Serous Carcinoma

both for support and answers to your questions. I am sorry to “meet” you under these  circumstances. In my experience, the worse part of this journey was the very beginning, when I had no clue what the cancer grade or stage was and if it had spread. I didn’t have a Cat scan until after my hysterectomy. In hindsight, knowing what I know now, I would have wanted the Cat scan results before surgery and I would have asked for a CA 125 cancer tumor marker blood test. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the CA 125 until a month after my surgery.

I recommend: writing all your questions down and bringing the question list with you to each appointment. Bring someone with you, too, as a second set of ears. Get the important records: biopsy results, surgery report and most important, the pathologist’s report following your surgery and the examination of the removed tissues. That's when you will be told what grade, stage and type of Uterine cancer you have. Will your doctor be removing lymph nodes and doing a pelvic wash? You may want to ask about this. Have you been told what grade the doctor suspects it is? Are you being treated by a gyn oncologist?

I hope all goes well with your surgery.

Welcome. My surgery was May 1, 2017. The time before surgery was the hardest for me. It was all much easier to think about once I knew the plan and started working it. Whew, it sure is an emotional roller coaster. I will say, just about 1 year out, that it's better. Once in a while I even forget I have cancer. Abbycat gave you good advice. Write things down or record the conversations if you can. It's hard to remember everything especially when you are scared. Best wishes for a good surgery and recovery.

sissa60 said:

Good evening Ms gbazy,

Good evening Ms gbazy,

Was yours also serous Carcinoma? Hope mine will be also stage 1.  I am also scared to but all we can do is hope for the best.  I will keep in touch with you as i got more IFo.

Have a great evening.

 

Mine was also serous carcinoma (UPSC).  I had stage IVb back in 2010 with a recurrence in 2017.  I had some tough surgeries.  Chemo wasn't bad except for the low blood counts it caused.  Everyone is different with their results, so don't automatically assume the worst.

Good luck to you.  Be sure to go out and get a wig or some other head covering as you'll most likely lose your hair less than two weeks after your first chemo, assuming they give you the combination of Carboplatin and Taxol (Paclitaxel) which are the standard drugs for our cancer.  A few people don't mind being bald and don't wear anything on their heads, but most do.

sissa60 said:

Good evening Ms gbazy,

Good evening Ms gbazy,

Was yours also serous Carcinoma? Hope mine will be also stage 1.  I am also scared to but all we can do is hope for the best.  I will keep in touch with you as i got more IFo.

Have a great evening.

 

Yes Sissa60..I was serous carcinoma and a serous adenocarcinoma.     I had the surgery on March 15..Next week starts 6 cycles of chemo and also staring brachytherapy (radiation) at the same time. Had the port put in yesterday and feel pretty good.   

So nice to have a great group of women to go through this with..A nice support system for all those unknowns...

Gail

sissa60 said:

Updatr

I had my surgery on May 3. They removed everything- uterus, ovary,  floppian tubes, lymph nodes. The gyn-Onc surgeon said we would know the stage for sure after the pathology results come back, but he said the lymph node tissue he saw during surgery were "clean of cancer". I don't know what that means but I hope it means it is in an early stage. I have a follow up appointment and hoping for some good news. Thanks again for all your support and insights. 

I know you are glad to get this part of the journey behind you.  I pray that the pathology report comes back as Grade 1 and this will be the end of your journey, except for monitoring.  Let us know when you get the pathology report.

that your surgeon thinks your lymph nodes removed are clear of cancer. I think if there was cancer in your nodes that would indicate stage IIIC. Hopefully, your pathology report will show that you have an early stage of this cancer. Glad to see that your surgery is over with and you are recovering. 

Warm Wishes,

Cathy

Hi Sissa60

Hi Sissa60

Welcome and I am glad you are sharing with us! The ladies here are amazingly supportive and genuinely interested in each and every person who joins.

My histology contained serous and clear cells. My lymph nodes and omentum were all clear too. The surgeon told me that is typical of our cancer. However, mine had marched out of my uterus and into my cervix and vagina, and then wrapped around my bladder. It infiltrated the muscle tissue, but didn't make it into my bladder. It was ALL gone according to the last PET/CT Scan. My suggestion is stay off the internet sites that discuss this cancer. Remember that statistics are dated. They have to be in order to be compiled and analyzed. If you read through the posts here, you will see women who have our type...living much longer than the numbers. I had forgotten about that just last week, and I regret it. I truly believe, and a very knowledgeable, experienced nurse told me that 90% of this battle is in our heads. Staying positive has REAL effects on our bodies! 

So, you're recovering from the surgery, getting ready to embark on the chemo and radiation? It wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. The beginning was actually harder. It's amazing what your body will get used to. I thought radiation would be a "break" from chemo, but it was a bit more taxing than the chemo. I was more nauseous and tired, and I gained weight, because the only thing that seemed appetizing at all  was ice cream with peanut butter. I justified it because of the protein. However, It was doable, A Day At A Time

Best wishes! Stay in touch!