1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Newly Diagnosed: FIGO 2 Uterine Cancer: What does this mean?

Posted by gratefulcat @gratefulcat, Mar 4, 2023

Hi - My recent pathology report showed FIGO 2 for uterine cancer, and I am scheduled for a robotic hysterectomy next week. Does anyone know if these means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body? Has anyone had a cancer journey that started at this grade? Thanks for your help.

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

johungate3 | @johungate3 | May 7, 2023
In reply to @gratefulcat "My cancer was Stage 1A with positive pelvic washing. I had a complete hysterectomy, and they..." + (show)
@gratefulcat

My cancer was Stage 1A with positive pelvic washing. I had a complete hysterectomy, and they recommended brachytherapy as a follow-up treatment to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

I have decided to decline the brachytherapy/radiation treatment because of the research about the risk of injury to the vagina, bladder, and bowels.

Has anyone else refused radiation treatment after a low to mid-risk endometrial cancer diagnosis?

Thank you

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I had a total hysterectomy 6 weeks ago, diagnosed as stage 1a, Serous Carcinoma of the uterus. The uterus was removed through the vagina. It is too early to begin brachytherapy since the vagina is still healing, but I’m pretty sure I will not do it. I, too, am concerned about side effects and how indefinite the kind and length of side effects predictions are. I am 89, in good health, but know my best years are behind me. I want to be sure I don’t do anything that will mess up quality of the time I still have left.

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esikora | @esikora | May 8, 2023
In reply to @naturegirl5 "@gratefulcat As @val64 wrote you should make the decision that is the right one for you...." + (show)
@naturegirl5

@gratefulcat As @val64 wrote you should make the decision that is the right one for you. I don’t know of anyone in our Support Group that refused radiation treatment for a low-to mid-risk endometrial cancer. I checked back through our Support Group and did not find anyone however I encourage you to do the same. You may find a discussion that is helpful to you.

I had external pelvic radiation (25 treatments) and 2 vaginal brachytherapy for a recurrence of endometrial cancer (endometrioid adenocarcinoma, FIGO 1, Stage 1a). The cancer was considered low grade and non agressive. I write this because not all cancers are alike. So the recommendations that are made and the decisions a person makes depends on the kind of cancer and how agressive it is.

During external pelvic radiation I had a few instances of diarrhea but that cleared up within a few weeks after I completed the treatments. I was informed that I also might have bladder problems that would feel like a UTI during external pelvic radiation and that occurred briefly. Mostly I was fatigued. It was recommended that I use a vaginal moisturizer and a dilator after brachytherapy which I’ve continued to do.

I am 16 months “out” from the radiation treatments and have had no lasting effects from radiation.

Here is a discussion that you may find relevant to your question.

How did you feel after pelvic radiation was completed?

— https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/how-did-you-feel-after-pelvic-radiation-was-completed/

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So everyone in the Support Group had adjuvant radiation regardless of grade/stage?

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Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 8, 2023
In reply to @esikora "So everyone in the Support Group had adjuvant radiation regardless of grade/stage?" + (show)
@esikora

So everyone in the Support Group had adjuvant radiation regardless of grade/stage?

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@esikora I was trying to answer your specific question of whether there was anyone with low to mid grade uterine cancer who chose not to have radiation treatment when recommended by their doctor. Everyone in our Gynecological Cancers Support Group has cancers that affect different organs and there are many kinds of cancers. I could not find anyone in the Discussions who was diagnosed with low to mid grade uterine cancer who chose not to have radiation therapy when it was recommended by their doctor.

The Discussion group I referred you to was specifically for those of us who have had radiation treatment. I started this Discussion so members could share how they felt during and after pelvic radiation - external beam or brachytherapy.

Does this answer your question?

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angierivas1 | @angierivas1 | May 20, 2023
In reply to @gratefulcat "Hi Everyone - I am almost three weeks post hysterectomy and doing well. My cancer was..." + (show)
@gratefulcat

Hi Everyone - I am almost three weeks post hysterectomy and doing well. My cancer was staged as 1A with a positive pelvic washing which requires follow-up radiation/brachytherapy. During the process, I learned I have a high probability of Lynch Syndrome and will continue with additional cancer screenings over the next few months.

Has anyone experienced brachytherapy for endometrial cancer? How did they feel? Any long-term side effects?

Thanks for your support.

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Hello. May I ask why did you have a positive pelvic washing? I’m just curious as this wasn’t offered to me. Thanks

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1 reply
angierivas1 | @angierivas1 | May 21, 2023
In reply to @gratefulcat "Hi Everyone - I am almost three weeks post hysterectomy and doing well. My cancer was..." + (show)
@gratefulcat

Hi Everyone - I am almost three weeks post hysterectomy and doing well. My cancer was staged as 1A with a positive pelvic washing which requires follow-up radiation/brachytherapy. During the process, I learned I have a high probability of Lynch Syndrome and will continue with additional cancer screenings over the next few months.

Has anyone experienced brachytherapy for endometrial cancer? How did they feel? Any long-term side effects?

Thanks for your support.

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Hello. What’s a positive pelvic washing? Is it something they did test for during your surgery?

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1 reply
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 21, 2023
In reply to @angierivas1 "Hello. What’s a positive pelvic washing? Is it something they did test for during your surgery?" + (show)
@angierivas1

Hello. What’s a positive pelvic washing? Is it something they did test for during your surgery?

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@angierivas1 Were you diagnosed with uterine cancer? If yes, have you had surgery or treatment?

Pelvic or peritoneal washing is a procedure that the surgeon does where a salt-water solution is used to "wash" the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity is the space in the abdomen where you find the intestines, stomach, and liver. The solution is collected and then sent to pathology where the solution is then checked for cancer cells. A "positive" pelvic washing means that the solution contains cancer cells. A "negative" pelvic washing means that no cancer cells were found.

The washing I described is done after different kinds of surgery including a hysterectomy.

If you scroll down the following linked page you'll find the description of pelvic washing, why it's done and what it means when the washings are positive vs negative.

Surgery for endometrial cancer:

-- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/endometrial-cancer/treating/surgery.html

Does my explanation answer your questions?

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val64 | @val64 | May 22, 2023

The pelvic washing is not done for every hysterectomy for cancer. It was not done during mine.

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1 reply
Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | May 22, 2023
In reply to @val64 "The pelvic washing is not done for every hysterectomy for cancer. It was not done during..." + (show)
@val64

The pelvic washing is not done for every hysterectomy for cancer. It was not done during mine.

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@val64 Oh, I didn't know that. Do you know why that is? I have a positive pelvic washing and had a long conversation with my surgeon about what that meant and why or why not it would figure into my Stage and treatment.

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gratefulcat | @gratefulcat | May 22, 2023
In reply to @angierivas1 "Hello. May I ask why did you have a positive pelvic washing? I’m just curious as..." + (show)
@angierivas1

Hello. May I ask why did you have a positive pelvic washing? I’m just curious as this wasn’t offered to me. Thanks

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Hi Angierivas1 - I understand that pelvic washing is usually done during a hysterectomy when uterine cancer is diagnosed. They flush the pelvic area with saline to check the fluid for cancer cells. If it came back positive, cancer cells were found.

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1 reply
angierivas1 | @angierivas1 | May 22, 2023
In reply to @gratefulcat "Hi Angierivas1 - I understand that pelvic washing is usually done during a hysterectomy when uterine..." + (show)
@gratefulcat

Hi Angierivas1 - I understand that pelvic washing is usually done during a hysterectomy when uterine cancer is diagnosed. They flush the pelvic area with saline to check the fluid for cancer cells. If it came back positive, cancer cells were found.

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Thank you for responding. I too was diagnosed with endometrial cancer stage 1. And had a hysterectomy but my surgeon never suggested a pelvic washing. I’m having my 3-month follow up next week 🙏🏼
It’s been a slow and difficult healing but I’m hopeful. Cancer runs in my immediate family 😔

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