Recurrent Endometrial Cancer

I have been told that I now have a tumor that may be attached to my bladder and bowel.  What is the diagnosis for this and what are the successes that anyone has had with this?  Please let me know because I am scared.

Thanks,

Francine

On 12/24/2008 Fran7 wrote:

I have been told that I now have a tumor that may be attached to my bladder and bowel.  What is the diagnosis for this and what are the successes that anyone has had with this?  Please let me know because I am scared.

Thanks,

Francine

 

 

Hi Francine, I just went through treatment for a tumor that was attached to my bladder.  I have a high grade soft tissue sarcoma.  Previously, I had been diagnosed with adenosarcoma and have had part of my small and large bowel removed.  I did very well with that and had no recurrence for 6 years.  THis summer I had surgery to remove the tumor, a small piece of my bladder and my gallbladder removed.  The cancer had not spread to my bowel this time, thank goodness.  I recovered well from surgery ( I went home with the catheter and a stent in one ureter for 2 weeks to make sure the bladder healed).  After that I had some incontinence for a few weeks, but that has fully recovered as well. 

 I had 28 treatment of pelvic radiation to make sure the cancer cells were gone, and I am due for a follow up CT scan in March to see if there has been a recurrence.  The radiation went rather well, made me very tired and I am going to return to work next week. I am not a candidate for chemo.

It is very scary to think about all of this, I know.  When will you find out what your treatment will be?  Please let me know, I know how you are feeling. 

Best wishes, K

On 12/26/2008 epiphany wrote:

 

On 12/24/2008 Fran7 wrote:

I have been told that I now have a tumor that may be attached to my bladder and bowel.  What is the diagnosis for this and what are the successes that anyone has had with this?  Please let me know because I am scared.

Thanks,

Francine

 

 

 

Hi Francine, I just went through treatment for a tumor that was attached to my bladder.  I have a high grade soft tissue sarcoma.  Previously, I had been diagnosed with adenosarcoma and have had part of my small and large bowel removed.  I did very well with that and had no recurrence for 6 years.  THis summer I had surgery to remove the tumor, a small piece of my bladder and my gallbladder removed.  The cancer had not spread to my bowel this time, thank goodness.  I recovered well from surgery ( I went home with the catheter and a stent in one ureter for 2 weeks to make sure the bladder healed).  After that I had some incontinence for a few weeks, but that has fully recovered as well. 

 I had 28 treatment of pelvic radiation to make sure the cancer cells were gone, and I am due for a follow up CT scan in March to see if there has been a recurrence.  The radiation went rather well, made me very tired and I am going to return to work next week. I am not a candidate for chemo.

It is very scary to think about all of this, I know.  When will you find out what your treatment will be?  Please let me know, I know how you are feeling. 

Best wishes, K

Francine: I also have recurring endometrial cancer that has invaded my  bladder. I had a hysterectomy 6 years ago but was not given followup  radiation or chemo so last year (2007) I was diagnosed with recurring matasized, stage 4 endometrial cancer. The main tumor returned in the area where the uterus was and then penetrated the bladder and blocked the right ureter's ability to drain the right kidney into the bladder. I had an exploratory surgery at UC Davis Hospital, performed by a Dr. Rodriquiz (O'Meara),  She had planned to remove the tumor and the bladder and give me a bag that is worn outside the body.  But the explooratory surgery revealed that the cancer had also matastisized on the outer abdominal area and colon so the Dr. did not perform the intended surgery because she said it would make things worse.  Before the surgery, I was given  5 weeks of daily radiation to try and reduce the size of the tumor in order to make for a more safe surgery because the tumor is too large to completely reduce with radiation. The tissue testing performed during surgery revealed that  I was estrogen positive (even though I am 73, my body produces too much estrogen. So the Dr. put me on Arimidex to be taken daily which is supposed to slow down the production of estrogen; therefore, reducing the food supply to the tumor.  Every 3-4 months I get a Pet scan to see if there is any change in the size of the tumor or more activity in the matastizised area.  It has been a year nw and the tumor has remained the same size. Every six months I go to a Urologist to have a new cathater installed from the right kidney to the bladder which takes the place of the ureter that is still blocked by the invasion of the bumor into the bladder. I will always be incontinuant but have learned to deal with that with a constant supply of Depends, ultamate pads, and night pads. I put waterproof pads over the sheets so if I soak through during the night, I just wash the pads and use them again.  I keep an extra supply of waterproof pads so that I can change the bed while the wet ones are in the laundry.

Please keep me posted as to what your treatment will be and how you are doing.  I am finding out that it is possible to live with cancer if the type of cancer will respond to some of the latest treatments.  Be sure to seek the advice of a Gynocylogist Oncologist at a major cancer treatment center.  Norah