Is it possible?

cnallen143
cnallen143 Member Posts: 1
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Ok,

I have some questions for all you ladies out there...I am a 44 year old mother /grandmother... I know.  :) and I just finished an exam with my OB/GYN that involved two ultrasounds and FOUR biopsies.  I have not had a periord since May of 2013 ..... until 9 days ago?  WHAT? 

Earlier in the year (Feb), I went for my annual and my doctor said I was post menopausal.  Today she called me and said that she thinks that I had a period and let's wait and see what happens in the next month or so. 

I also have had (in the past) Two ovarian cysts removed surgically and cryosurgery for a-typical cells on my cervix.  My bowel movements are such a struggle and very rare (maybe twice a week).  My mother (already passed) had cervical cancer and had a full hysterectomy in her 40s.

 

Should I be worried that I went TWO years without a period and then all of a sudden had 8 days of bleeding?  Should I get a second opinion? My doctor said that all of this can be caused by stress.  EVERYTHING I read says that bleeding after menopause is NOT normal.

 

A bit concerned and not sure what to do or believe. 

 

 

Comments

  • Kathy G.
    Kathy G. Member Posts: 244 Member
    #2
    Welcome cnallen!
    I am sorry

    Welcome cnallen!

    I am sorry to hear you have jad so many problems and are now concerned about whether you are getting reliable information.

    My opinion based on what you have posted is to get a 2nd opinion. You have a history of below the belt cancer (your mom) in your family and surgery for atypical cells on your cervix. Those two things alone would concern me.

    I am not clear on the outcome of the biopsies, though, and why your doctor would want to use the 'wait & see' approach b/c your recent bleeding 'may have been your period.' I was under the impression if you stopped your period for 12 months you then entered menopause. I could be wrong...you are still young and have had other issues that might contribute to not having a period for that long, but I'd want to check.

    I was diagnosed very early. I thought my symptoms were associated w/UTI's I had most of my life. There was often light blood in my urine. Then I passed a clot of blood and I knew I had to get to the doctor since I had not had a period in 3 years. I am glad I went and it was early stage.

    The suggestion is not to scare you, but to motivate you to get a 2nd opinion so IF it is something they catch it early. The other ladies on this board will no doubt offer other suggestions and advice.

    Good luck. Keep us posted!

     

  • ConnieSW
    ConnieSW Member Posts: 1,678 Member
    #3
    Kathy G. said:

    Welcome cnallen!
    I am sorry

    Welcome cnallen!

    I am sorry to hear you have jad so many problems and are now concerned about whether you are getting reliable information.

    My opinion based on what you have posted is to get a 2nd opinion. You have a history of below the belt cancer (your mom) in your family and surgery for atypical cells on your cervix. Those two things alone would concern me.

    I am not clear on the outcome of the biopsies, though, and why your doctor would want to use the 'wait & see' approach b/c your recent bleeding 'may have been your period.' I was under the impression if you stopped your period for 12 months you then entered menopause. I could be wrong...you are still young and have had other issues that might contribute to not having a period for that long, but I'd want to check.

    I was diagnosed very early. I thought my symptoms were associated w/UTI's I had most of my life. There was often light blood in my urine. Then I passed a clot of blood and I knew I had to get to the doctor since I had not had a period in 3 years. I am glad I went and it was early stage.

    The suggestion is not to scare you, but to motivate you to get a 2nd opinion so IF it is something they catch it early. The other ladies on this board will no doubt offer other suggestions and advice.

    Good luck. Keep us posted!

     

    Some thoughts.

    Were your periods previously very irregular?  Mine weren't but just abruptly stopped at age 50 then a whole year later I had one very light period then nothing more so I guess it can happen.  Did she do lab work to check your hormone levels?

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,360 Member
    #4
    cnallen, knowing what I know

    cnallen, knowing what I know now, ANY bleeding post-menapause is of concern.  I would suggest you ask for a second opinion.  Endometrial biopsies can be painful, I had a D&C, and that is how they found mine.  If you can get a referal to a gynecologic oncologist - or a gyn who is going to investigate and make sure it is not something - NOT JUST WAIT.

    Good for you for looking for answers!!  PLEASE let us know what you do.  This is your life, so don't let someone else decide for you. Please.

  • Fayard
    Fayard Member Posts: 438 Member
    #5
    I agree with most, you need a

    I agree with most, you need a second opinion. Bleeding after menopause is not normal.

    I bled for about a year, before I went to the doctor. She told me the same they have told you, wait and see. My periods were very irregular full of clots. It could be nothing, but you definitely want to make sure.

    Keep us posted!

  • caedmon22
    caedmon22 Member Posts: 22
    #6
    i'd get a second opinion

    hi cnallen,

    i agree with the other ladies -- postmenopausal bleeding is not normal. i had a long perimenopause and then a little over a year after my last period had two massive periods in a row. it was during a very stressful phase of my life, and my gynecologist at the time told me it probably wasn't anything to worry about. i had a lot going on in my life, so i didn't ask for a biopsy or get a second opinion. that was 6 years ago.

    last year in april i started noticing a little blood. i didn't have health insurance at the time so i just did web searches and tried to convince myself it was okay and hoped it would go away. it did. but then in the fall i started having clear watery discharge, and as the fall progressed more bleeding more consistently. by then i had health insurance so i made an appointment with my primary provider. i couldn't get in to see her until january b/c i was a new patient. i was diagnosed with uterine cancer in early february. surgery in march. it was stage 1a but grade 3 (highly aggressive). i had radiation as well.

    looking back i doubt that those two post-menopausal "periods" were cancer symptoms, as the cancer i ended up with is aggressive and fast growing. but in retrospect, if i had known then what i know now? i would have insisted on tests. i would have gotten a second opinion.

    a word about endometrial biopsies: it doesn't have to hurt -- your gyn can give you a local anesthetic. mine did and i didn't feel a thing.

    take good care,

    caedmon

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    #7
    cnallen143

    I had two episodes of bleeding after menopause.  The first was 3 months after.  I had hysteroscopy, then a D&C.  The diagnosis was a benign uterine polyp, which was removed in the D&C.  Ten years later, I Had bleeding again. I had ultrasounds, where a polyp was found again, followed by another D&C.  The second time, pathology from the D&C said it was UPSC, a very aggressive cancer. I had major surgery for what turned out to be stage IVb cancer.  It was in my uterus, both ovaries, my omentum, and my small intestine.  I'm five years out now and apparently cancer-free.

    I had also had bleeding cervical polyps about 6 times before I hit menopause.  I had them removed and they kept coming back.

    I agree with all the girls who say to get a second opinion.  A D&C would be a very good idea. Then you'll know where you stand.   

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