Home after robotic surgery at MSK- NOW THE DREADED WAIT

Hi there Shoregal,

First of all, very impressive that you walked around the block so quickly. You are doing awesome! Keep up the good work.

Now, I'm not a doctor but I'll tell you about my tumor... I was stage 1 but unfortunately had grade 3 cancer.  And, I had a polyp with cancer and a very small tumor in the uterine lining. I believe you can have a tumor and still be stage 1 / grade 1.  The grade of your cancer is the type of cancer you have. Grade 1 meaning the least aggressive and the one you "want" if you have to deal with this cancer. So, you are still looking the same as you did prior to surgery. What you hope to hear in the pathology report is if your cancer stayed contained or spread. My hope for you is that it stayed put!

You can do this. I know it is scary. If you start feeling too anxious, ask the doctor for a mild anti-anxiety med like Lorazapam. It will help you cope.

Come back and let us know how you are doing.

Love and Hugs,

Cindi

That is a really good idea- keep your mind busy with other things- the waiting is just beginning and it is really almost the hardest part. 

It's great that you are already out walking!!!  Do more of that.  Love up those kids and is that a grand baby in the picture?  Take a short trip- plan something FUN and exciting to look forward to.... More than anything start taking stock of your life and realize that THIS is the day that any of us has to live- LIVE YOUR LIFE don't put it on hold for someday or after this or whatever your brain is telling you- grab hold and make each day count.  That is the very best advice I can give you- time will pass, good and bad, like the old soap says- these are the days of our lives right?!  If anyone would have told me that I could get to that thinking back on April 4th 2016 when I was diagnosed I would have thought... well I am living my life, but the truth is I was just busy, I wasn't taking the time for the important things in my life and I wasn't grateful for the life I had, not really, but now because cancer came and I looked for the blessing, I found the real lesson is to really LIVE each day, no matter what that day brings, and to be thankful for it (((HUGS)))

Welcome to the site.  This is my 5th week post op after robotic surgery.  I had mine done at The James in Columbus, OH.  I am from NY, MSK is well known.

I was staged 1A with SC microscopic.  Tomorrow I start my lst chemo.  Dr suggests 3 to 4 treatments.

Wish you the best with recovery, don't try to do too much. Ask questions so you feel confident.

You have joined a wonderful support group.  The ladies are all so wonderful and supportive.

My best to your recovery,

Sandra

I go to MSK also (tho the colorectal group) and find that whenever I have a question, I call or email my dr, and get a quick response.  Your dr's nurse might be able to answer some questions quickly so that you don't have to wait for an explanation. 

Breathe - you'll get through these next few weeks.  So far, I've gotten through the next 10 years!  (And I'll be back at MSK in November for my scans/appts.)

Shoregal:

I thought I posted something to you earlier but I don't see it.  Anyway, glad that your procedure went well and you were up and walking!   The waiting is the worse!  Hang in there!

My best to you,

Kathy

So glad to hear you were up and moving so quickly. I also had surgery (full hysterectomy) on Sept 8th. Pathology came back Stage 1A (already knew it was serous grade 3 (the most aggressive form) from the endometrial biopsy). I start chemo next week. My tumor was up to 50% of my lining. Weird how 1% more would have put me in a different class. It's all very sureal.  I'm anxious to hear more about how you are doing.

I'm also a patient at MSKCC. Just got my scan and bloodwork 6 months post last chemo (recurrence). A tumor can be grade 1. I was diagnoised Stage 1A, Grade 1 three years ago. The grade of the tumor is an indication as to whether it's aggressive or not. 

They're a great hospital and your care team are there for you. I was in awe when I woke up on the VIP floor in what felt like a hotel suite.

Even if their office is closed, don't hesitate to leave a message and ask for the doctor on-call to call you back. After my second surgery, the staples started falling off and my wound opened up again. I bugged them constantly about what I thought was a wound that was never going to heal. I actually found their after-hours services awesome. And don't forget, now that you're a patient, you're entitled to use their emergency room at their main campus in Manhattan. It's only for their patients. I ended up there once and was seen right away even though there was a hospital less than a mile away from me in Brooklyn. 

Waiting is part of the life after diagnosis, I'm afraid. You'll get used to it and you've got a great community here to hold you through it. Hopefully, you'll be able to move on with your life very soon. Good luck.