New at this also

Caz55
Caz55 Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1
Hi, my name is Caz, I'm 54 and I had a da Vinci hysterectomy on May 20th for endometrial cancer. The diagnosis was complete shock to me (as I am sure it is to everyone) I went to my doctor on April 2nd as I had a very small amount of pinkish discharge and was worried about it, having been in menopause for a couple of years.I had a pap smear which was negative, so I was sent for a transvaginal ultrasound and then an MRI 2 days later. I was referred to a gynaecologist who did a biopsy. He called a few days later to say that I had cancer and I was then referred to a gyn oncologist. I saw him on May 11th and then had the surgery a week later. This has all been such a whirlwind! I went to my post op this week and the doctor told me I had "won the lottery" as I also had ovarian cancer in my left ovary, which wouldn't have been found otherwise as I had no symptoms and it didn't show on the MRI. He told me that they were both stage 1 and that I wouldn't require any further treatment apart from regular checkups. I have read a lot of your posts and now wonder if I am woefully "under educated" about it all? I don't know what grade I am or anything, just Stage 1. I have a follow up appointment on August 4th and would appreciate any help about what questions I should be asking. I'm afraid that at my post op appointment I was very naive, although I have to say I was kind of in a state of shock. I don't think I have really processed it all yet.Thanks everyone, it feels good to be able to get this off my chest.

Comments

  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #2
    You DID win the lottery! OVCA found Stage 1, by accident!
    Although in this whirlwind of shockingly bad news, you may not feel lucky at all, your oncologist was right. You DID win the lottery! Ovarian Cancer is almost NEVER found at Stage 1, unless by accident when they were looking for something else, so you have been very very blessed.

    The primary question to ask your oncologist now is the GRADE of your cancer. I wouldn't wait until your August appointment for a simple question like that; the nurse can probably check your pathology report and tell you over the phone. If it is a Grade 1 type of cancer (non-aggressive), you may very well be safe to forgo additional treatment. If it is a Grade 3 cell type (fast-growing, aggressive, and sneaky about recurring), you may want to get a second opinion before you walk away from chemo and radiation. I hope it's a Grade 1 and that you just need to recover from your surgery and get on with your life. I'm a big believer in second opinions, regardless. If you ask, they will print out the pathology report from your surgery for you. You definitely want to get that for your records at home and if you decide to meet with another oncologist.
  • kkstef
    kkstef Member Posts: 688 Member
    #3
    Hi Caz
    What a blessing that your cancer was detected at such an early stage....and that they were also able to catch the ovarian cancer! I am sure that you are so relieved!

    I had some left lower abdominal discomfort for a couple of months. My dr. had an abdomincal ulrasound and transvaginal ultrasound done. When nothing showed up, I had a CT scan of the abdomen. Since that was also negative, I did the G.I. follow-up and that showed nothing. A few months later, I too had a very little pink drainage so went to my dr. She immediately scheduled me for a D&C and Hysteroscopy and that is when my cancer was discovered. After I had the hysterectomy it was determined that I had Stage lllA and it had eroded the entire way through the uterus.

    I was quite frankly shocked the cancer was that advanced as all of the tests I had done showed NOTHING! Makes one wonder! That cancer stuff sure can be sneaky!! I completed my radiation and chemo in January and am so happy be feeling well again! Am praying that is the END of my cancer journey and also hope that you have no further developments!

    Stay well!
  • Caz55
    Caz55 Member Posts: 10
    #4
    lindaprocopio said:

    You DID win the lottery! OVCA found Stage 1, by accident!
    Although in this whirlwind of shockingly bad news, you may not feel lucky at all, your oncologist was right. You DID win the lottery! Ovarian Cancer is almost NEVER found at Stage 1, unless by accident when they were looking for something else, so you have been very very blessed.

    The primary question to ask your oncologist now is the GRADE of your cancer. I wouldn't wait until your August appointment for a simple question like that; the nurse can probably check your pathology report and tell you over the phone. If it is a Grade 1 type of cancer (non-aggressive), you may very well be safe to forgo additional treatment. If it is a Grade 3 cell type (fast-growing, aggressive, and sneaky about recurring), you may want to get a second opinion before you walk away from chemo and radiation. I hope it's a Grade 1 and that you just need to recover from your surgery and get on with your life. I'm a big believer in second opinions, regardless. If you ask, they will print out the pathology report from your surgery for you. You definitely want to get that for your records at home and if you decide to meet with another oncologist.

    You did win the lottery!
    Hi Linda,

    Thank you for your reply. I do feel very blessed, and until I started reading the posts on here, I didn't realise how truly lucky I am. I will call the doctors office first thing on Monday, and will let you know! I have been reading a lot of your other posts and would like to say that you are a wonderfully brave woman and you are an inspiration to all of us.
  • Caz55
    Caz55 Member Posts: 10
    #5
    kkstef said:

    Hi Caz
    What a blessing that your cancer was detected at such an early stage....and that they were also able to catch the ovarian cancer! I am sure that you are so relieved!

    I had some left lower abdominal discomfort for a couple of months. My dr. had an abdomincal ulrasound and transvaginal ultrasound done. When nothing showed up, I had a CT scan of the abdomen. Since that was also negative, I did the G.I. follow-up and that showed nothing. A few months later, I too had a very little pink drainage so went to my dr. She immediately scheduled me for a D&C and Hysteroscopy and that is when my cancer was discovered. After I had the hysterectomy it was determined that I had Stage lllA and it had eroded the entire way through the uterus.

    I was quite frankly shocked the cancer was that advanced as all of the tests I had done showed NOTHING! Makes one wonder! That cancer stuff sure can be sneaky!! I completed my radiation and chemo in January and am so happy be feeling well again! Am praying that is the END of my cancer journey and also hope that you have no further developments!

    Stay well!

    Hi kkstef
    Yes, I am very relieved. As I said before it has all happened so fast that it seemed like a dream (or nightmare!) I also had another complication during surgery in that I also had a mass on my right ovary that burst, but apparently that was "just an old infection" I am being very positive though. I think having faith will help too. I am praying for you too and all the women in the same situation.
  • bonniesue
    bonniesue Member Posts: 124 Member
    #6
    stage
    Happy for you to be found early. Questions I have and wished I had known is get the path report and see if it is Stage 1(A,B,C) grade and depth and pelvic washings and how many nodes and from where. Blessings and prayers. Endometrial/Ovarian are silent and many times picked up when looking for other things and are many times kind of blown off or you are told not to worry which many times is true but you almost have to educate yourself or through help from this site.
  • Caz55
    Caz55 Member Posts: 10
    #7
    bonniesue said:

    stage
    Happy for you to be found early. Questions I have and wished I had known is get the path report and see if it is Stage 1(A,B,C) grade and depth and pelvic washings and how many nodes and from where. Blessings and prayers. Endometrial/Ovarian are silent and many times picked up when looking for other things and are many times kind of blown off or you are told not to worry which many times is true but you almost have to educate yourself or through help from this site.

    stage
    Thanks Bonniesue.I wish I had been brave enough to check this site before I had the surgery and then I would have known what to ask, especially at my post op check up.I had never heard of pelvic washings, for instance. But I had my head in the sand, I think. It all happened so fast. I was told I had cancer on May 1st and had surgery on May 20th. I really am so grateful, especially that I happened to marry an American!(I'm British). I can tell you that if I was still living in the UK, I most certainly would not have even been seen by a gynaecologist yet! Let alone had the surgery. That is kind of scary.
    I will call the doctors office tomorrow and ask for a copy of the path report and hopefully it will all be good.
    Blessings and prayers to you.
  • nursey420
    nursey420 Member Posts: 52 Member
    #8
    Caz55 said:

    stage
    Thanks Bonniesue.I wish I had been brave enough to check this site before I had the surgery and then I would have known what to ask, especially at my post op check up.I had never heard of pelvic washings, for instance. But I had my head in the sand, I think. It all happened so fast. I was told I had cancer on May 1st and had surgery on May 20th. I really am so grateful, especially that I happened to marry an American!(I'm British). I can tell you that if I was still living in the UK, I most certainly would not have even been seen by a gynaecologist yet! Let alone had the surgery. That is kind of scary.
    I will call the doctors office tomorrow and ask for a copy of the path report and hopefully it will all be good.
    Blessings and prayers to you.

    Congrats Caz
    congrats Caz Stage 1 is a life saver good thing you went to thw doctor instead of just letting the discharge go. Good luck you are a real survivor
    Lisa
  • Caz55
    Caz55 Member Posts: 10
    #9
    nursey420 said:

    Congrats Caz
    congrats Caz Stage 1 is a life saver good thing you went to thw doctor instead of just letting the discharge go. Good luck you are a real survivor
    Lisa

    congrats Caz
    Thanks Lisa, I appreciate everyone taking the time to reassure me and giving me the infomation I need. Good luck to you also, take care,
    Caz
  • Caz55
    Caz55 Member Posts: 10
    #10
    lindaprocopio said:

    You DID win the lottery! OVCA found Stage 1, by accident!
    Although in this whirlwind of shockingly bad news, you may not feel lucky at all, your oncologist was right. You DID win the lottery! Ovarian Cancer is almost NEVER found at Stage 1, unless by accident when they were looking for something else, so you have been very very blessed.

    The primary question to ask your oncologist now is the GRADE of your cancer. I wouldn't wait until your August appointment for a simple question like that; the nurse can probably check your pathology report and tell you over the phone. If it is a Grade 1 type of cancer (non-aggressive), you may very well be safe to forgo additional treatment. If it is a Grade 3 cell type (fast-growing, aggressive, and sneaky about recurring), you may want to get a second opinion before you walk away from chemo and radiation. I hope it's a Grade 1 and that you just need to recover from your surgery and get on with your life. I'm a big believer in second opinions, regardless. If you ask, they will print out the pathology report from your surgery for you. You definitely want to get that for your records at home and if you decide to meet with another oncologist.

    Stage 1
    Linda, I just wanted to let you know that my cancer was Stage 1A, Grade 1 !! Isn't that good news? I also wanted to say that I noticed from your other posts that you will soon be done with your treatments, God willing. That is awesome, and I hope everything goes well for you.
    Caz
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732
    #11
    Caz55 said:

    congrats Caz
    Thanks Lisa, I appreciate everyone taking the time to reassure me and giving me the infomation I need. Good luck to you also, take care,
    Caz

    Congratulations!
    That is what should happen more. Like Fran says... Detection at Stage I is the cure!!! I pray that women are learning the early warning signs of endometrial/uterine cancer and are diagnosed at Stage I. You definately have an angel on your shoulder and a wonderful Father watching over you. God Bless you... stay strong.
  • Caz55
    Caz55 Member Posts: 10
    #12
    deanna14 said:

    Congratulations!
    That is what should happen more. Like Fran says... Detection at Stage I is the cure!!! I pray that women are learning the early warning signs of endometrial/uterine cancer and are diagnosed at Stage I. You definately have an angel on your shoulder and a wonderful Father watching over you. God Bless you... stay strong.

    Deanna
    Deanna, Thanks for your comments, they mean so much to me. I truly feel blessed and I love what you said about having an angel on my shoulder. I have also noticed from your posts that you have been through an awful lot, but you are staying strong with your faith in the Lord. I know that is what helped me get through this. God Bless you too........ take heart.

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