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Endometrial Cancer: Noticing my blessings every day
Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: Feb 2, 2023 | Replies (100)Comment receiving replies
m1b1r9, I am so sorry to know that your cancer diagnosis was rare and aggressive. It's a blessing that you were able to go to MD Anderson for another opinion and are getting treatment at an excellent cancer center
I was diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma, initially FIGO Grade 2 at my local hospital, and then Grade 1 by pathologists at Mayo (the slides were sent there following my referral). I also had positive peritoneal washing which caused me (and still causes me) stress and anxiety. My husband is a pathologist and between him and my surgeon, it was explained to me that the positive washings were likely due to the hysteroscopy I had at my local hospital a week prior to my surgery at Mayo. My surgeon said that she has seen this more frequently. Prior to 2009, my cancer would have been upgraded to Grade III, but the International Federation of Gynecological and Obstetrics (FIGO) standards have changed which opens a huge discussion about what these washings mean and so what the follow-up treatment should be. In my case, these cancer cells are not biologically viable in the pelvic cavity which is what I worried about.
Both you and I know a whole lot more about endometrial cancer then we ever wanted to know. I will keep you, your family, and your cancer care team in my prayers.
Replies to "m1b1r9, I am so sorry to know that your cancer diagnosis was rare and aggressive. It's..."
I have a question for all the women who have undergone chemo. How did you survive it? I just finished my first treatment and I'm weak, experiencing nausea and lhave lost my appetite. It's like the Perfect Storm hit me all at once. I have five more treatments to go. Is the First treatment the worst, or can I expect this with every treatment?
Sory to.hear about your worries.and diseases. I was also diagnosed with EC Grade II, going to have surgery next 2weeks. How was your recovery after the surgery ? What is the post surgery treatment ? Thank you
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I rarely write messages, but I found your comments very thoughtful. I was diagnosed with stage 1A ovarian clear cell carcinoma (very rare) in May 2017. Although I was considered asymptomatic, a physician I was seeing for an unrelated problem encouraged me to have a CT scan and a CA-125 test. Fortunately, I had access to one of the top cancer centers (as well as being able to obtain a second opinion from another). At the time, the NCCN recommendation was chemo despite my being told it was likely a surgical cure. As a scientist by training, I had very strong reservations about following this course of action (international research found chemo ineffective ten years ago for OCCC). In the end, my treatment was very modified as a result of developing PN. In less than two years time, the NCCN has changed their recommendations to "observe" as an option for this histology. I now live with the concerns about the long lasting effects of treatment.
At the institution where I received care, germline testing is done as well as genetic testing of the tumor. I was grateful to be able to tell my daughters it was a somatic mutation. However, it is a histology associated with endometriosis which afflicts all of the women in my family.
I continue to do research on ovca (so heterogeneous) with a focus on OCCC. It is a time of rapid change in this area.
Being educated about this disease is very important to me, but I struggle with wanting to do "something" to help other women and feeling helpless. For me, the emotional/psychological aspect of recovery has been the most trying. I focus on being healthy (although I always had a very healthy lifestyle) and my family and friends. Sometimes I wish I could just file this whole experience away as some of my friends have managed to do, but at the same time I feel compelled to pursue my understanding of this dreadful disease.
I hope you stay well. And thank you for your contribution to this site.