Newly Diagnosed....

Just thought I would share my story. I was just diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometrial Cancer. I am 38 years old with no children. I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure about 3 years ago. My body wasn't producing the Estrogen I needed, so I went on HRT to bring the levels back up to where they should be for a woman my age. I did not have a period for about 3 years (which led me to the doctor and diagnosis of premature ovarian failure). I've been told I'm menopausal, but have not experienced all the symptoms of menopause. I had some abnormal bleeding which sent me into the doctor. They performed a D&C, found some small polyps and cancerous cells in the lining of my uterus. I got in for a hysterectomy in about 3 weeks. They will look at the uterus to determine if it's gone into the walls of the uterus. If so, they will biposy the lymph nodes to ensure nothing has spread. What a complete surprise to me about this all. How strange the body can develop such an enemy such as cancer. The doctor is confident and optomistic that the cancer cells will be limited to the lining of my uterus and nothing further. The only symptoms I experienced was abnormal bleeding. If I can offer any advice to someone "wondering" about their health or issues...."YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS YOUR BODY AND IF SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG, GO INTO THE DOCTOR, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE..TAKE ACTION. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT AT LIFE AND ONE BODY, DON'T IGNORE ANY SYMPTOMS, FACE THE MUSIC AND IN THE END YOU WILL LIVE A LONGER AND HAPPY LIFE"!!

38- Diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometrial Cancer

I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, my thoughts are with you.

I was wondering....were your polyps cancerous?  I have one and I'm a little worried.

Good luck to you-

Manuela

 

On 5/21/2009 Sandra007 wrote:

Just thought I would share my story. I was just diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometrial Cancer. I am 38 years old with no children. I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure about 3 years ago. My body wasn't producing the Estrogen I needed, so I went on HRT to bring the levels back up to where they should be for a woman my age. I did not have a period for about 3 years (which led me to the doctor and diagnosis of premature ovarian failure). I've been told I'm menopausal, but have not experienced all the symptoms of menopause. I had some abnormal bleeding which sent me into the doctor. They performed a D&C, found some small polyps and cancerous cells in the lining of my uterus. I got in for a hysterectomy in about 3 weeks. They will look at the uterus to determine if it's gone into the walls of the uterus. If so, they will biposy the lymph nodes to ensure nothing has spread. What a complete surprise to me about this all. How strange the body can develop such an enemy such as cancer. The doctor is confident and optomistic that the cancer cells will be limited to the lining of my uterus and nothing further. The only symptoms I experienced was abnormal bleeding. If I can offer any advice to someone "wondering" about their health or issues...."YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS YOUR BODY AND IF SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG, GO INTO THE DOCTOR, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE..TAKE ACTION. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT AT LIFE AND ONE BODY, DON'T IGNORE ANY SYMPTOMS, FACE THE MUSIC AND IN THE END YOU WILL LIVE A LONGER AND HAPPY LIFE"!!

38- Diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometrial Cancer

Bless you and thank you for your story. 

I have been diagnosed with Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia with 'possible' Adenocarcinoma.  The biopsy was done on the 10th of July and as of today, August 18th, I still don't have a definite diagnosis nor a treatment plan. 

I was referred to a GYN Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and saw him on the 11th of August.  He had no answers for me and nothing more to say than what my primary GYN said.  The GYN Oncologist claimed that they had not received the pathology slides from the Lab in Orlando, and would not have an answer until they received those slides.  He wants his team to examine the slides again before he gives me a diagnosis.  I called the Oncologist's team again on the 14th (last Friday) and was told they still had not received the slides.

I then called the Lab in Orlando and they were very quick to answer my questions.  They have a Fed-Ex receipt that shows that the Labs were signed for at the Dana-Farber Institute on the 4th of August!! 

I am feeling very frustrated by all of this.  Is it cancer or isn't it?  No one can tell me except those in possession of those slides.  I agree with you, Sandra: Take action and go to the doctor.  But what do you do when the doctor won't help you?  I've been depressed and having crying jags since leaving that appointment on the 11th.  I feel as if this doctor and his staff just don't care.  I feel neglected.   I don't care whether or not this is cancer. I just want to know one way or another so I can deal with it and get on with my life. 

There is no one I can talk to who understands this.  My family and friends are sympathetic, but I'm not looking for sympathy.  I don't know what I'm looking for exactly.  Just a diagnosis, I guess.

Thanks for listening.

 51-year-old post-menopausal mother of 5 

 

 

 

On 8/18/2009 AnimaSola wrote:

 

On 5/21/2009 Sandra007 wrote:

Just thought I would share my story. I was just diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometrial Cancer. I am 38 years old with no children. I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure about 3 years ago. My body wasn't producing the Estrogen I needed, so I went on HRT to bring the levels back up to where they should be for a woman my age. I did not have a period for about 3 years (which led me to the doctor and diagnosis of premature ovarian failure). I've been told I'm menopausal, but have not experienced all the symptoms of menopause. I had some abnormal bleeding which sent me into the doctor. They performed a D&C, found some small polyps and cancerous cells in the lining of my uterus. I got in for a hysterectomy in about 3 weeks. They will look at the uterus to determine if it's gone into the walls of the uterus. If so, they will biposy the lymph nodes to ensure nothing has spread. What a complete surprise to me about this all. How strange the body can develop such an enemy such as cancer. The doctor is confident and optomistic that the cancer cells will be limited to the lining of my uterus and nothing further. The only symptoms I experienced was abnormal bleeding. If I can offer any advice to someone "wondering" about their health or issues...."YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT KNOWS YOUR BODY AND IF SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT. IF YOU FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG, GO INTO THE DOCTOR, DO NOT PROCRASTINATE..TAKE ACTION. YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT AT LIFE AND ONE BODY, DON'T IGNORE ANY SYMPTOMS, FACE THE MUSIC AND IN THE END YOU WILL LIVE A LONGER AND HAPPY LIFE"!!

38- Diagnosed with Stage 1 Endometrial Cancer

Bless you and thank you for your story. 

I have been diagnosed with Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia with 'possible' Adenocarcinoma.  The biopsy was done on the 10th of July and as of today, August 18th, I still don't have a definite diagnosis nor a treatment plan. 

I was referred to a GYN Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and saw him on the 11th of August.  He had no answers for me and nothing more to say than what my primary GYN said.  The GYN Oncologist claimed that they had not received the pathology slides from the Lab in Orlando, and would not have an answer until they received those slides.  He wants his team to examine the slides again before he gives me a diagnosis.  I called the Oncologist's team again on the 14th (last Friday) and was told they still had not received the slides.

I then called the Lab in Orlando and they were very quick to answer my questions.  They have a Fed-Ex receipt that shows that the Labs were signed for at the Dana-Farber Institute on the 4th of August!! 

I am feeling very frustrated by all of this.  Is it cancer or isn't it?  No one can tell me except those in possession of those slides.  I agree with you, Sandra: Take action and go to the doctor.  But what do you do when the doctor won't help you?  I've been depressed and having crying jags since leaving that appointment on the 11th.  I feel as if this doctor and his staff just don't care.  I feel neglected.   I don't care whether or not this is cancer. I just want to know one way or another so I can deal with it and get on with my life. 

There is no one I can talk to who understands this.  My family and friends are sympathetic, but I'm not looking for sympathy.  I don't know what I'm looking for exactly.  Just a diagnosis, I guess.

Thanks for listening.

 51-year-old post-menopausal mother of 5 

 I like you had a similar experience last year waiting for the results of a breast biopsy. It seems that the lab report went to my family doc who was on vacation!  He finally returned my call approximately three horiffic weeks later to tell me over the phone (while I was at work ) that I had cancer.

It was in stage 0 in two sides of my breast so I had a mastectomy two weeks later with the hope that I was finished with the nightmare. Because of people like you and I who are put through torture of waiting, my surgeon   ( who also happens to be the director of the breast center) instituted a program here in Baltimore so that no one waits longer than 5 days for their results.

Today I am two weeks  into recovery from a complete hysterectomy and have been told that I had a grade 3 tumor with extensive angiolymphatic invasion. They are doing a pet scan Monday and will discuss treatment after that. I hope your results are good and we can both get this over with...

Stay positive for me as I will for you.

Debbie

 

 

My advice....GET ANOTHER DOCTOR.  Ask for the results of your tests including the images on a CD and take them to another doctor.  Look for a gynecological oncologist.  I was diagnosed in June, had surgery in July and am in the middle of treatment.  There was a new article in the Journal of Gynecological Oncology about the most effective treatment plan which my doctor shared with me.  It recommends surgery followed by 3 treatments of chemo, then radiation, then 3 more treatments of chemo.  Chemo is not as scary as they say.

Dear Debbie,

Thank you for your wonderful reply, support, and encouragement!  I found a new and wonderful Oncologist and had my surgery two weeks ago.  There was cancer, a very small tumor, in the uterine lining, but the hysterectomy removed it all.  They took everything...the uterus, ovaries, cervix, and fallopian tubes; as well as two lymph nodes.  I won't need chemo or radiation, thank God!   I will have to have periodic check-ups every 3 months for the first two years, then every 6 months for the next three years before they can officially declare that I'm cancer free.  I have been reassured by my new Oncologist that recurrence is so rare as to be non-existent.  I remain hopeful.  :)

My thoughts and prayers are with you and with all who are suffering, not only from cancer, but from the emotional hell of waiting and not knowing!  

Blessings,

CT 

 

Thank you, Libertykid, for your advice!  I did as you mentioned...I fired the Oncologist and refused to have anything more to do with that facility.  The new Oncologist is with the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA and she has been wonderful!  The difference between the two facilities is like night and day!   Surgery is over, prognosis is good!  :)

Blessings to you!

Pax,
CT