Radiation or not after surgery for endometrial cancer?

@naturegirl5
Helen, I'm saying "no" to any medical and/or surgical treatment that has the strong potential of doing nothing more than torturing me at the end of my life (for example, but not limited to, hysterectomy, chemotherapy, and/or radiation (such as brachytherapy). For me, it's not about LENGTH of life. It's about QUALITY of life. At the age of 68, nearly 69, and without any remaining family, as far as I'm concerned, too much medicine and surgery will make my life not worth living any longer. And at the moment, I'm filled with absolute joy at being alive. Cheryl P.S. I have a Ph.D. in medical communication, and I've thought through this issue extremely thoroughly.

great grandma @cherylfromknoxvillet I have also been in situations that I felt out of control due to the constant calls and with one in particular I was supposed to have a consultation and I made it clear and did not sign consent and they did a procedure I knew nothing about while the did a pelvic exam. So now I'm glad it is not just me. Thank you for making it clear!!!

@greatgrandma2025
An OB-GYN in my city of Knoxville, Tennessee, whom I saw for a consultation in regard to postmenopausal bleeding, told me that he wanted to do an endometrial biopsy, a transvaginal ultrasound, and saline-infused sonohysterogram (SIS), all during one appointment. Knowing that the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a practice bulletin saying that an endometrial biopsy is no longer the standard of care, I refused it. However, one of his nurses told me that he planned to do it anyway during the appointment for the transvaginal ultrasound and SIS. What a weasel. I cancelled all future appointments with him and found another OB-GYN, one who is world renowned. To see him, I had to travel from my home in Knoxville, Tennessee, to New York City, but he was well worth the inconvenience and financial expense. And as it turned out, I didn't need SIS after all, just a transvaginal ultrasound, and the OB-GYN in New York City does not recommend an endometrial biopsy, either.

@greatgrandma2025
So, no, it is not just you who has been mistreated by OB-GYNs. It happens all the time.

Research everything you can.

@greatgrandma2025
That is superb advice, and it's exactly what I've been doing to protect myself in regard to OB-GYNs and postmenopausal bleeding, which 90% of the time has a benign (noncancerous) cause, such as uterine and/or cervical polyps, and 99% of the time, they are completely harmless. Yet doctors try to terrify women into thinking that postmenopausal bleeding is likely due to endometrial cancer, which is the cause of postmenopausal bleeding only 10% of the time. Or even if doctors have determined that uterine and/or cervical polyps are the source of the bleeding, they want to do D&C hysteroscopy, often under general anesthesia. Any surgical procedure carries risk, which often exceeds the risk of doing nothing. Fortunately, I have a Ph.D. in Science and Medical Communication, and I know how to do research!

@cherylfromknoxvillet
Just FYI had borderline suspicious high grade endometrial abnormalities in 2003. Had a vaginal hysterectomy (my ovaries were already gone due to cystic problems) that fall. Spent less than 24 hrs in hospital - my surgery was later that day or I would have asked to go that evening!
Easiest surgery I have ever had and my only discomfort was my chronic back pain exacerbated by surgery position.
Everything was negative and I have had no further issues after many years of gyn followup visits.

@wisco50
Adding an addendum - I was a hospital RN, got 2 GYN opinions from well respected MDs where I worked and I knew the people who referred me to one who did surgery and other one was a female gyn I had worked with extensively.

@wisco50 This is good to know. That you for posting your success here. Like you I had a radical hysterectomy and my only incisions were for the laparoscope and to remove sentinel nodes for testing. I was out of the hospital by the end of the day. I just returned from a gyn followup surveillance exam and all is NED (no evidence of disease). I'm grateful for the excellent care I received at Mayo when I had the hysterectomy and for these follow-up exams.

@naturegirl5
Yes, I had ?2 or 3 tiny puncture on my abdomen. Isn’t it amazing!
Glad to know your results were disease free!