I have just joined after having been diagnosed as having early endometrial cancer resulting in a total hysterectomy with removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries on 27.01.2009. I feel fine, but had a telephone call from my consultant today with unwelcome news. He says that the committee that decide on whether I need radiotheraphy or not wish to speak to me. His report from them says radiotheraphy?? Although earlier he had said that because it was just stage 1b and no lymph or blood vessel problems he doubted that I needed it. You just worry now that it is worse than you thiink. I have read some of you letters and have already found them helpful and look forward to chatting.
FormerMember
Hello! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but good news that they've caught it early. I can understand that you're worried, and its a pity they tell you these things and then make you wait ages for more information - gives your mind a chance to run riot. They may be considering radiotherapy just to make absolutely sure. I had a stage 1 lymphoma, and needed 3 chemos and 15 radiotherapies to try and ensure total eradication (fingers crossed), so it could well be they want to given you a safety margin. I found the chemo difficult, but the radiotherapy was ok. Good luck.
I had simular to you and they said all was contained in the womb no sign in the ovaries or out side, but cancer being what it is it only needs cells to escape and it can re occur, so just as an insurance, even in low grades they advise and often give radiotherapy, but this is one of the few cancers that is cureable if court early, so with treatment you will probably make a complete recovery. I'm waiting for radiotherapy after a few hicups. I'm keeping positive now and from what I hear radiotherapy is much less troublesome then chemo, so I'm hoping six weeks down the line I'll be done and dusted, other then a yearly check up.
I had a total hysterectomy, followed by external and internal radiotherapy, that was almost 4 years ago. I managed to go back to work, midway through the external radiotherapy. The internal was an 2 night stay in hospital. that was the scariest bit, being locked in a lead lined room with only the t.v. and a phone. best of luck.
Just had my appointment at the treatment hospital after surgery 4 weeks ago in a private hospital in Scotland. True it appears that it has been caught early and they have decided to do brachytheraphy for 3 weeks only, once a week. They felt I did not need external radiotheraphy because apparently most recorrencies of early endo appear to be in the vagina. I will start this about mid March. The team I met seem very friendly so I do not feel quite so bad. I just hate statements like 'you have 90% prognosis then they say as I'm 65 yeaars old it has dropped to 85-87% and I'd only just got used to 90% Evidently the doctor thinks that the brachytherapy could improve this by 3-4% or maybe according to some trials 11% Its very mind boggling!!!!!!!
Great to speak to you and I wonder if you have any comments on these percentages, because the doctor also said that these facts do not affect survival rates, then I was lost!!!!!!!
Sorry for such a morbid conversation
All the best from Brumas [ incidentally Brumas was my first pet/dog as a child!!!!!]
Hello anne, I am not certain now these 'comment' work and think I might have already sent this message but maybe it went just as a general message, so don't think I'm stupid if I type it again!!! Would like to share it with Slim ang and Hopeless who also replied and anyone else who is interested in this subject.
Just had my appointment at the treatment hospital after surgery 4 weeks ago. True it has been caught early and they have decided to do brachytheraphy for 3 weeks only, once a week. Apparently most recorrencies of early endometrial cancer appar to be in the vagina. Will start I think about mid March. The team I met seem very friendly so I do not feel quite so bad. I just hate statements like 'you have 90% prognosis then they say as I'm 65 it might be lower at 85-87% and I'd only just got used to 90%. Evidently the doctor said cllinical trials had shown brachytheraphy helped by 3-4% but some trials had said 11% Its all mind boggling, is that how you spell it?
Sorry to be so morbid but wondered if anyone has similar experiences. The thing that always throws me is they say after all this data and percentages. 'it does not change survival rates' what exactly do they mean.
All best to everyone and hope to hear from you all soon
