Endometrial Stage III Cancer Diagnosis

Hello. Your experience sounds like mine. Went in to surgery feeling confident it was stage one. After final path was stage 3. I have been lucky that the chemo, external radiation and brachytherapy was easy. I was well prepared by md for the chemo and any side effects. The radiation was easy as was brachytherapy. Only real side effect with external radiation was nausea but that was manageable Try and stay positive as treatments do not have to be as they’ve been depicted in movies and tv. I found walking helps a lot. Take care. Sending positive thoughts your way

Yes, I agree about the walking. I'm like the postal service, "neither rain nor snow keeps me from walking."
But I do admit that I don't walk if it's ⚡ lightning.
I truly feel the walking has kept me going during the last 4 years.
Stay strong.

I wanted to add.... I walk 7 days a week for 1/2 hour each day. You can get pretty far in a half hour. I do the same loop so I can compare how far l go. My spouse goes with me as well.
It's enjoyable because we see our "regulars" along the way. The first regular is a calico cat named Callie, she is gorgeous and she perches in the front window. We wave to her and she follows us with her gaze. The next house has a tortie named Bella that sits at the front door. We wave at her.
At the place with a big yard they have a 2 story enclosure with 3 chickens. The bottom is an open area but sometimes they walk up the ramp to the enclosed level to roost.
It's fun to walk because I now know over 20 of my neighbors!
Walking is good for the soul.

That is such an excellent idea. Great to continue with normal life, get fresh air and connect with people you know. Exercise is wonderful for maintaining a positive state of mind. You are so right. Cancer treatment does not have to make you feel horrible. Best wishes..

I am so grateful for these words, @aardvark2118. ”Try and stay positive as treatments do not have to be as they’ve been depicted in movies and tv.” I’ve been carrying images around from too many tv movies of yore, and memories from my family members’ GYN cancer journeys, some of which ended over 30 years ago. It’s difficult to erase memories from the last stages of their lives in favor of the positive and beautiful stretches and moments during, between and after their treatments. I am so grateful to you for your report of your experience.
I also realize that my memories have been steeped in my experiences of grief and dread of my losses at a time in my life when I had so many fewer skills for coping with them.

For me, as the person living with the cancer diagnosis and the spectre of its possible return, I have, as you and others so beautifully remind me, SO many opportunities to positively impact my own experience and a great desire to live and take in pleasure from each of those opportunities…exercise, fresh air, sunshine, pets (even our goldfish!), birds and squirrels outside my window, and connections with friends and loved ones. My connections here are also so precious, however they unfold. My thanks to all here who reach out and share your experiences, ask for information and comfort and who offer it in doing so.

@aardvark2118 Thank you for reminding all of us that the images we have of cancer treatments, especially chemotherapy, are antiquated. I'm considering how less dramatic it is to show an actor diagnosed with cancer, receiving chemotherapy, and moving through their depicted life with Hope and energy. That ease could take place in the kitchen cooking for their family, taking walks with friends or their partner, skiing, and traveling to somewhere they have always wanted to go.

When I was in Newfoundland several years ago I met a woman who had recently gotten into birding and photography. We were with an organized birding group and she was often at the head of group with our guide. It was only later, as we said goodbye, that she told us that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was headed back home for meetings with her doctor and more treatment. This was before my own endometrial cancer diagnosis and I remember how stunned I was. I thought how vital and healthy she looked. And she was.

This is a reminder that the advances in cancer research and treatment mean that it is reasonable to expect some changes and effects but not necessarily those images shown on TV and movies for dramatic effect. Or what have heard in the recent or distance past.

Hello TJPerry, I also had stage 3 Endometriole. I had a radical hysterectomy, with 3 lymph nodes on either side removed. One on the left had cancer. After 28 rounds of radiation, 2 vaginabrachy therapies, 2 cisplatin chemos and 4 carboplatin-pax chemos, I am cancer free for 6+ months now.
I did lose my hair between the first and second large chemos in July/August. I wore scarves and hats until last week. My hair is very nice, slightly curled/wavy which gives it nice body. I receive many compliments. I have some neuropathy in my feet, which makes going up stairs and lift-off from chairs difficult, but otherwise I’m fine. Good luck 😉

@sofarsogood23 Hello and welcome to our support group. I noticed that you joined us today. Thank you for sharing your story and the treatments you had last year. I will return on April 29 for my next cancer surveillance appointments. Most of us here are in active surveillance. I get anxious before these appointments and what helps is to remind myself how grateful I am for the care I've received and that I'm here to talk about that. How lovely that when your hair came back it was curled and wavy and that you now receive compliments. 👩‍🦱 Are you able to go for walks? What do you enjoy doing?

I know the feeling! Have a 3 month check up tomorrow and while I thankfully have no symptoms I’m still nervous! When it starts to increase I start walking!

Thank you Anna for the like,
I do want to add that I'm not super woman. Just had chemo/immunotherapy yesterday and feel fine today due to steroids. In fact getting ready to walk now.
But on days 2 -4 or 5 I feel really fatigued and don't walk.
I feel so much better walking and admit some days I need a little extra push to get out the door, haha. Oh and my spouse walks with me.