Uterine Serous Carcinoma

Welcome RD. So sorry you needed to be here but glad you found us! I can't directly answer your question about this being the right decision. I will tell you what I did and why.

Serous is a very high risk cancer. Very aggressive. I was Stage 1 Serous (Grade 3). I had chemo and 5 brachy therapy (radiation) treatments. My gyn/oncologist said 'we take serous, seriously!'

I made this decision because I wanted the best chance available to live. I am 5+ years out from treatment and am grateful to be NED (no evidence of disease). Your best chance of a cure happens in the beginning of this disease treatment.  I hope you reconsider your decision but it truly is up to you to determine what is best for you.

I'm sure others will come along with other opinions / suggestions.

Love and Hugs

Cindi

My mom also has stage IV (part of her cancer is also serous carcinoma).  The 6 cycle chemo of taxol and carboplatin was recommended to her too.  The difference from Cindi's situation that she described in her response is that stage IV cancer is not (typically) considered curable, while stage I has a much better chance of that happening if treated agressively.  The way it was described to us is the chemo is the best option to put my mom into remission.

For my mom, the remission lasted about 7 months before the cancer returned.  She is now trying a different treatment.  But don't take this as saying you shouldn't do the chemo--she handled it well with little side effects and felt pretty good throughout the process.  While we have no way of knowing what would have happened if she didn't get chemo, the assumption was that the cancer would have returned more quickly. Many people on this board have also had longer stretches with no cancer, even at stage III and IV.

Is there a specific reason you are reluctant to move forward with chemo?  Many ladies here will share their stories with you and I think it is one of those situations where the fear of the unknown is worse than the actual event.  It could just be that you don't want treatment and are comfortable letting the cancer take its course however that turns out to be (?)  I can see valid points on both sides when the cancer is stage IV.

Please let us know if you have any questions.  Anne-Marie

I respect the desire to remain anonymous and so I will I use what is currently showing.

Dear 8675309, my heart breaks for you. As difficullt as it is, the option for treatment is ultimately the decision of the patient.  The doctors may provide guidance on choosing just one over both, but you have also shared some very detailed and unfavorable results.  I had a mother who chose not to have any treatment, and we all respected that, but it was still difficult.

Hugs dear child. Clearly your mother raised a loving child and that tells us quite a lot of who she is.  My prayers are with you and your family as you navigate this journey.

NoTime 

Hey, 8675309 -

What a hard situation. I think that sometimes partners just want to make their own decisions, and it's so hard to step back and let them, especially when you love your gf and want her around, but also there is that dread of knowing that whatever happens, it's probably not going to be easy or good.

I saw my parents through hospice, and I know quite a lot about it, as NoTime also does. When Mom went on hospice, she was in the hospital, and had previously been cared for very closely at home for a long time. She needed help with everything, so it was a lot, but keeping our people at home for as long as we can is better for them, I think. With Dad, we had a hospice program come out and interview him and me (I lived about 5 miles away, and was running a program in the home before we brought hospice in). Here's what I learned:

Depending on your state, I think (I am in Oregon), you will get medications free and delivered, and you will have access to nursing staff, a counselor / social worker, and devices for the home, such as a hospital bed that will be typically in the living room, or in the space you choose. You can ask for "extras" that might help, such as Hoyer lift if you need one later, bed linens, certain tips of washing items and products, etc. The hospice program I used with Dad gave us an "in case of emergency, medications are here" box, which included some morphine for extreme situation of pain. 867 - If the Hospice Team is worth their salt, they will answer your many questions very well.

As NoTime mentioned, there are many different hospice programs, and it's best if you do some research and find out which program will do the best job for your girlfriend. She does sound like a smart woman. By the way, a close friend of mine just had a pretty serious diagnosis and I found that as soon as I backed off completely, she actually began setting up her appointments and dealing with it--rather than just using language and seemingly resisting beginning the process---which is utterly exhausting, as most of us know. Any, if your gf has made her decision, you will experience "come what may" right along with her. It will be normal to experience some anticipatory grief, and fear if you've never been with a person on their journey. We will be right here if you need us. Please know that.

Love

Deb 2

Dear 8675309/RD,

Thanks for sharing and reaching out.

There have been many times over the years that I rue having had chemo. It can mess with your brain and body permanently and the steroids are prone to making your blood sugar wonky. That said, USC is very aggressive and anything to try and stop more spread is why people do radiation and chemo. This site lays it out well: https://ijgc.bmj.com/content/31/8/1165 It looks like a number of women that had treatment for breast cancer can end up with USC.

Respect her decision. You should be scared but loving. She is dying. We all are, but her death is clearly on the horizon.

I totally understand her wanting to feel good and not focusing on treatments that will make her feel bad and not extend her life without additional suffering.

As to you, she should enroll in non chemo palliative care (may already be past that) and later in hospice for pain management and physical assistance. Treat yourself well, try and get good sleep. Make memories with her now. Do things together as soon as she is able. Take pictures.

She will grow tired and possibly have a lot of pain. She may or may not grow thinner as she is already lean but cancer does cause cachexia. So she may grow very thin and weak. Toward the end she will not be able to eat or drink. If she does not drink, her death will hasten but she won't be in a lot of pain. She will sleep and nap more and draw inward and lose interest in life. Dying is a process. Her liver may fail, etc. as the disease progresses.

For now, enjoy the holidays and make merry and ring in the new year. Make the most of LIVING as the DYING will take care of itself.

Stay close. We are here for you, and her.

FourBee

I've been diagnosed with Uterine serous carcinoma. Reading all 2021 comments the above, and it being October 2023, I was wondering how is everyone doing? Please say you're all well.

Hi, thank you for commenting and sharing.

That's wonderful that you trust in Christ! I love that you ate seeing the world. Life is precious.

My faith is also in Christ and his father and know they only know what they have in store for me. But, unlike you, I do not feel well and believe I will be having chemo befor surgery. I'm like waiting so anxiously to getting the CT and yet so worried about what they will discover.

I had a CT a month ago for the Kidney stone and lage lynodes where discovered in my abdomin which adds to my worries.

I pray that God keeps you cancer free.

Thank you again.

Valerie

I needed that, thank you!