Endometrial Cancer: Noticing my blessings every day
I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer, FIGO Grade 1 in late July. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and asked for a referral to Mayo. A few days after the referral, I met with my GYN-Oncology team, and a few days after that I had a radical hysterectomy at Methodist Hospital. The surgery was two weeks ago today. I am grateful that I had the means to go to Mayo Clinic, for my surgeon and her incredible team, and that I am now back home on this gorgeous day surrounded by support and love from my family and friends. (The cancer was staged Ia - caught very early and no other treatment is recommended). My life is a gift for which I am very grateful.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.
Connect

@heidivet Enhertu is the drug of choice for USC cancer that has recurred and is her2+...it is a targeted chemo drug that works with trastuzumab. It targets the protein that is in the cancer cells and kills them. Only works for her2+ cancer. Has been used in breast cancer and was approved by the FDA a year ago for other her2+ cancers including uterine cancer. I don't think that the CA125 number indicates her2+ cancer...although not sure..I only know that my cancer is her2+ and responds well to enhertu !
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@heidivet That all sounds like a good plan. Getting another opinion from a cancer institute where there is research and the availability of clinical trials is a good plan.
This time of year is not the greatest for making changes to diet or lifestyle. This is especially true for me with lots of socializing and having guests over the holidays.
From what you wrote it sounds like you have a good exercise regime going with your neighborhood walks. Avoiding most processed and ultraprocessed food is so good. I have difficulty with that during the week when I feel I don't want to spend much time in the kitchen preparing a meal. I try to keep a variety of healthy foods in the freezer including those I've made myself. That helps me a lot.
It's very cold and snowy where I live in the northern U.S. so yesterday I snowshoed for about 2 hours with friends. That was loads of fun too as I like to look at animal tracks in the snow and try to figure out what kind of animals and what they are doing.
If you add exercise what would you like to do?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@naturegirl5 my daughter suggested I get a stationary bike. It is probably a good way to exercise when it’s cold out. We live in the North East/mid Atlantic so not typically bitter cold but it can be and we certainly have plenty of winter weather. I like hiking, biking, skiing either downhill or cross country and love horseback riding although I haven’t been doing that for quite a long time. We rarely get enough snow for cross country here and downhill is a two hour drive which makes for a long day. I do some high intensity exercises and when I’m allowed to I’ll go back to sit ups and stair push ups.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@inquirer So far I have decided to wait. I need someone who felt like me. Thank you again In the end it is the most personal decision to make.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@heidivet Don't be pressured. I won't go into my situation where I was pressured and in hind site I was pushed into something I didn't need. Keep reading here and research. Take a day to make any decision. Best wishes.
Thanks for that advice. I’m proceeding with plans for chemo but still feel a little uncomfortable with the rush. I’m not a gambler by nature so not doing chemo feels a bit like gambling. Doing chemo feels less like gambling but only a little less. 🫤
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction