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

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

@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?

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

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

@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?

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

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.

didn’t escape

He said this is prophylactic just in case. I am really happy to make sure no cells hopefully escaped during surgery

@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/