I'm going to jump back in to this excellent discussion and share how I look at my chances of survival.

I was diagnosed with endometroid carcinoma, FIGO Grade 1, Stage 1a, in 2019. My surgeon (gyn-oncologist at Mayo Clinic) told me that the 5-year survival rate of my women with my diagnosis is over 90%. Good news. And yet I had a recurrence in 2021. That recurrence lowered my 5 year survival rate. Here I am 4 years later returning for my periodic cancer surveillance appointments and the worry about another recurrence or a new primary cancer never completely leaves my mind.

I have learned that I am not a statistic. That's too rational for my emotional mind. I have had a fear of flying in an airplane for many years. I do it anyway and while the fear has lessened over the years it is still there. Telling me that more people die in auto accidents than plane crashes doesn't help me. That's just too rational and does not speak to how I feel as in my emotions.

I'm doing all I can to live a healthy life. I follow my medical providers recommendations. I make a point to keep family and friends as my first priority. I got on a plane to spend 10 days with my brother. And I have reconnected with friends from high school and university.

I do want my doctors to share all the information including survival rates with me. As anxious as I am in these medical encounters I watch and listen to my doctor. Do you look at your doctor's face and body language when you ask questions? Do you ask someone to go with you to your appointments to track and understand what is so difficult to understand at the time?