Postmenopausal bleeding and need for D&C

Hi Jill:
Although I am not
Hi Jill:

Although I am not able to help you with regard to D&Cs, I just wanted to extend my happiness for you with your two year mark! Many blessings to you for peace, health and happiness!

Kathy

hope_for_all said:

Just a thought...
Hi

I'm new here and I have been reading some interesting posts. This one in particular stands out to me. My mother has Endometrial Cancer and her diagnosis didn't come easily (or at least in my opinion). She started off with minor vaginal bleeding, just spotting. Her primary doctor didn't think much of it, even though she's 72 and has been post menopausal for 20 yrs. After weeks of this spotting she finally had a sono done that revealed a 'growth', but he didn't think it was cancer. He did send her on to a gyn. She did another sono and saw the growth but nothing that really stood out as alarming. She went ahead and did an Endometrial biopsy, which in fact came back benign. At that point, they did a saline sono to get a better idea if this growth was removable to make the spotting go away. The saline sono indicated that the growth had increased in size a little and because she's post menopausal they scheduled a hysteroscopy to remove the growth inside the uterus. At that time they tested the tissue removed and in fact came back positive for Endometrial Cancer. Long story short, she then had a hysterectomy which confirmed Stage 3c Grade 2 cancer. Wow! All along we were lead to believe nothing too serious was wrong, that nothing really popped out to them as serious. We're very thankful that the gyn was diligant in solving the problem that lead to this diagnosis.

I just want to say that maybe a hysteroscopy is a way to go instead of D&C, if it's possible. With a hysteroscopy they use a camera to help them remove tissue. My mom did very well with this procedure. No pain and that same day she felt just fine from anesthesia. They also tested the tissue right then when they removed it, getting a faster answer. Just a thought...

I hope that everything goes well with your friend and that answers can come quick, as that seems to be the worst part, just waiting.

Take care!

"Surprises"
It seems all too common that so many women have been told they don't appear to have cancer only to discover that not only do they have cancer, but it has advanced beyond Stage 1.

I had 3 endometrial biopsies for postmenopausal bleeding over about a 5-year period - the first 2 were normal and I went about my life feeling reassured that I was just fine. When I saw the gyn for my third biopsy last spring, I asked about having a hysterectomy regardless of the biopsy results. I was 62 and did not want to continue to go through more biopsies and worry only to discover that down the road I'd have cancer anyway and be older, less healthy, and need major surgery and potential adjunctive treatments. The gynecologist said yes, I was a candidate for an elective hysterectomy and agreed to perform one in the Fall of 2010. When my biopsy came back positive for atypical hyperplasia and areas that were suspicious for adenocarcinoma, there was no question and off I went to the gynecological oncologist for a hysterectomy. His take was that there was a 30-40% chance there would be cancer, which was of course ample reason to get the parts outa me, but I still did not have a definitive diagnosis of cancer until after surgery. Then I got breast cancer and the decision was made to deal with that surgery first, so I didn't have my hysterectomy until about 2 1/2 months after the biopsy. In hindsight and in reading so many posts of women hearing "surprises" after their hysterectomies, I feel very fortunate that my endo cancer was Stage l, grade 1, in spite of the wait and the fact that the tissues examined on the biopsy were only selective areas of the lining of my uterus.

Of course, we never know if we have healthy organs removed whether they would eventually develop cancer, and a hysterectomy is major surgery, but I think it is worthwhile to discuss elective/prophylactic hysterecomy when symptoms have been troublesome for a while and one is currently healthy enough to deal with the surgery but might not be down the road.

I hope all goes well for your friend. It sounds like she's very lucky to have you as an advocate for her.

Suzanne

Rewriter said:

Being optimistic yet realistic
Yes, I know about surprises. My diagnosis of Stage 1a UPSC was a result of my absolutely badgering my gynecologist to perform an endometrial biopsy, although my pelvic ultrasound and pap smear were fine. I did not have a transvaginal ultrasound because my doc thought I was too "tight." She was absolutely shocked when the endo biopsy came back positive for cancer.

Nevertheless, I recognize that for the past 2.5 years--since my May 2008 surgery--I have suspected that any out-of-the-ordinary pain or twinge is cancer. So far that has not been the case, and I pray that it will never again be the case.

My friend Marie had a transvaginal ultrasound when the endometrial biopsy could not be completed. Her lining was 4 mm. I read that for a thickness under 5 mm, endometrial cancer is HIGHLY unlikely. I am trying to reassure her, and myself, since I know that my tendency is to go to the "bad" place. I still want to believe that postmenopausal bleeding can happen for a benign reason.

I do thank all of you for your comments, but I'd like to believe in the accuracy of a transvaginal ultrasound--and a little bit in the gynecologist's reassurance--that this is nothing to be too worried about.

Another experience...
New Year's Eve Dec 2005, I experienced sudden onset of major vaginal bleeding after having been chemically menopausal since mid 1999 due to Tamoxifen treatment for breast ca. I had transvaginal ultrasound which showed growth in the uterus. Then, underwent D&C and gyn stated multiple polyps of various sizes, removed most, and told me no cancer found. Ablation or hysterectomy were offered by another 2nd opinion gyn. All problems had resolved after D&C so not wanting to undergo major surgery, I passed. But in Dec 2007 I was found via endometrial biopsy to have UPSC. Surgery the following month had me Stage IV, Grade 3! I surely question the results of my D&C. No primary found at surgery and thought to have been 'missed' in D&C. I guess we have to get bad enough for a diagnosis to be determined :-(

Hopefully all will go smoothly and with benign results for your friend.
Annie

Rewriter said:

Follow-up response
I have been a lurker for the past couple of months, but I wanted to follow-up on the results of my friend's D&C. The pathology report showed everything to be normal, and the bleeding was due to atrophy.

My intention in sharing this information is to remind myself and anyone who is interested that not EVERYthing is cancer.

BTW, I finished treatment for UPSC in November 2008. So far, so good. My oncologist told me that with this cancer, the chances of a recurrence after the two-year mark are very low. Isn't it funny that I feel as if I can jinx things just by saying that?

My thoughts are with all of you.

Jill

Thanks, Jill
Jill, thanks for the update. It is such good news that your friend is doing well. Also, congratulations on being NED for 2+ years. That is simply wonderful!!

Celebrate each day and keep dancing NED!

Karen