Uterine Cancer- rarely heard of

groundeffect said:

Hi willsrose,

You are angry now, and you are because you're frustrated. Ambiguous symptoms are one of the reason gynecologic cancers are so hard to diagnose-is it constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, just a backache?

I think uterine cancer is not heard of so much because it is usually discovered in younger women because of excessive bleeding, as mine was. In women past menopause, any bleeding would certainly be a warning sign, but I looked up a bit of information from the Centers for Disease Control:

Gynecologic cancers are diagnosed in female reproductive organs that include the uterus, ovaries, cervix, fallopian tubes, vulva, and vagina. According to the forthcoming United States Cancer Statistics (USCS): 2002 Incidence and Mortality Report (available November 2005)

* More than 71,000 women in the United States were diagnosed with a cancer affecting the reproductive organs.

* More than 27,000 women in the United States died from some form of gynecologic cancer.
Uterine (endometrial) cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer.

* Ovarian cancer is the most deadly gynecologic cancer.

* Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of death for women in the United States; however, during the past four decades, incidence and mortality have declined significantly.

* Other cancers of the female reproductive system are less common. Vulvar cancer, for example, accounts for only 4 percent of cancers in the female reproductive organs. Vaginal cancer accounts for approximately 3 percent of cancers of the female reproductive system.

Before I was diagnosed, I had been into my family doctor's office and my gynecologist's office probably 5 or 6 times each in the months prior, but I won't fault them for their treatment. I did have uterine fibroids (I had them before, and had them surgically removed; I always knew there was a good chance of them coming back).

This is always going to be a problem until there is a true diagnostic test for all of these cancers.

Fran Drescher's book tells about her many trips to different doctors looking for a reason for her symptoms. It's a fairly short book, and you can skip over her personal emotional detail if you like, but they might even help you. She's a very strong-willed woman.

Having a cancer diagnosis is hard enough, but your desire for children has made this extra-hard for you. I read what HeartJourney1 wrote, and think she has made some very good suggestions for you.

You are considered young for having endometrial cancer, I'm sure! I was 48, but was still having regular periods, and all the doctors and nurses kept saying I was so young. If I hadn't been so miserable, I would have been flattered.

I'm so glad you've come to the CSN site and have ranted. It's difficult to unload on those close to you - I know my husband is very concerned, and listens to my complaints, but he made it very clear on our way to my surgery that there wasn't going to be any out-and-out whining about it (not that I was really considering that).

Your stage of 2A was a little higher than mine; did you have further treaments, such as radiation?

I had been laid off my job and was having a tough time looking for another when I was diagnosed. I did find one that I interviewed first for just at the end of my chemo treatments (they found ovarian cancer during my surgery, also), worked for the same people for 3 1/2 years and was just recently laid off, but you know what? I really don't care because I know that I can find another job, and losing a job just isn't the end of the world. I had to work with a really horrid person occasionally at that job, too, and I was able to tolerate them and even stand up to them because I knew I've dealt with far worse things, and they were very small in the scheme of the world.

I hope you'll look into doing something different you've always wanted to try for work. You're certainly young enough to do that.

I'd also suggest finding a support group to join; it's a wonderful thing to be able to talk freely to other women who have had the same experience. I've been humbled by my experience. I was afraid of people crying when I went to my first meeting, and I was the only one who I've ever seen with "waterworks" going there. I was terrified of what was going to happen to me.

To go back to your question about why you don't hear about it much, I think it's because most women are embarassed to talk about their symptoms even after they're diagnosed. I almost always had heavy periods, and know other women who have, also, so I didn't figure that symptom was anything alarming enough to discuss with anyone other than my gynecologist.

Please rant some more, if you'd like. We're listening!

ambeelight02 said:

Hello! I have been recently diagnosed with Uterine Sarcoma but by the time that a doctor actually caught it and did some test it is now Stage 4B.I am only 22 years old with no children but really want a few.I have been having heavy bleeding and painful cramps for about three years ongoing and went to about 5 doctors until someone finally didnt say "get on birth control,its just hormones and the bc will help". but nothing ever helped so i finally demanded taht a new doc run some tests then they thought that there was no way b/c i'm so young but three oncologists proved it.I know what you all are going through.I would love to have some others to talk to at times such as yourselves.Please tell me your stories and what goes thru your minds at times.i am currently undergoing aggressive chemo treatments four days a week that have a huge chance of not working but its worth it to me.Please e-mail me at ambeelight02@yahoo.com.