Diagnosed with endometrium adenocarcinoma few days ago

@whengzy19 Getting this news from your gynecologist and then waiting for the oncologist referral is frightening. Of course you are very anxious because you don't yet know what is going on. You've come to a good place and you will get lots of support from the members of this discussion group.

Did your gynecologist give you an idea of what kind of cancer this might be? There are many different types of gynecological cancers including more than one type involving the same structure. For instance, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer, endometroid adenocarcinoma, but that's is just one type of uterine cancer. If you have some information please let me know and I can post some resources for you to read.

In your last sentence you mention acceptance. That's a challenging concept, isn't it? Once I realized how much my gynecologist cared about me, got the referral going quickly, and followed up with me, his support helped me to understand that I wasn't alone in this. That helped me to move toward acceptance and not get too attached to a particular outcome. I began to understand that I would be okay in the hands of my cancer care team.

I was older than you at the time of my diagnosis (68) and had a good diet, never smoked, didn't use alcohol, exercised and was a healthy weight. I had kept up with all the screenings and medical appointments over the years. And yet there I was. Diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Even my gynecologist thought I had no risk factors which was why he was so shocked at the diagnosis when he got the pathology report. There comes the acceptance again. I didn't like the reality but I had to figure out a way not to argue with it.

Will you come back here and let me know what you hear from oncology and when your appointment is scheduled?

Hi Helen,
Thank you so much for your response!
My symptoms started on 2019, where I’m having my period twice a month with feeling heaviness on my pelvic area. I consult this to my family doctor and undergo for abdominal and transvaginal ultrasound. Results came that I have fibroids. So my doctor suspect that it’s stress and early symptoms of menopausal. After few months of having periods twice a month, it stop. So me thinking 🤔, yeah maybe early symptoms of menopausal.
Then this year start on January start the blood spotting, never missed a day with spotting. Consulted my family doctor by month of April, he still saying probably one of the early symptoms of menopausal since I’m nearly 50’s. And he scheduled me for another transvaginal ultrasound and blood chemistry. Results came still fibroids, didn’t see anything wrong. Blood chemistry results, my hemoglobin level are on a below lower level. He do the Pap smear and got the results “ atypical glandular cells of endometrial origin “. When my family got this results right away he did the endometrial biopsy and referred me to specialist or gynaecologist. October 25 meet the gynaecologist and do colposcopy and biopsy. October 31, results came for my endometrial biopsy :
endometrium Adenocarcinoma November 7 colposcopy biopsy results out, gynaecologist called me and say that he’ll need to referred me to oncologist because the cancer cells are within the deeper of the middle section. He didn’t explain it to me well what does it means, he just said that once the oncologist contact you, will explain it to you everything. Oncologist will perform also a total hysterectomy through laparoscopic procedure and from there will tell you what treatment is next after they examine the specimen taken out from your body.
So far, that’s the only info I got . Still on waiting for oncologist.

Hello @whengzy19. You are going through a similar although much longer and surely more frustrating series of events than me.
My gynecologyst i think was also shocked to see the ultrasound and then the hysteroscopy biopsy results. I had no past history. She instantly referred me to an oncologist with almost the exact same words and same level of information. I actually asked to get a copy of the biopsy results and analyzed each and every word (maybe not the best idea but I felt more in charge)

All that said, your Gynecologist is correct on next steps. They may vary a little based on the oncologist more thorough examination and maybe more tests but be assured he/she will provide you with all the care, information and options available to you.

My personal story, that may not apply to you: I know it was not my Gynecologist intent but after more than 20 years of her following me, i felt like an embarassing package passed on to someone more qualified. That was on 10/7.
I could not be seen before 11/4 by the oncologist i was referred to.
This is why I reached out to the Mayo Clinic. What started as wanting a second opinion quickly became a whirlwind of activities.
As of 11/4, thanks to Mayo, i had been seen by a Gynecologist oncologist, had all series of tests done to pinpoint what type of initial treatment was needed, the hysterectomy performed and was on my way to recovery, waiting for final test results.
Results are now in. I am waiting for the Mayo tumour board recommendation on next steps: observation ? Radiations? Chemo ? .. we will see

I am more patient, accepting and frustration is gone as I know I am in good hands. You will get there too, i have absolutely no doubt 🙂
Do you already have an appointment scheduled with the oncologist ?

@whengzy19 Have you heard anything yet from the oncologist? I am hopeful that you have an appointment soon so that you can get some answers and a treatment plan.

No, not yet
Still on waiting for oncologist.

Hi, call your Gyn today and ask for the name of the oncologist you’ll be referred to. My Gyn called me the day she got the results and told me I’d need a Gyn onc, she told me she had already spoken to the onc and the onc had all my test results. My Gyn gave me the onc’s name and phone number and told me to call and set up an appointment. I saw the onc that week and in less than 2 weeks after had a full robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy that went extremely well. That was about 4 weeks ago. You’ve waited about a week which seems long to me. We are our about best advocates. Your main goal is to get the appt with the onc as soon as you can so you can be on your way to being healed. If you have the patient portal, after calling your Gyn follow up with a message to the Gyn in the patient portal. Holidays are coming up and folks will start taking time off, so you want to get this done. I’m wishing you the best. Take one day at a time.

@pugpeople @whengzy19
Good advice. I agree to wait about a week and if you haven't heard from the oncologist please call their office and inquire about your appointment. I know that advocating for yourself can be difficult. I have to grit my teeth and just do it even when I want to avoid this process.

Do you have the name and contact information for your oncologist so you can do this?

Yes…and it looks like the initial post was 5 days ago and she wrote it was a few days ago when she was diagnosed so seems like it’s been a week. Wishing her the best!

If it’s not no much to ask, was this related to fibroids? Or did you had them before this diagnosis? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏻🌼 thank for sharing your journey praying for blessings of healing ❤️‍🩹

Update for Gynae Oncologist
Contacted me yesterday and have an appointment on November 28th. Should I take an off now for work , or work still until I meet the oncologist. My jobs are more on physical demanding job. I’m off week this week using my vacation.
To all my co patients,after you meet up with your oncologist, how long did you wait to schedule for hysterectomy surgery.