Gynecologic cancer and positive for SMARCA4 gene and Lynch

Posted by kaycieb @kaycieb, Sep 25, 2023

I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, and mucinous adenocarcinoma back in Feb. I had the surgery for a full hysterectomy and the genetic test. I tested positive for Lynch 2 as well as SMARCA4. After seeing the results I have been unable to sleep eat and basically function. How do you deal with knowing your time may be cut into only months?

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I am sorry to hear about your health. I understand that this is scary with so many uncertainties. I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non Hodgkin lymphoma in 2012. I have been septic during my cancer treatment 2 times. Also last year I was septic again with a doctor uncertain if I would survive. As you can read this I pulled through it again.
What I have learned is that doctors can give us a timeline, however, there are some of us that have beat the odds. How did I do it? Well, I'm not sure. I do believe in prayer though I do not attend church on a regular basis. I do meditate. I count my blessings. Some days I am just able to take it hour by hour. And when I look back, I know some days I took it minute by minute.
Doctors gave me a timeline--I am still here. When I feel low I reach out to strong supportive people. Depression is a trap that I could easily fall into. However, that is when I put on music, take a walk, or call a friend. I feel most people when given a harsh diagnosis would feel depressed. Not getting enough sleep only deepens that sadness and level of depression.
So if I may suggest--start journaling. Journaling has a way to help us work through rough times. One might say that the lack of energy prohibits one from writing..that is an excuse, Lack of energy is part of depression. Days you might not feel like writing--doodle or scribble. You might surprise yourself . Please find the strength to tackle the depression. It is not an easy task to pull yourself out of it. Talk to your doctor about depression. Myself, I feel even seeking a licensed mental health professional with a background in grief therapy or depression would be beneficial.

You made the first step in reaching out to this site, that took strength. Now reach out a little more.

If you are affiliated with a church reach out to that church.

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@kaycieb, I'm so sorry to hear that you received such a devastating diagnosis. It's such a hard time.
Do whatever you can to get out of bed each day. My husband was great at trying to keep me busy in order to get my mind off things. I could barely walk around the block at that point (due to symptoms from the cancer), but we would go out and walk on my own block. Sometimes, watching a movie might be helpful to get your mind off things. Seek out support in friends, family, therapy, and/or clergy. Don't go through this alone. Reach out to your oncology office and ask what support services they have available. Whatever sounds like it may work for you, do it sooner rather than later! I know some of this is easier said than done but you need to try something.
Also, treatments have improved over the years. I know many people that have out-lived the expectations of the statistics and their doctors. I'm part of a stage IV long haulers group. Thanks to research and medical advances, there are more and more of us.

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Is it news about your tumor that's upsetting you or the results of the genetic test?

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