Delay in diagnosis

I think it is so easy to look backwards and see signs that we didn’t notice at the time, or assumed were something else. Do not beat yourself up over it. I had signs that I probably should have picked up on and rationalized as something else, and didn’t get checked until spotting began. I am 3 months post radiation and 6 months post surgery now after grade 3 endometrial cancer, and finally starting to feel more energy. Focus on your recovery and the good days that wait for you on the other side! I am now back to biking, dancing, gardening, and preparing for my daughter’s wedding in 2 weeks! Always move forward. Best wishes to you.

I'm grade 3 endometrial cancer, radical hysterectomy post radiation (3wks). I push myself a lot, but extremely weak, lots of tingling in my hands feet, here and there elsewhere. Started during radiation,told Dr about it, Seems sude effect of radiation. Did you have that, and was it ongoing for awhile afterward?

Oh...they dud radiation also base of my spine, though no cancer found in lymph,for safe keeping they said, common

I try not to dwell on my missed signs….. We made decisions on what seemed to make sense at the time.
The only regret I have is that I followed the Medicare guidelines of no PAP after age 65 because I think my cancer would have been caught a year earlier had I gone for the gyn exam. That Medicare rule does a disservice to older women, especially with knowing that uterine cancers are very often a disease of this age group and that the incidence is rising.

I am almost 3 years post treatment (also Grade 3) and just came from my first lymphedema massage therapy. I was fortunate to not have bad side effects while undergoing treatment but as time goes on the late effects are adding up.
Gynecologic Oncology really needs to have a sub specialty for side effects and late effects. I just recently learned that breast cancer patients get a pre-lymphedema measurement check after treatment as this is always a consideration. We get nothing! And what we don’t know can hurt us.

@tdfraze I did not have any tingling in my extremities, but did have some tingling in the groin area. I had 25 external pelvic radiation treatments. It is very normal to feel weak and tired - it took weeks for that to get better, and I still do not have all of my energy back yet. My biggest issue has been radiation enteritis/proctitis. The symptoms still come and go and are easily triggered, especially with alcohol. I had 1/2 a glass of wine a few weeks ago, and it set me right back to how I felt during treatment. I think I will abstain for about 6 months before I try again. I also just had some scanning done because of swelling on my left pelvic side. My family doctor suspected a surgical hernia, and my radiation oncologist suspected lymphedema. It turned out to be non-specific trace of free fluid. I am not sure if anything will need to be done about it or not, as I am waiting for another abdominal ultrasound and a colonoscopy. One thing I will say is that with every test, my anxiety goes up, but it is really important to keep going, have fun every day, and try not to worry.

if you have endometrial cancer it would not have been detected with a pap smear.

stage 1 is considered a slow growth and least aggressive of the endometrial cancers. you've caught it early and no need to dwell on should've, would've, could've.

Not in my case .. my uterine cancer was diagnosed bc of a funky Pap smear that led to a culposcopy , biopsy of cervix and uterus .. it was caught early but aggressive and high rate of recurrence! Continue to have routine Pap smears !! After age 65

I'm on the other side. Also ignored the signs - seemed more like spotting than bleeding and had no idea. Mine was also grade 1 and the least aggressive. Found thickening on a CT scan for my kidneys (golf-ball sized one due to come out in Sept now) - otherwise, who know how long I would have gone without finding out? Probably one of the few people happy to have a giant kidney stone.

At 30 days out from the radical hysterectomy, I now know I had a good result - it was caught so very early. I am now trying not to beat myself up about the other 2 issues (one of them long-term and irreversible) that I have to tackle. Those, I also ignored symptoms of. (caretaker/ husband died/ elderly mom with dementia still going strong). Grateful for the medical care I do have, and that I have a path forward. I am trying to learn to enjoy each day now, and trying to focus on the things I do have control of. (Lots of "trying to" in there!).

I hope this helps?