Relative with fungating growth

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Relative aged 69 had a Hysteroscopy which showed fungating growth all over the cavity, big growth from cervix os extending towards the uterine cavity, ostium not visualised due to the growth. Endometrial biopsy taken.

A Minerva coil was inserted. As I understand it, hormones will prevent precancerous cells in the epithelium of the uterus from becoming cancerous. 

However, why bother, as the womb seems to be full of fungating growth which, surely, is cancerous? Surely this indicates only a few months left to live? 

And why use the hormone treatment, when a hysterectomy would get rid of so much of the problem? 

  • Hi Jadnil

    Thank you for getting in touch with us and welcome to the online community. My name is Lynsay and I am one of the information nurses with Macmillan Cancer Support.

    I am sorry to hear that your relative has been given this news. Being told there is a fungating growth, which sounds quite extensive can come as a real shock. This can also make waiting for the biopsy results even more challenging.

    As a charity we are not part of the NHS and as such we cannot access patient records. This being the case we are not able to give an explanation as to why one treatment modality was picked over another.

    Without knowing a confirmed diagnosis or staging it is difficult for us to answer your questions. The staging is important in determining the treatment options as is any other health conditions your relative may have.

    Hormone therapy can be used in womb cancer that has spread. The aim of treatment is to shrink the cancer and control symptoms. However, as the diagnosis is not currently clear I am unsure if this is the treatment intention.

    Following the result of a positive biopsy, the next step is usually a multidisciplinary team meeting. This meeting is where the results are discussed, and treatment options are considered. It may be that the coil was placed to help reduce or manage symptom’s while awaiting the results of the biopsy taken.

    If your relative has a contact number for a nurse specialist or gynaecologist at the hospital they are attending, they are best placed and have the information to be able to answer your questions more fully.

    I hope this helps. Please feel free to get back in touch if you need more information or support going forward. 

    All the best 

    Lynsay 

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist  

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.  

    Ref  SH

  • Thank you. Clearly I need to wait for more information. A neighbour has expressed to me her good experience with Macmillan, so I decided to stop googling and ask professionals!