Endometrial cancer diagnosis

lindaprocopio said:

I'd want my surgeon to have more than a 10 robotics history.
I looked into robotic surgery (great video available online that shows the entire operation if you Google 'DaVinci hysterectomy); and Ro10, who posts at this website had the DaVinci robotic surgery. I hope she will post when she sees this. The up-side of robotic surgery is the fast recovery, so you can jump into your radiation or chemo very quickly and you don't get the horrible long scar up your belly. The down side is that the surgeon using robotics may not be able to lift up and examine each of the organs surrounding the uterous to look for cancer spread like he can when he opens you up wide like a sandwich in traditional abdominal surgery. When I look at my scar (which snakes from WAAAY down to about 2" above my navel), I wish I'd have had the robotic surgery. But I am glad that my surgeon found 25 lymph nodes to remove and examine, since only 1 lymph showed microscopic cancer cells, and had he not removed THAT lymph node my staging would have been incorrect. You don't want your sister's staging to be based on 7 or 8 lymph nodes.

Honestly, I'd get a second opinion if there is another Gynecologic Oncologist within reasonable driving distance. My surgeon had 27 years experience and had performed many thousands of hysterectomies with staging. And I personally wouldn't want to be #11 for an inexperienced surgeon on the DaVinci machine. That's me, though. I'd get a second opinion, and maybe there is even a more experienced Gyn/Onc at that same cancer center that you could get for your sister. No physician is insulted when you want a second opinion; they expect it in a life-and-death decision like this.

Try not to be too scared. Grade 2 cells isn't that horrible. (Mine are grade 3!) The cure/survival rate for the lower grade eddometrial cancers is in the high 90%. Your sister has a bumpy road ahead with surgery treatment, but she'll come out of this on the other side a stronger and more spiritual woman for the journey. Please send her here to us if she needs someone to talk to. ((((Doug)))))

fuzzytrouble said:

Northwest Cancer Specialists
Hi Doug Oregon, I am currently getting my treatments at this center and my Dr. did the DaVinci operation and I am 58 years old. I had a radical with everything taken out. I had lymph nodes (not sure how many) and the pelvic wash. I healed well and I am overweight and I am so glad that he did the robotic surgery. I hope your sister has a gyn/onc for this surgery. They have so much more experience with the cancer. I can hardly see the scars from the 5 holes that the surgery will give you. The pain was not even memorial, and I am a big baby when it comes to that. I hope that your sister goes with this type of surgery. I think it depends on how difficult the operation was that your sister's doctor had to deal with on other patients to say whether or not he is qualified . If your sister is comfortable with him is important also. I don't know much about OHSU but I love the way I have been treated at NCS. I hope this helps you and your sister. Sorry that your sister has to deal with this beast but it sounds like it was found early.

Sharon Oregon

Ro10 said:

Doug I had the robotic Surgery on January 5, 2009
I had the davinci Robotic Surgery. I opeted for the robotic surgery, as there is less pain, less recovery period, less hospital stay, and they assured me there was not risk of waiting for the robotic surgery. I don't think the doctor expected the diagnosis of UPSC when I had the surgery. I think they had thought they had caught the cancer early and I would only need a hysterectomy, and that would be the end of my treatment. But since the frozen section showed UPSC the doctor did remove 21 lymph nodes and did an omental biopsy. My doctor told me also that they do not know how many lymph nodes they remove, but when pathology examines them they know how many they removed. 5 of the lymph nodes were positive for adenocarcinoma. My abdominal washing also showed metastatic cells in it. Because I had the robotic surgery I was able to start treatment sooner than if I had an open hysterectomy.

So many of us experienced the same shock you and your sister are experiencing with the diagnosis you recieved. I am 60 years old and have Stage 3-C. I am encouraged with what I read from other people going through this same diagnosis, especially those who have completed their treatments.

Good luck with your decisions. We are from all over the country and have had different opinions on what it the best treatment plan. We just all hope our plan works for us. HUGS to You.

Teresa 61 said:

I had my DaVinci Robotic Hysterectomy Dec. 11, 2008
My robotic hysterectomy took 6 hours. My gyno/onc removed 20 nodes, all were negative.I was diagnosed StageIIa. Like most of the women here my Dr. thought I would just need a hysterectomy and that would be it. I found out I had an aggresive cancer Dec. 22 at my Dr appointment when the pathology report came back.
I'm very happy that I had the robotic surgery. I have five tiny scars on my stomach. They have never been painful. I was in the hospital a total of 32 hours then went home.
My surgery was done at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California. I'm very happy with my gyno/onc. I believe it is very important that your sister feels confident with her gyno/onc. My best wishes to your sister and I hope she knows how lucky she is having a brother like you looking out for her.....Teresa

fuzzytrouble said:

Meeting with doctor
Hi Doug, how did the meeting go with Dr. Rushing today? I hope all went well and you got some good information.
Sharon