I have recently been diagnosed with Stage 1 non aggressive endometrial cancer. Never knew this existed!! Ladies if you have any sort of spotting after menopause please do not ignore. I am scheduled for a Total laparoscopic hysterectomy - bilateral salpingo oophorectomy Apr 26. Has anyone gone through this, looking for any advice for recovery.
I haven’t gone through this cancer, but fingers crossed for a good surgery outcome. I’ve just gone through early stage breast cancer and know all diagnosis are scary…I know I now have to watch for uterine cancer (endometrial) on my meds (tamoxifen) as my risks have now increased! It seems as women, we have so many things just as we think we are “out of the woods”! I’ll be getting close gyno checks to monitor my lining thickness but it’s scary as many women dont know that PAP Tests don’t show uterine cancer and it’s a sneaky one!
Mu sister in law, recently went through this and she had what sounds like a similar surgery (robotic). She had to take things easy for 6 weeks after, but said she felt great after 3 weeks but her surgeon insisted on no lifting or heavy exercise for the full 6 weeks. She took the full 6 weeks off work as told too and was able to work remotely…she’s a middle school principal and the were really great to her! Her pathology came back clear margins etc so she was able to avoid chemo and radiation as like you, caught it from spotting when she was in menopause!
Thank you you for bringing another women’s little known cancer to be discussed. Hoping your surgery at the early stage, shows it all contained!
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I’m glad it was caught early and I hope your surgery goes well. I don’t have first hand knowledge of your cancer but just take it easy after surgery and follow dr’s advice on recovery.
I know after anesthesia I’m tired for awhile. I think last time I found myself tired for a week afterwards and would take naps frequently.
Prayers for a successful surgery and a quick recovery!
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Eclipse, I am sorry to hear you had to deal with breast cancer and glad it was caught early. The C word diagnosis is always scary. The biggest fear is the fear of the unknown!! My surgeon said six weeks for recovery but I could be back in the saddle earlier. I’m not going to rush it, my health is more important than showing right now. Hoping your sister in law has a full recovery. Mine won’t be robotic. Does she have to go for regular check ups? I believe we woman need to know our bodies well and be aware of the cancer symptoms. When I called my docs office in January about a little spotting I was told no need to worry as I hadn’t ever had a bad pap. I wasn’t due for one until the end of June so to keep an eye on it. I simply said I am not comfortable with that and would like it checked out … I am sure glad I did. Awareness is so important ladies.
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Glad you insisted!
What an idea, “don’t worry, we will check it later”?
Important when having ANY kind of surgery in those areas to no strain or lift or do any but let stuff heal.
My surgeon said to eat lots of fiber, drink much water and not even strain going to the bathroom.
The reason, you don’t want something in there to be torn loose before it heals well and end up with problems from that later, like prolapses or incontinence.
Very important warnings for good quality of life, to do what the Dr tells you about that.
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This yes. Doesn’t make any difference how the procedure was done (other than the amount of healing). You still had a fairly significant internal organ removed and tissue needs time to heal properly.
OP, I suspect you know this but also directed at any overachievers who stumble over this thread in future 
I didn’t have cancer but did have pre-cancerous tissues discovered on a D&C. I loved how my OB handled it. When he got the path report, got me scheduled for an OR (on his “day” for surgeries at the hospital), called me and called me until he talked to me (including Saturday and Sunday).
When we actually connected, first words out of his mouth… Great news, found some pre-cancerous tissue but we caught it early, already have OR scheduled for next Friday (talked to him on Sunday evening). It was still scary and a shock (I’ve had cancer before). But his positive upbeat delivery of potentially devastating news I’ve never forgotten. Yeah, bad news but great news… early diagnosis and early treatment. That was over 20 years ago.
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Definately don’t rush the recovery…I am glad my plastic surgeon was a bit more conservative and wanted 8 weeks before riding. I had no issues at all! And like Where’s my White stated, an upbeat surgeon helps…a lot LOL My surgical Oncologist described my mastectomy as "I’m just going to scoop it out…we caught it early, I feel really good about this…easy peasy "…he made me laugh and that was HUGE! I adore him…I adore my whole medical team , they help keep you positive and you know you are in good hands!
my sister in law has so far had a full recovery although she does have to have another scan on her lung in a month…they think it’s scar tissue from Pneumonia had a few years ago, but want to do a Nuclear scan I believe followed by PET scan if necessary to rule out metastasis! Her nodes are all clear and after her last scan 5 months ago they saw this spot so wanted to rescan at 6 months to double check. Once they know for sure, she will hopefully be free and clear but up in Alberta, ladies go for regular complete checkups yearly until age 75…and now because of her history, cancer cells in the uterus, she will check in with her surgeon and oncologist (even though she has no evidence of disease after surgery ) every 6 months or yearly for 5 to 10 years. They will decide which tests she will get.
She had also never had a bad PAP, and normal menopause. Then like you, weird spotting but unlike you her dr wanted it checked as my sister in law had said it had been going on for a month! Plus PAP tests don’t detect uterine cancer, it’s a hard sneaky one…thankfully you got the spotting! Some women just get worse cramping or bloating and ignore thinking it’s just normal.
Myself, being now slightly more prone to this cancer from the Tamoxifen is like my sister in law. My GP will do my regular chk up (PAP etc), my plastic surgeon will chk my reconstruction on a schedule he sets and when I need to see him, my surgical and medical oncologist work alongside my other drs with tests and I will continue to see them every 4 months for a year then yearly (for MRI, mammogram PET scan etc). I report ANY spotting or abnormal menstruation symptoms to my medical oncologist, and then she will send me to an OBGYN for an internal ultrasound to make sure my uterine lining is ok and if not do I need a hysterectomy or D&C and is there any cancer? My monitoring with specialists will now never end! But I count my blessings to live where I do as I have no worries about to pay or fall off the grid!
I had surgery Apr 26 and it was a success. I was in and out the same day. Recovery went so well and no need for pain meds only the odd tylenol. Up and walking same day and continued. I had my post op appointment June 5 and was told it was Grade 1 very early stage, very little muscle invasion and no need for Chemo or radiation as it was all contained within uterus. God is great … surgeon said I will see her every 6 months for 3 years and then once a year for 2 years. I have started back riding as I was 8 weeks post op yesterday. I keep thanking the good Lord up above for watching over me and I know he will continue to do so.
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I’m so glad the surgery went well! I hope you are feeling good and continue to so so.
I am so glad to hear this update and your life is back on track again…just awesome news! I’m back on my next (and hopefully final 8 weeks off…expander exchange surgery)…so if you have any good Netflix recommendations I’d be much appreciative as I went through a ton last time hahahahahha!
So glad it was caught early and that you won’t require chemo or radiation, you are very fortunate. And good for you for insisting that you didn’t want to wait another six months before getting checked out! We have to be very proactive because too many doctors are not!
Very glad to hear the good news!
What wonderful news. God is indeed great and watching over you!
So glad your surgery went well! My mom went through the exact same thing two summers ago, except she ended up having some complications during surgery. Then last summer the cancer returned on her vaginal wall and she had to do radiation. Like you said though, God is good and she has been cancer free for all of her post-radiation checkups
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missbubles I am glad to here your mom is cancer free again. That is the scary part knowing it may reoccur somewhere else. Do you know what stage your mom was or what depth of invasion she had. That can have a lot to do with chance of recurrence. Did she have any symptoms to indicate the recurrence?
Reoccurrence is a fear for us all…totally know where you’re coming from! My understanding from my oncologist is, even though you’ve had a hysterectomy you’ll still have your “pap” type yearly test so they can check you for a reoccurrence in places like your vaginal wall! My sister in law, said, for the first year her dr has an internal check every 6 months and then she will go yearly. Other than that, just like with other cancers, it’s basically, no scans unless you’re showing weird symptoms (to lower any radiation exposure)…so watch for things like vaginal bleeding, bone pain that does not go away, headache that isn’t relieved by headache meds, a cough that lasts a long time or shortness of breath …cancer can metastasize to many places! Then if they think you need it, they’ll do things like a PET scan etc. It’s hard, but try not to dwell or worry about this…for me, this is the hardest part but each week I think about it less and less…scansiety is a real thing!
Eclipse thanks for the advice. Wishing continued health to you and your sister in law. Keep me posted.
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I’m sure its incredibly stressful worrying about a reoccurrence but the fact that you posted your diagnosis as Stage 1 non-aggressive seems very encouraging so try to keep positive. It sounds as though you are doing great!
