Uterine Cancer 15 years ago: I'm proof there's hope

Posted by tapdancer @tapdancer, Feb 4 10:17am

I’m 69 years old. I had uterine cancer (a rare and highly aggressive cancer with a five-year survival rate) in 2011 with a full hysterectomy. Carcino sarcoma came back again five years later and I was told I had terminal cancer in 2017. I went to the Mayo Clinic and received an immunotherapy which saved my life. Cancer came back again a few years later and I was saved again by the Mayo Clinic with radiation. The first two times I had chemo it destroyed my kidneys. I now have stage five kidney disease. Currently, I’m cancer free and I play sports, I work, and I’m happy to be alive. I feel like I have a success story to tell. There’s hope for people with cancer and I want people to know that, and I want to get the word out if anyone has any suggestions on how I can give a speech or tell others about my story please let me know. it’s been 15 years since I was originally diagnosed with uterine cancer. I feel like it is truly a miracle that I am still alive. Most people don’t know what I’ve been through and I don’t share it with a lot of people. But I feel like it’s time to tell the world there is hope and I am proof of it.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Gynecologic Cancers Support Group.

alohman08 | @alohman08 | Feb 14 3:37pm

In reply to @denisestlouie "@alohman08 awesome! 🩷" + (show)

@denisestlouie Thank you...it's a great feeling knowing the treatment is working !

Denise | @denisestlouie | Feb 14 1:44pm

In reply to @alohman08 "Just got my PET Scan results and all is perfect ! No evidence of disease anywhere..." + (show)

@alohman08 awesome! 🩷

alohman08 | @alohman08 | Feb 14 12:42pm

Just got my PET Scan results and all is perfect ! No evidence of disease anywhere ! Enhertu is keeping me cancer free !!

alohman08 | @alohman08 | Feb 12 8:38am

Good Morning Great Grandma...how blessed are you to be a great grandma ! Yes age does matter, but it's only a number a big one for sure ! but I don't really feel any differently than I did when I was 60...as I've mentioned in my posts, I am very active and healthy other than having this awful cancer..My life is good, I have a very close family and wonderful supportive friends. I am semi retired and work about 7 hours a week as a property manager. I retired from my job at 70 and asked my boss to call me if he purchased property closer to my home, he did and I manage 160 rental units for him. So between pilates 4 times a week, pickleball 2-3 times a week , work and family ( I have 4 grandchildren who live close by) and friends, I am busy and I love it. Forgot to mention that my little rescued pup passed away at 16 1/2 a year ago and in September I adopted another little pup so I have a wonderful dog in my life as well..I am grateful for the life that I have and live in the present. Worrying about what might or might not be, is wasted energy and doesn't change anything....Be well....BTW my next scan is tomorrow !

greatgrandma2025 | @greatgrandma2025 | Feb 12 7:30am

In reply to @alohman08 "forgot to add that I just turned 78 ! if that matters to anyone..." + (show)

@alohman08 Yes age matters I turn 81 in March so I will be watching thank you so much for your posts'

Denise | @denisestlouie | Feb 6 5:07pm

In reply to @tapdancer "@denisestlouie your story is similar to mine. My cancer was rare with a slim survival rate..." + (show)

@tapdancer
Thank you
I have written a lot about my experience. I would like for you to go to my profile and read a few. I uploaded one today.

Denise

jenelleseaman | @jenelleseaman | Feb 6 12:49pm

I have a similar story of hope. People keep telling me I should write a book! I have had HGS Ovarian Cancer since August 2010, Stage 3c. It recurred 3 years later, and has kept returning ever since. I have cancer now, but my oncologist has told me to watch and wait for 6 months. My last treatment was April 2025. The next PET scan is soon.
I also have Sarcoidosis, which has made life more complicated, and added more doctors to my life!
My faith in the One True Living God, who still does miracles of healing today, is what keeps me going. I trust in His sovereign will for me and believe that no matter what happens, He has the best plan for my life and that there is a purpose for everything.
I teach senior students at a Christian school in Sydney, Australia. I told my next class of students that I have cancer just yesterday. They were visibly shocked, because to look at me, you wouldn’t know! I was teaching them nuclear chemistry, and about PET scans! I could tell them from first hand experience what happens!
To cultivate Hope is very important. God bless you.

asplon | @asplon | Feb 6 8:25am

In reply to @asplon "I would love to hear more about your story and initial stage at diagnosis with Carcinosarcoma...." + (show)

@asplon
Should say hope at the end, not home.

alohman08 | @alohman08 | Feb 5 3:14pm

forgot to add that I just turned 78 ! if that matters to anyone...

alohman08 | @alohman08 | Feb 5 3:09pm

Please continue to share your story I find it helpful and inspirational. I have shared my journey with an aggressive and rare form of uterine cancer, known as USC...Uterine Serous Carcinomona. I was told at the time of diagnosis, caught very early on a routine pap smear, stage 1A. After a compete hysterectomy I was told that the cancer had not spread beyond the uterus and had not invaded the muscle....all great to hear, except that aggressive and high rate on recurrence...I had 3 brachytherapy treatments...easy with no pain or side effects...Was told no chemo necessary. 18 months later it recurred in my omentum...had 6 rounds of carboplatin and herceptin( my cancer is HER2+. after the chemo, which I tolerated well I was NED..Summer of 2024 CA 125 started trending up..no symptoms feeling great....when it reached 77 in April PET scan showed very early 2 pelvic nodes light up in scan....Was told so early not necessary to treat at that time....my feelings were why put off the enevitable...so I started treatment with Enhertu a targeted chemo for HER2+ cancer. after one treatment CA 125 was 40 after 3rd is was 22 normal range. I had my 15th treatment yesterday. and played my regular pickleball game today. Enhertu does have side effects but I have been fortunate to be able to manage them well with healthy eating exercise and great attitude. I have always been a very positive person and have never felt sorry for myself...I'm strong and a fighter so I do the best I can with what I can control..I read as much as I can about treating this monster I believe that I am in good hands with MSK. Unlike many of you, I share my story and all the details with everyone who asks ( friends and family ) I have a huge support group who get updates after every treatment and scan..I've educated many people and they all are interested in hearing and give me such positive feedback about how well i am doing...I don't know what comes next but no one knows what tomorrow had for any of us. I have heard of people doing very well on Enhertu for years keeping cancer at bay..I hope that it will keep me cancer free for a very long time !...sorry this is such a long message, I'm going to blame some of the length on the steroids that I was given yesterday as premed prior to infusion...hope some of this rant has been helpful...