1. < Gynecologic Cancers
Mentor

What were your first signs of endometrial cancer?

Posted by Helen, Volunteer Mentor @naturegirl5, Jun 21, 2022

What symptoms did you have that led you to your physician before you received a diagnosis of endometrial cancer?

I had entered menopause more than a decade ago so menstruation was done. I discovered vaginal blood one morning. When it happened again a few days later I realized that something was going on but I didn't suspect cancer. I just knew this wasn't normal. I made an appointment with a gynecologist. Within a few weeks I began having cramps like I used to have when I first started my period as an adolescent. By then I was already under the care of the gynecologist who did a D&C and that's when the endometrial cancer was diagnosed.

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jc100 | @jc100 | Apr 20 7:44pm
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@jc100 Thank you for sharing your adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It's wonderful that your..." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@jc100 Thank you for sharing your adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. It's wonderful that your most recent CT did not show any evidence of disease.
Do you get very nervous before each of your exams with CT? (I get very nervous).

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I do get anxious waiting for the CT results. Always hoping for the best though. Between the CT visits, I mind my diet and do moderate exercises.

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daisy17 | @daisy17 | Apr 21 12:02pm
In reply to @jc100 "I was more than fifteen years post menopausal, and had very light spotting started on a..." + (show)
@jc100

I was more than fifteen years post menopausal, and had very light spotting started on a Friday. I called my gynecologist on Monday and saw her on Tuesday. The physical and ultrasound examinations were normal. She did biopsy and one week later abnormal results came back. She called immediately and also called the surgeon’s office, and I saw the surgeon that afternoon. A total hysterectomy was scheduled within a month. The pathology report came back ten days later after the surgery and I was diagnosed with stage IIIb endometrial cancer. I recommend see a gynecologist right away when having post menopausal spotting or bleeding.

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What kind of biopsy did you have, one done in the office? I am in a similar situation. I'm 74 and have had two episodes of very light spotting. Saw my gynecologist and had a normal exam and normal transvaginal ultrasound. She didn't think a biopsy was necessary due to normal ultrasound. I didn't want the in office biopsy because I had one done before and it was very painful. She said she'd do a biopsy under sedation if I wanted one. I plan to message her about setting that up.

What is your treatment plan for the cancer after your surgery? Thanks.

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2 replies
jc100 | @jc100 | Apr 21 11:56pm
In reply to @daisy17 "What kind of biopsy did you have, one done in the office? I am in a..." + (show)
@daisy17

What kind of biopsy did you have, one done in the office? I am in a similar situation. I'm 74 and have had two episodes of very light spotting. Saw my gynecologist and had a normal exam and normal transvaginal ultrasound. She didn't think a biopsy was necessary due to normal ultrasound. I didn't want the in office biopsy because I had one done before and it was very painful. She said she'd do a biopsy under sedation if I wanted one. I plan to message her about setting that up.

What is your treatment plan for the cancer after your surgery? Thanks.

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I actually could not recall. However, I did have a Pap smear done that day, and the results also came back abnormal. If I were you, I would want to have a pap smear and a biopsy. It is not normal to have spotting at our age.
After the surgery, I had six rounds of chemotherapy in conjunction with immunotherapy. After chemotherapy was completed, I continued with immunotherapy. The original plan was to have two years of immunotherapy. It was discontinued after one year because of adverse side effects from the immunotherapy. I also had three rounds of brachytherapy with no side effects.
I hope you can get in to see your doctor for a biopsy soon.

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1 reply
sbryant | @sbryant | Apr 22 10:03am
In reply to @daisy17 "What kind of biopsy did you have, one done in the office? I am in a..." + (show)
@daisy17

What kind of biopsy did you have, one done in the office? I am in a similar situation. I'm 74 and have had two episodes of very light spotting. Saw my gynecologist and had a normal exam and normal transvaginal ultrasound. She didn't think a biopsy was necessary due to normal ultrasound. I didn't want the in office biopsy because I had one done before and it was very painful. She said she'd do a biopsy under sedation if I wanted one. I plan to message her about setting that up.

What is your treatment plan for the cancer after your surgery? Thanks.

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Hello, I’m 54 and had had abnormal bleeding for approximately six months with an ultrasound at month one and an ultrasound at month six. The second ultrasound showed thickening of the uterus and some polyps. I had a hysteroscopy and DNC under general anesthesia which found my stage one B1 endometrial cancer. I am scheduled for a complete hysterectomy next month.

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1 reply
daisy17 | @daisy17 | Apr 22 11:54am
In reply to @sbryant "Hello, I’m 54 and had had abnormal bleeding for approximately six months with an ultrasound at..." + (show)
@sbryant

Hello, I’m 54 and had had abnormal bleeding for approximately six months with an ultrasound at month one and an ultrasound at month six. The second ultrasound showed thickening of the uterus and some polyps. I had a hysteroscopy and DNC under general anesthesia which found my stage one B1 endometrial cancer. I am scheduled for a complete hysterectomy next month.

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Thank you for that information. I hope your surgery goes well.

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1 reply
daisy17 | @daisy17 | Apr 22 12:01pm
In reply to @jc100 "I actually could not recall. However, I did have a Pap smear done that day, and..." + (show)
@jc100

I actually could not recall. However, I did have a Pap smear done that day, and the results also came back abnormal. If I were you, I would want to have a pap smear and a biopsy. It is not normal to have spotting at our age.
After the surgery, I had six rounds of chemotherapy in conjunction with immunotherapy. After chemotherapy was completed, I continued with immunotherapy. The original plan was to have two years of immunotherapy. It was discontinued after one year because of adverse side effects from the immunotherapy. I also had three rounds of brachytherapy with no side effects.
I hope you can get in to see your doctor for a biopsy soon.

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Thank you. I have an appt with my Dr in a few days.

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2 replies
jc100 | @jc100 | Apr 22 12:48pm

I am glad to hear that. I wish you the best outcome. Take care.

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sbryant | @sbryant | Apr 22 12:53pm
In reply to @daisy17 "Thank you for that information. I hope your surgery goes well." + (show)
@daisy17

Thank you for that information. I hope your surgery goes well.

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Thank you, I’ll be thinking of you!

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kathart333 | @kathart333 | Apr 22 5:36pm

I had no symptoms, rather an ct scan for a post follow up after a kidney stone showed a mass in my uterus. I had a vaginal ultrasound. And that showed the mass in better detail as well as thickening in the endometrium. Two weeks later a biopsy was done surgically (under sedation in OR) and results come back with one area showing atypical cells, no outright cancer, but due to thickening of endometrium and the atypical cells, I saw a gynecology oncologist and had a total hysterectomy and two lymph nodes removed. Awataing the results of that pathology report. The hardest part is the waiting.

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RefluxGoAway | @njp515 | Apr 23 6:01am

I had no symptoms at all, other than a couple of UTIs and some double-voiding (incomplete peeing). Went to a urologist and nothing showed up abnormal, so she sent me for the vaginal ultrasound and that's when the thickening was discovered. That led to the sedation/surgical D&C, then the hysterectomy, and then two short Brachy treatments.

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