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

@melhen April 24. That is coming up very soon.

I had my surgery at Mayo Clinic’s Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Since I had general anesthesia and woke up in recovery I’m not sure how long the surgery was. I checked in to the hospital very early at about 6 am. I was prepped for surgery by a wonderful nurse who educated me on what to expect before and after the surgery. I think I went to the pre-op room at about 10 where the doctors talked with me and the IV was started. I’m thinking I was taken to the OR at about 11 am. I woke up in recovery around 1 or or 2 pm. Once I was awake and could walk then my partner took me back to our hotel.

I did have some pain after surgery because carbon dioxide is introduced to inflate the pelvic area where the surgeon is working for laparoscopic surgery. That carbon dioxide remains in the body for awhile but that pain was gone by the next morning. I was not sent home with any pain meds and I didn’t need them. I was tired and a little sore in my abdomen for a few days after surgery.

Everyone on the cancer team, including the prep and pre-op explained everything they needed to do before it happened. I am generally a very anxious person and I can say with the care and attention that I received I was not anxious. If surgery can be a positive experience under the circumstances then it certainly was for me.

Where will you be going for your surgery?

April 24
Just what to expect before and after surgery. I know everyone is different but some general things I might expect. I’m 69 so I’m sure the age of the patient makes some difference with recovery and all. About how long does the robotic procedure take? And that too I’m assuming depends on the surgeon.
I read somewhere a person said she used a small pillow afterwards if she had to cough.

Welcome to out support group. Cancer is a word no one wants to hear the day they receive the diagnosis from the doctor. Now that your surgical procedure is scheduled how do you feel?

I was diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma FIGO 1. Once I saw the GYNOncologist and there was a plan in place I felt my spirits lift and was less anxious. I had a robotic laparoscopic hysterectomy and pathology assigned Stage 1a. I was released from the hospital the same day and just felt some fatigue after the procedure. There a few small incisions in my abdomen that quickly healed. It took longer for me to heal on the inside. About 4 weeks.

What other questions do you have? Do you have a date for your hysterectomy?

@melhen -

I am so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Last month, I went through the same thing with FIGO grade 2 and Stage 1A cancer. I was surprised at how easy the robotic hysterectomy was. I went home the same day as the surgery and walked around and climbed stairs the next day.
The hysterectomy recovery has been easy. I was put on blood thinners for 30 days, which I had a hard time tolerating, but it's important to prevent blood clots with this type of cancer. During the surgery, they will do a pelvic washing, and if it comes back positive, they will most likely recommend brachytherapy/radiation. Let me know if there is anything else I can answer for you. Take good care

Recently diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer, grade 1. Scheduled for Robotic Hysterectomy soon. What do I have to look forward to with this type of surgery?

@gratefulcat I was tested for Lynch Syndrome and it was negative. I also was tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2 and those were negative.

Emotionally I felt grateful and blessed after my hysterectomy because the endometrioid adenocarcinoma was Stage 1a and caught early. Physically I was fatigued for about two weeks and the fatigue lessened each day. I stayed home and did what I felt I could do. I took naps as I’d had general anesthesia and so I knew the fatigue was normal. My surgeon reminded me that while I had just a few small incisions on the outside but the surgery was endoscopic that I still had the same amount of healing internally that a patient would have with open abdominal surgery. I would say that I felt back to my usual energy in about 3 weeks.

Does this answer your questions? Do you other questions?

Thank you, Helen. What feelings have you had since your hysterectomy? Were you tested for Lynch Syndrome? I feel like my nerve endings are healing - random weird tingling and pain, headaches, but I am hopeful it will pass as I heal.

I was warned of the possibility of damaging my bladder or rectum if not properly prepared before the brachytherapy treatments. They requested that I make sure that my rectum was empty. They should give you instructions for that. They also gave me specific instructions on how full my bladder should be.
On the days of the treatment, they used a CT scan to review the position of both organs. They then placed the applicator with the radioactive material using the CT scanner.
As follow-up, the radiologist recommended using a vaginal moisturizer and a vaginal dilator for six months.

As for the pelvic washing, I was not offered that. I will check with my oncologist on why this was not part of the protocol.
Please keep us up-to-date on how you are doing.
Kathy

@gratefulcat Hi again,
I was diagnosed Stage 1a, FIGO 1 with endometroid carcinoma in August, 2019. My pelvic washings were positive. My Mayo Clinic GYNOncologist said that positive pelvic washings do not change the stage as would have been the case several years ago. (Positive washings in the past would have modified my stage to Stage III). The recommendations had been updated from FIGO. "We" still do not know if the positive pelvic washings were involved with my recurrence that was diagnosed in November 2021. According to pathology at Mayo Clinic it is more likely that something could have been missed when the tissue was examined after my hysterectomy in 2019. After all, the lab samples the tissue and they do not examine every square centimeter and every cell.

I am now one year, 3 months post brachytherapy. I did not have any side effects right after the brachytherapy or now. I continue to follow the radiation oncologist's recommendation that I regularly use a vaginal moisturizer and a vaginal dilator. I have a partner and an active sex life. I would say that the hysterectomy itself by removing the cervix along with the uterus (and fallopian tubes and ovaries) has affected me more than the external and internal radiation therapy.

Do you have any other questions? What you thinking today about brachytherapy?

@gratefulcat
You are welcome! I will admit I was terrified when I learned I would need radiation, but the support I received here made it so much easier to know what to expect. I did not suffer from "vaginal sunburn". I just read about it. I hadn't heard that reference before today (and I thought I had done a lot of reading). I did get a terrible UTI during the last week or two of the external beam treatments. I ended up going through 3 different antibiotics before it cleared up and I did have lots of burning during urination that continued and was made worse for a short time with the brachytherapy treatments. I think everyone is different and hopefully you won't have any side effects. Take care and Happy Friday!