1. < Gynecologic Cancers

Looking for some advice: endometrial carcinosarcoma.

Posted by sam1108 @sam1108, Sep 12, 2023

Hello,
My grandmother (88) an otherwise healthy, active women was recently diagnosed with endometrial carcinosarcoma. Based on biopsy and MRI, the cancer is uterine and cervix. Her GYN Oncologist does not operate first in this case. He suggested chemo (Carbo/Taxol) followed by radiation, then possible total (open) hysterectomy (if cancer has not spread).

My grandmother has never been sick in her life, other than common colds. I fear that suggesting treatment will certainly make her ill from the side effects of chemo/radiation. I am an advocate for choosing quality of life over quantity. If this cancer does spread, does it cause a lot of bothersome symptoms? Does metastasis happen rapidly?

She is looking to me for guidance and I just don't want to steer her wrong. Any advice is appreciated.

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

Mentor
Helen, Volunteer Mentor | @naturegirl5 | Oct 8, 2023
In reply to @wuw8 "I was diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma in 2020 on my 70th birthday....and received a laparoscopic radical..." + (show)
@wuw8

I was diagnosed with uterine carcinosarcoma in 2020 on my 70th birthday....and received a laparoscopic radical hysterectomy about 50 days after my bleeding had first started (during covid shutdown). Within a month after surgery I began to feel better than I had for several years and of course the bleeding stopped . The biopsy during surgery resulted in a stage 1 B. There had been more than 50% growth through the uterus wall but without observed spread to the 2 sentinel lymph nodes that were tested during the surgery. After surgery I was offered a chemo regimen and started a month or so later. Unfortunately the chemotherapy was too much for me, all the physical symptoms, weight loss, but also visual problems and illness. I gave up. I quit chemo after 4 of 6 treatments of the carbo-taxol and it was the best choice for me. Your grandmother of course will make her own choice. I do not think that I would have been able to physically survive a surgery after the chemotherapy. I felt relieved to learn that radiation is a option that she is considering. although I have no experience with that....its just that chemo was so debilitating. Like previous responders have said each patient is unique and by continuing to ask questions and seek information a way forward will be revealed. There was very little support available during covid. I am grateful that there are messages left by participants on this discussion site to help others embarking on similar journeys. It is good that you are there to help your grandmother wade through all the information and choices, and just for being there.

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@wuw8 I’d like to say that @gynosaur42 has expressed in her own elegant manner what I feel about Mayo Clinic Connect and my own journey. We can obtain advice, recommendations, and treatments and then decide what will work for ourselves.

When do you next see your oncologist so you can discuss the possibility of radiation therapy? How are you feeling today?

REPLY
ihndz | @ihndz | Oct 31, 2023

I know this reply is a bit old, but how is Grandma doing?

I wonder why didn't they suggest a hysterectomy first and No chemo/radiation treatments (to avoid the aggressive side effects at her age) but possibly giving her a longer life expectancy without too much stress and pain? Best wishes

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 5, 2023

Hi @sam1108, I'm jumping on the bandwagon along with @ihndz and @naturegirl5. How are you doing? How is your grandmother doing?

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