1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Endometrial Stage III Cancer Diagnosis

Posted by tjperry @tjperry, Jan 21, 2023

On November 28th my world was turned upside down! I heard those dreaded words,
" I'm sorry but your biopsy shows you have cancer so I have referred you to a gynecologic oncologist."

Three days later I met him. They couldn't tell for sure if I had cervical or endometrial cancer. A Leep procedure determined that it was not cervical.

Eleven days later I had a total hysterectomy including bilateral ovaries and fallopian tubes. They were confident that I would have the surgery and I would be cured. The tumor was a grade 1, invasion less than 50% into the myometrium, no lymph node involvement, lower uterine segment involved but nothing in my cervix. Everything was looking great until the pathologist found cancer in my left fallopian tube! Ugh They said it is unusual because the tumor wasn't near the fallopian tube so somehow some cancer cells got away from the main tumor, travelled and implanted into my tube.

Went from surgery and cured to stage III and needing radiation and chemotherapy! I start the Portec 3 treatment plan on Feb. 6th. I am getting nervous!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

tjperry | @tjperry | Feb 19, 2023
In reply to @terradean "Oh, do I know how you feel. Monday was my last day of 5 weeks of..." + (show)
@terradean

Oh, do I know how you feel. Monday was my last day of 5 weeks of external. And, am so glad not to be forced into drinking so much water. I have always drank more water at night than during the day while working. It was a struggle the whole 5 weeks for me. If I drank enough than they would be off and was over full by time they called me in. Had to start wearing poise pads, than they started asking me how long I had the problem and what a small bladder I had. What a experience, told them the problem better go away once completed. Is better but not 100% yet since Monday. Been awake in middle of night few nights since. But, the diarrhea the last week or so was what bothered me the most. However, started drinking Kombucha last 3 days now and has seemed to remove diarrhea, at least I think so. Tomorrow first of 2 brachy for this coming week. Hoping goes well. Following Monday 1 st of the last 3 chemo 3 weeks apart. Chin up, it is a journey.

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Thank you for sharing your experience! I don't feel so alone in all of this when people share so this site has been very therapeutic for me! Thank you everyone who have responded!

Last week went better with filling my bladder. The Liquid IV is really helping so they have been happy. They never tell me how full my bladder is but they have treated me everytime!

I did make a mistake the one day and forgot to eat breakfast. I figure the almond milk in my cereal also helps fill my bladder so I quickly ate breakfast in my 30 minute window of water drinking. I felt like I was going to explode during treatment and they did say my bladder was 105% full. They said any fuller and they would have had to have me go let some out. I won't make that mistake again!

The difficult part now is keeping my weight up. The first week I gained 6 pounds from chemo on Monday to my Dr. visit on Wednesday. I said it must be all the water. This week I lost 9 pounds which the nurse was upset with at first but the dietitian said because of the previous week it was just a 3 pound loss. She said she is not worried but it can't happen this week.

I eat 6 small meals and feel like I can't possibly eat any more than I am. Any tips would be great! It's also hard to eat now that my stools are softer! Soon they say it will be diarrhea. Oh joy. I do have Imodium ready when needed!

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nblucero | @nblucero | Feb 19, 2023
In reply to @terradean "It will be interesting to see what they come up with. I am 72, My treatment..." + (show)
@terradean

It will be interesting to see what they come up with. I am 72, My treatment plan from last year, was hysterectomy, sandwich treatment plan, 3 chemo taxol/carbo, 25 external radiation, 2 brachy both this week, and which I will start 2/27 3 more chemo taxol/carbo. Am hoping they do not make me do anything else. However, was told if this didn't work then immunology.

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Surgery will be the first option. I suspect chemo will be considered. Instead of killing every cell, a targeted approach (killing only cancer cells) makes more sense but it may not be applicable to my type of sarcoma.

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sherrill2023 | @sherrill2023 | Feb 25, 2023
In reply to @sherrill2023 "I’ve got GREAT news. My CT’s of chest, abdomen and pelvis show no lymph nodes or..." + (show)
@sherrill2023

I’ve got GREAT news. My CT’s of chest, abdomen and pelvis show no lymph nodes or metastasis of cancer. It has stayed in the uterus. God helped me through my darkness.

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Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!

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3 replies
tjperry | @tjperry | Feb 25, 2023
In reply to @sherrill2023 "Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!" + (show)
@sherrill2023

Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!

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You are in good hands and have lots of people flooding heaven with prayers! You've got this! God's got this! Please let us know how your surgery goes! Blessings my friend!❤️

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tjperry | @tjperry | Mar 2, 2023
In reply to @sherrill2023 "Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!" + (show)
@sherrill2023

Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!

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Just wondering how your surgery went? @sherrill2023
Have been thinking about you and praying for you!❤️🙏❤️

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Mar 2, 2023
In reply to @sherrill2023 "Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!" + (show)
@sherrill2023

Excellent! My CT’s were the same as yours. My surgery is this Tuesday. God help me!

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@sherrill2023 I'm writing to check back with you. Did you have surgery on Tuesday, this week? How did the surgery go and how are you feeling?

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sherrill2023 | @sherrill2023 | Mar 2, 2023

I had my surgery on Tuesday. I had an abdominal anesthesia block on my abdomen and reached down to my pelvis. When I woke up in my room, no pain!!!!!!!!! I had a party with the nursing staff. NO PAIN!! I laughed and joked. It lasted for me about 50 hours. When I slept on my side I used 3 pillows. pushed 1 under my “10 months” abdomen. 2 more against my abdomen. Went home Wednesday and sitting up in lounger. My husband lost 20 pounds worrying about me. He is my nurse. This has brought us closer together. I am eating regular food. I haven’t taken any pain medicine. No pain just 8 month belly! I am very blessed that the anesthesiologist. I do get tired around 8:00 pm. I hope anyone with this malady gets to ask their Dr. about this “regional anesthesia “. Dr. Zaid in Houston has done 600 of the robotic surgery. Hang in there.

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klhorn | @klhorn | Feb 7 10:39am

I also have cancer that originated in my fallopian tube and has spread out from there. This was found during my hysterectomy in July 2023 after a CT scan and CA125 test came out negative. 🙁 I finished my 6 rounds of chemo in December and am now waiting for my 2nd scan in March. My doctors have told me that there's no other therapies for my type of cancer, but I'm wondering if that's true. Does anyone have ideas on websites I can use to research this? Or should I be getting a 2nd opinion? I have to say I feel great, my sleep is good and my hair is growing back! I still find if hard to believe that I have cancer!!!
Karen

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1 reply
jc100 | @jc100 | Feb 8 5:59am

Did you receive immunotherapy during your six rounds of chemo?

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gisellef | @gisellef | Feb 8 9:20am
In reply to @klhorn "I also have cancer that originated in my fallopian tube and has spread out from there...." + (show)
@klhorn

I also have cancer that originated in my fallopian tube and has spread out from there. This was found during my hysterectomy in July 2023 after a CT scan and CA125 test came out negative. 🙁 I finished my 6 rounds of chemo in December and am now waiting for my 2nd scan in March. My doctors have told me that there's no other therapies for my type of cancer, but I'm wondering if that's true. Does anyone have ideas on websites I can use to research this? Or should I be getting a 2nd opinion? I have to say I feel great, my sleep is good and my hair is growing back! I still find if hard to believe that I have cancer!!!
Karen

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Hi. I would get a second opinion at a clinic specializing in cancer. I know of a situation where exactly the same situation and same treatment protocol resulted in reoccurrence several years later. Consider radiation therapy to deal with rogue cells that may be present and will replicate. Reoccurrence in the case I am familiar with was treated with radiation therapy including MRI guided intense radiation and low dose chemotherapy as the recurrent tumour could not be removed surgically. Talk to docs at MD Anderson in Houston, for example.
Also, Mayo and others have specific anti cancer diets —cut out processed and sugary foods; keep your weight down and lower your blood sugar levels. Please do not be complacent and good luck to you in staying healthy.

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