Endometrial cancer: I'm so scared

Hello Shelly, I was diagnosed with EC in 2023 and had surgery in 2024. I was terrified. The waiting is the most painful. I meditated everyday, thinking positive about a gentle outcome. I went in YouTube and listen to TedTalks with people who have been through cancer and now are doing well./ Anything that can help you to stay calm and think positive. My outlook upon life changed and am still learning how to be present "today" and grateful often. Fortunately, the cancer I had was stage I and Type B, it was 25% through the wall of my uterus. I did not need chemo or radiation. I am grateful so grateful. I wish the best outcome for you, do not let fear run your mind and have self compassion for what you are feeling. Talk about it with whoever you trust. Best wishes, FC

Thank you for your feedback. I wish I had stayed off of the internet. I was so scared with just the hysteroscopy and DNC and was relieved when I t was over only to have it be cancer. Now I’m afraid to even think.

@sbryant Since you cannot "unknown" what you learned from your internet searches, you can decide what you'd like to do to take care of yourself going forward. Like you've written, no more searches on the internet on the topic of endometrial cancer. What do you think of the suggestions from @flaviacwood of watching uplifting TEDTalks on You Tube? Do you practice or like yoga? I follow Yoga with Adriene on You Tube as I find her approach to be calming:

Yoga with Adriene:

-- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLui6Eyny-Uzxr6Hxojv-6-Hxj2eoLkYLq

@sbryant Yes, this is a frightening. Although the oncologist will have a copy of your pathology report you could take your copy with you to the oncologist and ask for an explanation.

I think it's a good thing not to do much research on your own and especially stay away from Google searches. These are unlikely to take you to valid and reliable sites if you want to read anything helpful.

Who do you share your worries with? Do you have a family or a spouse who can support you through this difficult time period?

does the pathology report list a FIGO grade or stage?

@flaviacwood Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for your kind words for @sbryant and really for all of us. Your suggestions of how to get through the anxiety-provoking wait are helpful as many of us - myself included - need guidance in reducing feelings of anxiety. I love your ideas of watching TedTalks of cancer survivors and how they helped you to feel more positive about your outcome. Do you have any suggestions of who to watch? Or links that you like?

Yes, it says grade 1 with a few other confusing findings.

if you feel comfortable posting those other confusing findings the people here might be able to help you understanding what it's saying. i know it's confusing with pathology, grades, stages, wild types, stains but many of us have teased out those meanings.

on the upside grade 1 is really good news, if there is good news in a sentence with cancer. it is the early stage and you will need a hysterectomy but it good end there. a couple women in this thread has grade 1 and didn't need radiation or chemo. i have stage 1b (determined after the hysterectomy) which means the cancer is more than 50% thru the uterus wall. i am at 57% and i have to have brachytherapy (radiation wand inserted into the vagina for pinpoint treatment) i only need 5 sessions and they are done every other day.

after that i won't need chemo or any further radiation - i'll just have to go for follow ups every 3 months for then next few years to make sure the cancer hasn't returned.

just know that it's really scary now but it is going to be okay.

my husband said to cheer me up - your remission could be so long you could get hit by a bus and die from that. he a glass half full kind of guy.

I just looked back at the results and now I’m even more frightened