The Importance of Menitoning that you've had a recurrence on this network.

Kaleena said:

Hi Claudia:

I didn't want to mention it like you said, but I too was just diagnosed with a recurrance since my initial surgery in 2005. It was very unclear. All scans were in normal range but the biopsy confirmed it. It is endometrial. My doctors where I live indicated that it couldn't be operated on. I would need radiation with chemo. I went out of state and was told at first that it might not even be cancer, but they confirmed that. They did however say that they would be able to do surgery. I believe I will do the surgery since radiation is a one time shot in this area. No one is sure though whether it was there, a recurrence or a new cancer. They are leaning on a recurrence. In 2005, I was clear. Took preventative treatment consisting of chemo and 3 brachyradiations. Did all follow ups, etc. However, the tumor which was biopsied was there since 2005. (thought it was fibrosis or something like that).

I had complained for about a year about a pain in that area. I said I didn't know if it was hemmoroids, etc. My original doctor retired. I don't think anyone wanted my case because I was NED. It has been a battle for me to find a replacement.

Most or a lot of doctors only read charts and guidelines. We are the ones who know out bodies and know when something isn't quite right. Further, it has taken me two months or more to decide MY OWN treatment. Not the treatment some doctor who just looked at my chart feels. I am not listening to a doctor who doesn't listen to me or doesn't give me options or is willing to discuss all avenues of treatment or non treatment.

Ok, sorry I am rambling now.

Hey, what about this? I was thinking we should have a Shout Out Day. Pick a day where we could all Shout at cancer, for all those recurrences, the testings, the waiting, all the stuff we bottle up inside ourselves. Just a thought.

Thanks Claudia. I am with you. If we hide recurrences, then we keeping negativity inside us and that is not good. It was because of information from this site that I was able to ask more questions and make more sound decisions. Now that is positive!

Kathy

Although I'm not UPSC and do not have a recurrence of my own recently diagnosed and treated uterine cancer, let me say that part of the reason I continue to read here is that y'all tell it like it is...not just the good stuff that we need to hear, but the other truths about cancer as well. Stuff we need to know.

Heck, stuff the darn doctors need to know. As someone said we know our bodies and we know when something is not right. I feel fortunate that my onc/doc said "even if something just doesn't seem right make an appointment." He's as blunt as a bridge abutment, but that's part of what I like about him. Evidently not all our docs know we pay attention.

Anyway, I found this site right after my diagnosis visit with the ob/gyn and before my pre-surgical visit with the gyn/onc doc, even though I didn't register then. I appreciated being able to read even before I knew what it was I needed.

Soooo....my vote goes for talk about it even so it's public because there might be another sumbunny out there like me.

And, while you didn't ask...y'all are my idea of true heroes living life even with Damocles' sword hanging over your heads.

Y'all rock!!!

I want to know...
Looks like we have agreement here. We're not good-news-only bears. I think we're encouraged that if we do all the "right" things and fight hard, that we'll have a good outcome. It mentally gets us through treatment. But it just isn't so, is it? We can only impact our odds toward the outcome. Cancer sucks. So we celebrate the good with each other, and give support and understanding during the difficult times. There's a wonderful collective knowledge among us.

Had to laugh about contacting Oprah! That would be great, wouldn't it?

Nancy

kkstef said:

Agreement
Nancy....I think you have summarized the sentiment exactly. None of us are so naive that we think a re-occurrence is not possible. I am a firm believer in "telling it like it is"...sometimes it is good news, and sometimes, not so good. But we all know that is the reality! AND more importantly, we are all here to support each other, through it all!

This is a great support network for all of us!!

Karen

Cancer sucks and Nancy's DEAD!!!!
Yesterday I got such a shock. I used to work with Nancy and we reconnected recently (about 6 months) through our mutual cancer diagnoses - mine uterine and hers breast. She would email about her treatments, I sent her my usual - the Simonton book and CDs. Well to make the story short - she's dead already. What the..........!!!!!!

she had Six rounds of chemo followed by those neulasta shots and she didn't tolerate the treatment well. Then she had a lumpectomy. And now she's dead!!!! I don't know what went wrong but she had mets to the brain. She was around 50 years old, single.

I'm in shock. Ladies, life is fragile. Enjoy it while you've got it. Sorry for the bummer but I had to get this out. Mary Ann

daisy366 said:

Cancer sucks and Nancy's DEAD!!!!
Yesterday I got such a shock. I used to work with Nancy and we reconnected recently (about 6 months) through our mutual cancer diagnoses - mine uterine and hers breast. She would email about her treatments, I sent her my usual - the Simonton book and CDs. Well to make the story short - she's dead already. What the..........!!!!!!

she had Six rounds of chemo followed by those neulasta shots and she didn't tolerate the treatment well. Then she had a lumpectomy. And now she's dead!!!! I don't know what went wrong but she had mets to the brain. She was around 50 years old, single.

I'm in shock. Ladies, life is fragile. Enjoy it while you've got it. Sorry for the bummer but I had to get this out. Mary Ann

Mary Ann
I am so sorry you lost your friend. Yes, cancer DOES suck. It's insidious and cruel and heartbreaking. And even though it will most certainly claim some of us, we still must fight and fight and never give up. Each day is a treasure, a gift. My heartfelt condolences to you, Mary Ann. I'm glad you came here to share your sorrow and vent a little.

Be well,
Cecile

In agreement
Hi Claudia:
I agree that we need to have the bad with the good. My 3 month follow up is next month so it's back to the doctor we go.

I have had several bad experiences regading cancer within my family but also some promising results. First of all I had an aunt (father's sister) who died in 1978 from cancer. I was told it was stomach but recently told it was female cancer. Not sure of which one but care at that time was next to nothing.

Then another aunt Mom's sister)got lung cancer. We took her to Sloan Kettering in NYC. At one point, it appeared to be gone. But then a few months later it came back with a vengence in her liver. She passed away 2 days after Christmas in 1998.

A couple of years after my aunt, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was only because me and my sister insisted that she got a mammogram. With chemo and radiation she is now in remission for 7 years.

Last is my turn with endometrial cancer. I was surprised at my diagnosis but with family history not totally shocked. When I was diagnosed (June 2009), a friend of my brother was also diagnosed with brain cancer. She passed away a few weeks ago. I was thinking Christmas morning about how fast between diagnosis and her death and how fortunate I have been to still be enjoying life.

With all this said, I plan to enjoy every moment that I can and do everything in my power to fight this cancer. Life is a path and sometimes we don't know where it will lead.

susie1143 said:

In agreement
Hi Claudia:
I agree that we need to have the bad with the good. My 3 month follow up is next month so it's back to the doctor we go.

I have had several bad experiences regading cancer within my family but also some promising results. First of all I had an aunt (father's sister) who died in 1978 from cancer. I was told it was stomach but recently told it was female cancer. Not sure of which one but care at that time was next to nothing.

Then another aunt Mom's sister)got lung cancer. We took her to Sloan Kettering in NYC. At one point, it appeared to be gone. But then a few months later it came back with a vengence in her liver. She passed away 2 days after Christmas in 1998.

A couple of years after my aunt, my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was only because me and my sister insisted that she got a mammogram. With chemo and radiation she is now in remission for 7 years.

Last is my turn with endometrial cancer. I was surprised at my diagnosis but with family history not totally shocked. When I was diagnosed (June 2009), a friend of my brother was also diagnosed with brain cancer. She passed away a few weeks ago. I was thinking Christmas morning about how fast between diagnosis and her death and how fortunate I have been to still be enjoying life.

With all this said, I plan to enjoy every moment that I can and do everything in my power to fight this cancer. Life is a path and sometimes we don't know where it will lead.

Thanks for listening ladies.
It's great to have you all. Many thanks. Mary Ann

daisy366 said:

Thanks for listening ladies.
It's great to have you all. Many thanks. Mary Ann

Mary Ann my sympathy
Sorry to hear about your friend. It reminds us of how fragile life is. We need to enjoy every day we have. We think if it happened to Nancy, things can change so fast for us too. In peace and caring.