FIGO staging updates for endometrial cancer

Thank you for sharing this link. Hopefully these more specific staging categories and the focus on molecular classification will lead to better treatment recommendations.

Microsatellite stable means that it is unlikely that the cancer is related to a hereditary condition like Lynch Syndrome (which I have). This is good news since it reduces the chances of developing certain cancers. Testing for Lynch Syndrome was the only genomic/genetic test I had back in 2016.

Since then, research has shown that other markers like P53 can impact treatment approaches. I’ve only heard of the Ki-67 index in relation to breast cancer, but perhaps current research is showing that this is also a useful indicator in uterine cancer.  Others who have been diagnosed and tested more recently than I was may be able to share more information. The report that was linked above does discuss P53 and it's potential impact on treatment.

But even when markers are present that lead to, or suggest, a more difficult road to recovery, it’s important to remember that we are all unique. I was diagnosed with a later stage, very aggressive form of uterine cancer that typically has a high recurrence rate or higher mortality within the first five years than other cancer types. I’m still here and without a recurrence over six years later. And that is without the new treatments like immunotherapy that are available today. 

If I were you, I would request a second pathology review from another institution to confirm the grade of your tumor. While it's possible to go from a grade 1 on biopsy to a grade 3 on pathological review of the hysterectomy specimen, it's my understanding that such an occurrence is quite rare. When I was diagnosed, the results of my endometrial biopsy stated that the cells sampled were grade 1 to grade 2 adenocarcinoma. My final pathology report found that my tumor was a grade 2. I had all the slides from my hysterectomy sent to the Pathology Department at another hospital for confirmation of all of the pathological findings.

Best of luck.