Endometrial S1A micrometastases sentinel lymph node

Hello. I had similar experience. Had a couple days of spotting in 2021. Had TVUS and was told all was ok see you in a year. Never had a definitive cause for spotting and my bad fir not pursuing it further. Spotting start a year later had another TVUS and found endometrium had thickened. Initial staging was 1 but final staging after hysterectomy was 3 Had both sentinel nodes positive. Finished 6 cycles of chemo. 25 radiation and 3 brachytherapy in late august. Am told my prognosis is good. I was lucky and all of the treatments went easily. No major side effects with chemo. Radiation was easy with minimal and easily managed side effects. It can be scary but put out of your head any visions of being sick in bed etc that are usually how chemo is depicted It doesn’t have to be that way for everyone. I missed two days of work throughout all treatments. Am sending positive thoughts your way

@carmenc1955 I understand your fear. I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in 2019 after I saw my gynecologist for spotting. I had been in menopause for 8 years at that point and figured spotting couldn't be normal. I was so stunned when I got the diagnosis (after ultrasound and then a D&C with hysteroscopy) that I got lost while driving on a very familiar route on my way home from my gynecologist's office.

I get so anxious and fearful sometimes that my thinking becomes very irrational. Fear and anxiety can do that in which your mind leaps to the worst possible conclusions. I mention this because I've since learned that this is pretty common with people who are diagnosed with or have had cancer. If you are thinking the worst then be assured that many of us have done the same. Keep track of your thoughts. Write them down in a thought log and then challenge those thoughts.

My fear and anxiety takes this path. It's anticipatory in which I fear the worst. But once I'm in the situation I quickly find out that those irrational thoughts are, well, irrational. I then can focus on the present and what's right in front of me. In your case, that means your treatment plan. @aardvark2118 sent you some reassuring news that not all chemotherapy is debilitating. I had 25 sessions of radiation therapy and 2 brachytherapy treatments. I had minimal fatigue, a few days of diarrhea and that was all the side effects of radiation therapy I experienced. Your cancer care team will do everything possible to make sure you are comfortable during your treatments.

What scares you the most? Do you have some specific fears you know of that you can share here so that we can help you figure out how to deal with those fears?

Hi @carmenc1955, how are you doing today? When do you start chemo?

Thank you for sharing your experience. Since this post, I've had chest port implanted. You are so very positive that I feel less negative than previously. My CT showed no cancer in my organs, however, the Dr said eventhough there is no visible disease, there is disease seen microscopically. Thank you once again for sharing, and I pray your prognosis remains good.

Thank you for your encouraging response. I bought a journal as you suggested, along with some beautiful colored pens. I did begin to journal my fears and how my days are going. My biggest fears are of the unknown. I worry about the possibility of getting demientia, as my younger brother just passed from early-onset Alzheimer's. He was 66 when he passed less than a month ago. My husband and I go to a "chemo class" tomorrow at my oncologist office. I am hoping this will help with the "unknowns". Thank you once again for encouraging me and for recommending journaling.

I am doing OK for now. I have cried buckets of tears over the diagnosis and the probability of losing my hair. My younger brother recently passed after having early-onset Alzheimer's at age 66. I finally stopped crying when I realized how fortunate I am to have a disease that has the potential to be cured, rather, than the terminal illness of Alzheimer's. I watched my brother and best friend slip away little by little over 7 years. I am not going to feel sorry for myself anymore... I begin chemo next week. I've tried to buy things that my husband and I will need for the bad days after the infusions. Thank you for asking about me. It does help to communicate with others.

Hello. Great news that your CT was clear!!! So glad you are feeling better. I was told the same which was why the chemo (attacks anything systemically) and the the radiation (attacks specific area). The port makes chemo so much easier. I still have mine on and don’t even notice it. My best advice is to not google anything! I made that mistake once and never have since. I have a list of questions written down that I start after each visit so I don’t forget. This is the only web site I look at. I wish you all the best. Please keep us posted on your progress!!

@carmenc1955 I’m pleased to know that some of the suggestions I made were helpful to you. I agree that for me the biggest fears are the “what ifs”. The unknown. Isn’t it kinda fun to use those colored pens with your journal?

I can understand your worries about getting dementia as your brother did. With cancer we have a possibility of treatment strategies that are hopeful and encouraging.

Is your chemo class today? I’m very curious what you learned and if you found it helpful. Before I had a total hip replacement surgery I went to a class the day before the surgery. That took care of many of the unknowns and we (there were 8 of us in the class, with 4 of us scheduled for surgery the following day) had the opportunity to ask questions.

carmenc1955 @carmenc1955

I hope you're doing well, and have family and friends to support you. If you have the gel gloves that you put in the freezer, it will help with the CIPN later on. You can use the cold gel gloves while doing the infusion. This cold therapy helps me, but for others, what helped them is the warm compress. If your infusion center provides a cooling cap, maybe you want to try it...

Sorry for late reply, my first infusion was Jan 23. Not much nausea, however, I have almost unbearable bone pain. I have Degenerative Disc Disease, so I'm wondering if the DDD has made the side affect of bone pain worse than usual. The oncologist prescribed 3 days of steroids and some oxycodone 5 for break through pain. I am hoping this helps. I have never experienced pain 9/10 before. I was prepared to have severe nausea, but was unaware of the possibility of severe bone pain. Ice packs on my legs have provided some relief. I have also used heat, however, cold helps me more. I welcome any suggestions to help with deep bone pain from Chemo. Thanks