D & C again (just had 6mths ago)

Marcia527 said:

I started spotting and I had
I started spotting and I had to have a D&C after 9 months on Tamoxifen but don't know if it contributed to it or not. I had polyps. But the onc determined I was in menopause and switched me to Aromasin because of family history (I had a sister who had uterine cancer).

crselby said:

first d&c ever after less than a year on Tamoxifen
I've been on Tamoxifen about as long as you, Disneyfan. My onc said uterine ultrasounds were not needed as spotting would be the sign that there was endometrial cancer and we could just do a hysterectomy to cure that. Whattttt?????

So I found a gyn who is NOT an Ob and specializes in older women (I'm 59). She recommended a baseline ultrasound a year ago. In October the annual (second) ultrasound showed thickening. Had very uncomfortable and expensive hysteroscope that showed 2 polyps. Then had (knocked out for) expensive hysteroscopic endometrial polypectomy basically, a D & C) 3 weeks ago. Healing fine now. Path report showed everything benign. Am having reports sent to onc. Will see him next month. If I don't like what he has to say this time, I'm changing oncologists. He's far too flipant with my health.

I wonder what's down the road for us?

~~Connie~~

Double Whammy said:

If your have abnormal cells, see a gynecologic oncologist
for a second opinion. They are the experts. Yes, a hysterectomy is major surgery, and it was much more frightening to me than breast surgery. And no, I wouldn't have one on a whim, but I was scared enough by the word cancer not to give it a second thought. My biopsy showed atypical hyperplasia and areas that were suspicious for adenocarcinoma. I was immediately referred to a gynecologic oncologist. He took this very seriously and he performed the hysterectomy (DaVinci robotic assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy). And it was cancer. And it had grown into the wall of my uterus 1/3 of the way. Lucky for me, it was early stage and grade 1, and I didn't need adjuctive therapy, but I have pelvic exams and Pap smears every 4 months. I had no symptoms - endometrial cells showed up on a routine Pap smear. Ultrasound showed the lining of my uterus to be 9 mm, then the biopsy.

I've been wondering with so much media about unnecessary hysterectomies, how many women will go on to develop endometrial cancer and if the rate of postmenopausal endo cancer will increase - simply because they still have a uterus for it to grow in.

I asked whether I would reap a double benefit from the chemo I received for breast cancer just in case there was an endo cancer cell floating around somewhere. Oncologist said no, the chemo for bc is not effective for endo cancer. Different cocktail.

What can be effective for both, tho, is aromatase therapy. Interesting. I start that next week for my breast cancer. I may not need adjunctive therapy for my endo cancer, but it does sort of give me a sense of security (false or not) that I'm doing something that might also keep the endo ca at bay.

Suzanne

jo jo said:

Heather
I told all my doctors about the ablation and they all never said anything about it so i assumed it didnt have any affect with the BC treatments and of course mine was 3-4 yrs ago and yours is pretty recent. I do know that having the ablation puts you in premature menapause...i think i had my first hotflash after about a year after the ablation procedure.
Now since the BC treatments like chemo and tamoxifen...while i was on chemo the hotflashes werent to bad for the most part (they did get bad at times -but it wasnt consistant)...then when i got on the tamoxifen they were tolerable for the first month or two...now holy cow, my hotflashes are in full force...they are worse than they ever been. IT SUX! They are more intense and last longer.
My doc said i need to have a pap once a year to check for cancer along with an ultrasound cuz one tests for uterine cancer and one tests for ovarian cancer.
When i had my ablation done i do remember him telling me that the lining can get thick again in rare cases...but i dont remember the details of it...its been to long ago and my brain doesnt function well enough to remember that far back. I do remember that i spotted for a short time after the procedure but once i got passed that the doc said if i ever spotted again that was a bad sign and to be aware of it.
It would be interesting to know what your gyn says about it and youll have to fill me in on it and once i get my insurance again maybe i will bring this up to my docs as well.

I know what ya mean about dressing in layers and its funny when your out somewhere you cant take off your layers...like being in a car with your seatbelt on its not worth all the trouble to take everything off only to have to put it right back on again cuz after all the sweating and being outside the sweat turns cold and the next thing you know your freezing....beside when im in the car i just stick my head out the window to get some relief...just like a puppy would do...hehe!