out, he found ou that I had never had a mamagram. I was 43 at the time.  He immediatly ordered one for me.  I didnt want to do it but did.  My results came back clean.  I think if it would help you feel better to get a mamagram I would say do it.  I wouldnt worry yourself about if you have it or not because you dont know if you do.  Thats hard to do I know but if you can do that it will help you the most.  

    With lots of love Janae

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    #3
    Janissi, ovarian cancer and

    Janissi, ovarian cancer and breast cancer do seem to go together, and I think some of the ladies have had genetic testing since there are markers on this.  (No - I don't think this topic has been exhausted)

    I know we "chatted" on the ovarian board, but do you know what kind of uterine cancer you had?  Was it a low grade "typical garden variety" or a high grade (3) cancer?  Those of us with the aggressive (Type II) Grade 3 cancers have received similar treatment to how they treat Ovarian cancer.   I was at a conference and asked if women with the aggressive uterine cancer warriors needed to see how they are treating Ovarian cancers for ourselves?  (I really didn't get an answer)

    I know "with our history" we always need to be on the look out for what our body is doing.  Mammograms are a must, and it takes awhile to figure out what your new normal is after this has all ended. 

    One cancer is enough for anyone, I am sorry to hear what you are having to battle.

  • Janissi1
    Janissi1 Member Posts: 34
    #4
    Janae, thank you for sharing

    Thank you for your heartfelt welcome. Laughing I'm sure all of us would not choose to be here, but since we are, the support is amazing!  It has been a live saver for me.

    I'm very happy your mammogram came back clean. I'm sure you were relieved and thrilled. I decided to have a mammogram to put my mind at ease.

    Thanks so much for your reply. It helped a lot.

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 790 Member
    #5
    I haven't had a mammogram

    I haven't had a mammogram since my diagnosis but have been getting PET/CT scans from the base of my neck to the top of my thighs so I'm guessing that it would pick-up on anything suspicious in my breasts, too. Are you getting any type of scans with your treatment?

  • beccabtown
    beccabtown Member Posts: 234
    #6
    Scans vs. mammograms

    I'm overdue for a mammogram and really don't want to have one now because I'm afraid of damaging my port. I asked my oncologist if CT scans pick up breast tumors and she said no.  (I've noticed that radiologists' reports never mention breast tissue, which suggests that they can't see it on the scans or aren't looking.)

    I know the question of mammograms with ports has been discussed on the board before and most people said it was not a problem. I'm not too concerned about discomfort but really don't want the port to be squeezed or messed with in any way.

    BTW, once again I'm surprised by what my oncologists don't know--such as how mammograms are actually done in this kind of situation. Surely most of the gyn-onc's patients have ports and mammograms.

     

  • CheeseQueen57
    CheeseQueen57 Member Posts: 933 Member
    #7
    Port

    That's why I got my mammogram at my cancer center. They were super careful about the port  I got all my previous mammo films so they would have those for comparison. 

  • SandyD
    SandyD Member Posts: 130
    #8
    Breast cancer

    My understanding (and I may be wrong) is that uterine cancer doesn't metastasize to the breast (although it can metastasize to lots of other places). However, that being said, we are still at very high risk for secondary cancers, breast cancer particularly among them. This is especially the case given the amount of radiation most of us with high grade cancers receive through radiation treatments and CT scans. I would also suspect that anyone who has had cancer once may be more likely to have some genetic predisposition to cancer. So mammograms, YES, absolutely!  

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    #9
    Thermography

    Has anyone looked into this?  I put it in the search and nothing is coming up.  They are wanting me to get a mammogram every 6 months!  I can't see that level of radiation will be helpful and could potentially be harmful.  I follow the Truth About Cancer and found this on the topic if anyone wants to look at it  https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/mammography-vs-thermography-video/ and I am super interested in anyone having experience or having done research.  Thank you in advance <3

  • Cass83
    Cass83 Member Posts: 151 Member
    #10
    Mammogram after treatment

    I asked my oncology gyno about having mammograms since I have had PET and CT Scans. She said it would have to be big for those to pick one up, so yes to have the mammogram. I will do that a few months after treatments end (I am done with chemo and start brachytherapy Tuesday). I also have Lynch syndrome, so I get to have Colonoscopies every 1-2 years now as well.

     

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    edited June 2017 #11
    Nellasing said:

    Thermography

    Has anyone looked into this?  I put it in the search and nothing is coming up.  They are wanting me to get a mammogram every 6 months!  I can't see that level of radiation will be helpful and could potentially be harmful.  I follow the Truth About Cancer and found this on the topic if anyone wants to look at it  https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/mammography-vs-thermography-video/ and I am super interested in anyone having experience or having done research.  Thank you in advance <3

    I have done a bit of research

    I have done a bit of research into this as I have dense breasts. So far, I have not seen any reputable research that says it is as good as a mammogram.  they are available in my area for $250. I am still looking for the best option for me as my mammogram is coming due in a few months.

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,486 Member
    edited June 2017 #12
    Editgrl said:

    I have done a bit of research

    I have done a bit of research into this as I have dense breasts. So far, I have not seen any reputable research that says it is as good as a mammogram.  they are available in my area for $250. I am still looking for the best option for me as my mammogram is coming due in a few months.

    Chris, I just had a woman at

    Chris, I just had a woman at work tell me they thought they had found something suspicious on her mom's mammogram and the follow up was a 3D mammogram - a tomosynthesis.  I don't know if they only do the 3D mammogram as a follow up or if it is used for dense breasts.  

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #13
    Breast MRI

    I answered your question on the breast cancer board, but will add that l had breast MRIs in addition to mammograms for the first 5 years after diagnosis.  They are not routine but were approved via my insurance company because I thought I felt something in my "other" breast.  My pcp also thought she felt something and mammogram and ultrasound was clear and my pcp said she'd just never forgive herself if she didn't order an MRI.  Turned out everything was fine, but a breast MRI is another way to go and I just felt really good about having both a mammogram and MRI, spaced 6 months apart. I had my cancers in 2010 and now I no longer have the MRIs.   I don't know if having a port in place is enough to warrant an MRI vs. mammogram but it never hurts to ask. 

    Suzanne

    Suzanne

  • Editgrl
    Editgrl Member Posts: 903 Member
    edited June 2017 #14
    NoTimeForCancer said:

    Chris, I just had a woman at

    Chris, I just had a woman at work tell me they thought they had found something suspicious on her mom's mammogram and the follow up was a 3D mammogram - a tomosynthesis.  I don't know if they only do the 3D mammogram as a follow up or if it is used for dense breasts.  

    Thanks for this.

    I have heard of this but I haven't really investigated it. I will definitely look into it.

  • takingcontrol58
    takingcontrol58 Member Posts: 272 Member
    edited June 2017 #15
    Dense Breasts

    I too have dense breasts so I always got an ultrasound along with a mammogram.  The only thing an ultrasound can't see that
    a mammogram does is calcifications.

    Personally, I do not believe it is worth the risk to keep adding radiation to my body so after my diagnosis of endometrial cancer, I now 
    only get annual breast ultrasounds, though this year, I may get a 3D ultrasound.  My last mammogram two years ago was a 3D mammogram. 
    It is important to be aware of changes in your body.  Remember, cancer does not grow along with the schedule of your mammograms. Many
    women who have had breast cancer discovered a lump after their mammogram was clear.

    I do get blood markers that test for breast cancer - CA 15-5. Also tested for IGF-1 (insulin growth factor), which it is believed causes
    dense breasts.  IGF is also linked to endometrial cancer. My levels were very high when my cancer metastasized.  I also test for
    estrogen (estradiol) and progesterone. Blood markers will tell you  well in advance if anything might be developing in your body. 
    A mammogram will tell you if you have cancer, but it only shows up when it is a certain size.   It could still be growing and that
    is why blood markers are better indicators of what is going on inside.

    Takingcontrol58

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
    edited June 2017 #16
    I had my annual mammogram

    I had my annual mammogram with my port in and had no problem at all. At my Susan Komen center two types of mammograms are offered. I had the usual normal one. The other kind involves more radiation and since I've had plenty of that, it was not recommended that I have the more intensive kind.

  • Tarans
    Tarans Member Posts: 13
    #17
    beccabtown, ask your

    beccabtown, ask your oncologist group to recommend someone for the mammogram.  When you make your appointment, make sure that you ask for the technicians/nurse who has experience working with a port.  There is no reason to delay- lots of techs/nurses are trained to work with ports.

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #18
    beccabtown said:

    Scans vs. mammograms

    I'm overdue for a mammogram and really don't want to have one now because I'm afraid of damaging my port. I asked my oncologist if CT scans pick up breast tumors and she said no.  (I've noticed that radiologists' reports never mention breast tissue, which suggests that they can't see it on the scans or aren't looking.)

    I know the question of mammograms with ports has been discussed on the board before and most people said it was not a problem. I'm not too concerned about discomfort but really don't want the port to be squeezed or messed with in any way.

    BTW, once again I'm surprised by what my oncologists don't know--such as how mammograms are actually done in this kind of situation. Surely most of the gyn-onc's patients have ports and mammograms.

     

    Scans

    Actually, they can pick up stuff they just don't mention it because it is vague compared to a mammogram.   I just had a CT scan today and it actually indicated that I have a indeterminate 1 cm left breast nodule which appears stable since my last PET/CT.  However, they didn't mention it at all in the report the last time.  And it said it is probably nothing but they recommend further evaluation with mammography.

    I had mammograms with my port.   However, they don't smash you down like the other side.  And my port was twisted too.

  • Rebecca75
    Rebecca75 Member Posts: 5
    #19
    CheeseQueen57 said:

    Port

    That's why I got my mammogram at my cancer center. They were super careful about the port  I got all my previous mammo films so they would have those for comparison. 

    Ports and mammograms

    I did that too.  Everything at the same hospital -- they were used to doing mammograms on women with ports.  I had no troubles.  They are in the same medical system as my docs.  Everything was good.

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