P53 Positive

Denise66 said:

What percentage was the P53?

What percentage was the P53?  That makes a big difference. P53 was seen in less than 2% of my tumor. I was told by the pathologist that anything less than 5% was negative. I had a grade 2 tumor. You will need to find out the percentage of P53.  That is very important. What stage were you?  You could send your tumor to Sloane Kettering for a second opinion. 

 

 

My surgery is scheduled for the 27th.

MAbound said:

One step at a time

Hi, "Sunny"!

Welcome to the club that nobody wants to be a part of. Your cancer diagnosis is just a part of the journey you really have no choice but to embark on and there is so much you are going to need to learn for the decisions that are coming down the pike for you.

First of all, this is going to be a potentially long process that will take up the better part of a year to get through. I was diagnosed with the same type and grade of uterine cancer (there is more than one kind) March 18 of 2016 and didn't finish treatment (testing, surgery, recovery, chemo, and radiation) until about Christmas that year and it took a bit longer beyond radiation to recover from that. So prepare yourself for the reality that you are going to need some help getting through some ups and downs this year. You'll be able to live your life between low points, but you will have times where you will be almost too tired to sit up in a chair.

It's all pretty overwhelming and frightening in the beginning because it is all in front of you and so unexpected. If that gives you trouble coping or sleeping, be sure to ask for an anti-anxiety med. Your doctor will understand and there is no shame in it. It's really important to eat and sleep to be able to get through it all. 

The other thing to keep in mind is that this is all a one-step-at-time process. Focus on the current step or prepare for the next, but don't get ahead of yourself because there are so many variables involved with fighting this particular cancer that it's not helpful at all to needlessly scare yourself with statistics or other peoples experiences that probably wouldn't end up applying to your circumstances anyway. We are all unique in what we bring to this journey and the experience is usually different for each of us, but we all have found that it is very doable.

This is a slow growing cancer and the most treatable iteration of it, so there is time to get through further testing and appointments that will precede surgery and to recover from it before anything else. There can be no treatment plan until surgery removes all tissue to stage your cancer and determine other factors that influence treatment options. Use the time to keep learning, ask questions like you are doing, and arrange what you need to in your life so you can focus on yourself when you need to. This is the time to cook and clean so that the dust bunnies don't upset you and the family can fend for themselves.

You've gotten your diagnosis and may have already discussed a hysterctomy with your oncologist. A grade three cancer is more high risk even if it has been caught in early stages, so treatment is likely to be more aggressive than just surgery. Frontline treatment is everyone's best shot for a cure, so this is the time to throw the kitchen sink at it. 

You've come to a really active support group that helps each other get down the road no matter where they are in the process. You are not alone as you face this. There's a lot of practical advice to be found in the threads, so do take time to read through them. We are here to help you with whatever you need whether it's a safe place to vent your feelings, practical advice, or just understanding of what you are going through. 

I'd like to direct you to the My CSN Space so that you can tell us a bit more about yourself and update your journey as things occur. We all have a hard time remembering the particulars about each other and that's the easiest place to go to refresh our memories before responding to each other.

Good luck and always remember you are not alone!

Thank you so much for your responses. I am trying not to get ahead of myself. My surgery is scheduled for the 27th. It will have to be an open surgery because I have a large hernia and some mesh already inside. Thank you again, everyone, for all of your knowledge and support.