Endometrial Biopsy

I've had three attempts at a Pipelle biopsy, by three different doctors (twice for the same instance of bleeding). None could be completed as the pain was intolerable. I was happy to have the D&C/hysteroscopy afterwards.

The first time years ago I had a benign polyp that was removed during the D&C. That fixed the bleeding I had been having. So even if the biopsy could have been completed, I still would have needed a D&C to remove the polyp.

The second D&C/hysteroscopy forewarned the gynecological oncologist that I had a rare cancer type, which he factored into my treatment plan.

Therefore, I'm definitely in favor of a D&C versus a biopsy.

So I find the conclusion of the researchers worrisome:

“considering that D&Cs are invasive and costly, but were used for a majority of the follow-up care for women with Pipelle failures, it is particularly important in future research to determine whether repeat Pipelle, perhaps with supportive care, might prove more successful and reduce the need for invasive procedures.”

I don't know what supportive care they're talking about here – perhaps they mean the patient taking misoprostol before the procedure. I had no side effects from taking misoprostol before the D&Cs. But I never taken it before a biopsy. And given where my polyp and later tumor were located, I'm not sure the biopsy would have been useful even if the doctors had been able to complete them.

Thanks for sharing the article link.

I have always credited my female gyn for saving my life. When at 76, I had a gush of brown fluid, I went the next day to her. She did a sonogram and when she saw the thickened wall, she did a biopsy - she and a nurse stayed after hours to do it. The next day she called me and had already made an appointment with a gyn/onc! 3 weeks later I had the hysterectomy - stage 1 but UPSC. As I look back at the past 4 years and as I read others' experiences, I realize that many times our lives are in the hands of the doctors and their wisdom and compassion. I also think her age ( 56 ) and her gender played a role. I also wonder if the sonogram helped her know where to take the biopsy tissue??

When I went to the gynecologist with post-menopausal bleeding, they said they would do a biopsy. I read they were very painful, but braced myself for it. They tried the first time; I was OK at the pain level. But she failed to get any tissue, so she went out to call another doctor and said they had to do it again. They tried the second time, and this time they said they would call me with results if they were not good.

I waited a week, nothing happened, then another week. At the end of two weeks, I got a call saying they didn't have enough tissue and that I needed to have a D&C. I wanted this D&C now asap. They did the D&C and found endometrial cancer, grade 3. From then on, it was a whirlwind because of the grade.

So now I don't believe in biopsies and I would go straight into a D&C, especially with postmenopausal bleeding as a symptom. They could have missed my cancer too, since it was all the way at the back of the uterus and the tumor was so tiny at that point.

When I had the D&C I was already doing reading here, so thank you all for getting me ready.

CheeseQueen57 said:

Port

My advice is leave the port for a while. I'm sure you'll be getting regular blood tests and it makes it so much easier. I've had my port for over 4 years now and it sure made it easier when I reoccurred or when I had to have other procedures. If it's not causing you other problems, I wouldn't be in a hurry to remove. 

Thanks Cheese Queen (I love that name, BTW), for responding. I want the port out of my body, as it reminds me everything I want to forget at the time I most want to forget it. (I can feel it at night when I try to sleep on my side.)

I resisted getting a  port and waited until midway through chemo to do it. You are so right about how much easier it made everything! So, I've debated leaving it, but right now I'm thinking that the benefit of easy blood draws every 3 months isn't worth the stress of having it in. 

If I recur, I most likely will not do chemo again. Although the chemo itself was a breeze, I have considerable neuropathy and can't imagine living with the nerve damage from another set of treatments. I'm concerned, too, about losing my hearing to carboplatin if I had to do that again. Right now, I have no hearing damage but do have ringing and buzzing in my ears. I feel very lucky to have made it through chemo with relatively modest damage, and I don't know that I can count on being that fortunate again. 

You are such a fighter, and I admire that and am amazed at your grit. I was so glad to read that you are feeling better than you have in years on the new treatments.

Thanks again, 

Molly