Endometrial Cancer: Noticing my blessings every day

I had a post-operative follow-up with my gyn oncologist last week at Mayo Clinic. She did a pelvic exam and reported that following the radical hysterectomy I had on August 5 that I am healing just fine. She gave me the Cancer Survivor packet and we talked about what symptoms to look for over the next while and how I will be followed (my next appointment with her team will be in 6 months). That's it, now. I'm a Cancer Survivor. What does that mean to me? A new life, a process, not an end point?

On the same day I saw my doctor, I had a nutrition consult with a dietician. I'm a Cancer Survivor. Nutrition is part of the process. I've been trying to change my eating habits and food choices for many years with limited success. The cancer diagnosis has changed my values and beliefs about my food choices and as a result my motivation has changed.

I'm thankful for all the support I get here. Your stories about your lives has been an inspiration to me.

@harriethodgson1 I like the "The Good Fairy isn't coming". I've been saying that to myself. We have to deal with what life throws our way and we decide what we can and cannot control. I had some risk factors for endometrial cancer that I could not control (no children, late menopause) but still, I'll never know the cause of the cancer. We rarely do. But I can rely on myself, like you said.

Thanks for your comments naturegirl5 I, too, have had rechecks after my surgery and continue to be cancer free. Every day is a blessing.

Such a great post, @naturegirl5. I encourage you to start a new discussion in the Cancer group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/cancer/) with that title "I'm a Cancer Survivor. What does that mean?"
I think many people with cancer experiences ask the same question. It would be great to here more from those who have walked the path before you as well as you sharing your first-hand experiences with this new normal.

You might also be interested in following the this group "Cancer: Managing Symptoms" https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/cancer-managing-symptoms/ There are several discussions there about navigating cancer post treatment that may interest you. Feel free to start any topics of interest to you too, for example about nutrition. It would be great to hear what you learn from your consult with a dietician.

Thank you, @colleenyoung, I will follow up with your suggestions. I asked for the consult with the nutritionist since I figured it was something I CAN control.

m1b1r9, Im wondering how you are since we last communicated. Are you still receiving radiation at MD Anderson? I'm hoping and praying for the best outcome for you.

Hi Naturegirl!
Thanks for asking.
Yes I am getting treatment at MDA, 2 new drug combination that was recently approved for metastatic endometrial CA
in Sept of this year.
Lenvatinib and keytruda. It has significantly decreased quality of life as the lenvatinib has many side effects. I will try it for 2 cycles, and get a scan in about 4 weeks, and decide if it is worth taking.
How are you doing? Hope all is well.

@m1b1r9 I am curious, if you care to share, what side effects you are experiencing? Is one drug more than the other causing these side effects? We will be rooting for you, and hoping the scan in four weeks shows improvement.
Ginger

Hi gingerw,
The new combination of keytruda and lenvatinib was FDA appoved on September 17, for those with no mismatch repair, and no tumor markers that can be targeted.
Keytruda is given commonly as an infusion, and does not have too many side effects.
However the lenvatinib is a multi kinase inhibitor. Side effects I have experienced are-
High blood pressure, had to start medication for it.
Extreme weakness and fatigue, muscular pain, joint pains.
Loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort, severe constipation, painful cramping.
Increase irritability and am becoming intolerant to loud sounds, and angry, and mentally not all there. I stand in front of the fridge, and have no idea why I opened it, poor memory, confusion. The cognitive side effects are most distressing.
Itching in my hands and feet, and occasional pain.
Neuropathy continues, and this maybe because of the previous taxol treatment.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
I will do 2 cycles and then get the scans, hope it shows improvement. I will discontinue, if it does not.
Hope all is well with my sisters in this group. Love and best wishes,
m1b1r9.

Hello, mibr1r9, I ache for you. I'm hoping and praying and sending you positive energy that these 2 cycles bring about the desired results. Have you finished the first cycle and will enter the second? I'm hopeful that the cognitive side effects that are the most distressing will be alleviated with time between and after cycles. I send my love and best wishes, naturegirl5.