Reassurance Cervical Adenocarcinoma 1A2/1B1 diagnosis

Hi Chloe_x 

I haven’t had the same situation as my cancer was diagnosed at a later stage where hysterectomy wasn’t possible but your stage is considered early, so having the hysterectomy should have a good outcome for you. As you’ve been advised, the cancerous cells may have already been removed during the LLETZ procedure, but as they are not sure, then a hysterectomy would give more certainty that everything is removed.

Recurrence is always a possibility at any stage of cancer but the chances of that are much less if someone is diagnosed at an early stage.

Having the hysterectomy doesn’t guarantee you would never have a recurrence, but you would have follow ups after surgery to monitor for any signs of this so anything would be caught quickly. 

I’m not sure it will be helpful for you to be focusing on potential recurrence after surgery, and as you’ve discovered, it’s frightening you. Personally I’d focus on getting the hysterectomy done and concentrating on your recovery. Treatment for early stage cervical cancer can be very successful, so I would say it’s better to think about that rather than be anxious about something which may never happen. 

Sarah xx

Hi SarahH21 

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond. 

Im really lucky to know it’s early stages but can’t help feel like it will be a permanent worry for me, particularly due to the discrepancies on both smears and LLETZ treatments. I just feel like every scenario the Dr has explained could happen has eventually played out.

Im nervous about the surgery and possible implications after, but I know it needs to be done. I have an amazing family so I know I’ll be supported really well.

I am a worrier naturally and I always focus on the negative stats so fear reoccurrence and poorer treatment response for any secondary treatment.

Im trying my best to find positive stories to focus on, it’s just really hard. 

Chloé xx

I can understand your nerves and your fear-it’s very natural and more so if you are a natural worrier. I also had adenocarcinoma. 

However, to focus on negative stats is something that won’t help you and it’s best to try and be in a good head space to deal with surgery and recovery.

Even now, I choose not to read any kind of stats because I know it won’t help me mentally. If someone makes posts anywhere about stats, I don’t read them-I just scroll on by, because I am an individual and not a statistic which can only give a general rather than individual picture.

I would consider my own story to be a very positive one, and you can read it if you click on my name. I did have a recurrence very soon after treatment ended, and had very successful surgery. I had a relatively poor chance of survival after my surgery, but have done very well with no further recurrence. 

Recurrence thoughts can be a worry that can always be there at the back of anyone’s mind, but my thinking is that worrying won’t change anything and if I let those thoughts dominate my life I’m not really living. I didn’t go through everything I have experienced to spend my life doing anything other than living it to the best of my ability.

My positive outlook has been of huge benefit to me, and I’ve been told by doctors that patients with a positive mindset do better during treatment and recovery. 

If you must go on the internet to read statistics, I’d recommend only using reputable sites like MacMillan and Cancer Research. The internet can be full of horror stories which just scare us unnecessarily, and not everyone who has a recurrence has a poorer outcome. 

My original diagnosis was more than 6 years ago and I am doing well-I really hope that could be at least one positive story for you! 

Sarah xx

Thank you SarahH21 

I am telling myself to not worry, I think the news has only really just sunk in and so my mind has been in overdrive the last couple of days.

Hopefully once I have discussed my surgery I will feel a bit more focussed and can have some questions answered.

I can see you are a very positive person and have been through a huge amount of treatment. Well done to you for being so head strong as well as supporting others. 

I’m glad I have found this group so I can see how others have experienced each hurdle I come across.

Thank you xx

Hi Chloe so sorry you’re dealing with this x just wanted to say that i’m currently in a similar position to you in that i was diagnosed with 1b1 adenocarcinoma last week , have had my mri and i am just waiting to meet the medical team re that and treatment plan x i am worried that it will be staged higher but its out of my hands x the waiting and test stage is the worst x i am also a worrier and have had health anxiety most of my life so i totally understand how you’re feeling, i have also read too many stories of recurrence and it has freaked me out, the first week after diagnosis i was spiralling badly and felt very scared and depressed but like Sarah H says-stressing wont help and you’re not enjoying the life that you’re trying to save tho i know its hard to enjoy life just now! Also istress and fear will likely depress your immune system which you dont want on top of everything else x its good that you’re at an early stage and hopefully wont need anything more than the hysterectomy, this is what i am hoping for but i know my stage could change x someone in another group said to me that alot of people only post because they still have issues whereas many people who are ‘cured’ leave these groups and get on with their lives so the stories can be abit skewed x instead of looking for others stories maybe instead spend the time tesearching what you can do to support your healing post surgery such as diet, meditation, supplements, mindset so at least you feel like you can contribute to your healing and arent just a passenger in your treatment x please know you’re not alone, i am struggling too and have ok and not ok days, i know life will never be the same and i still cant quite believe it but we will get through this one day at a time and hopefully one day it’ll be a distant memory as we get on with our lives again x i have seen many stories of women who are doing great years later so be reassured x tomorrow isnt guaranteed to anyone, we should all try to live in the present because thats all anyone has x take care and know that this is a very treatable illness x

 Chloe_x It takes some to process a cancer diagnosis and I know I went through a lot of different feelings at the start, from surprise to fear and more! it all seemed a bit unreal as I really wasn’t expecting it. 

I’m sure you’ll get plenty of support from the ladies who have come through their surgery and recovered. Some ladies who have been through this move on from the forum and get on with their lives, not wanting to be reminded what they’ve been through, so we are more likely to hear from ladies who need ongoing support, which can make it seem as if there is a lack of positive outcomes.

However there definitely are positive outcomes to be found, and you will particularly benefit from hearing from those ladies who continue to contribute, who can hopefully reassure you. 

Sarah xx

Hi Seffie and welcome to our group.

I’m sorry to read you’ve had a cancer diagnosis too-I notice you haven’t yet joined the group but you may wish to if you want to make any new posts yourself. You can reply to other threads and posts, but need to click on the “join group” banner to make new posts.

Thank you for all your good advice for Chloe_x -I hope you can both help support each other as you go through what’s next. Hopefully your staging won’t change on the basis of your scan results, and you’ll be able to have surgery, but if it does, many of us have been through chemoradiation and can help you.

You are so right in saying that all we can do is live in the present-that’s a good philosophy to have.

Take care, and let us know how you get on after your scan results come through.

Sarah xx

Hi Seffie 

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.

I’m also sorry you are also going through this.

Hopefully the positive in reaching out is we can see how each of us can support one another.

May I ask how you have been currently staged? My dr just told me it appeared early stage until my MR scan and then told 1A2-1B1.

Is there a chance I could be staged higher? 

Hopefully you will have the stage confirmed really soon.

I must admit, I had been on the phone almost every day since my second LLETZ and managed to get my MR with 5 days (completed last Monday) then I pushed to get in the next MDTWhich was on Friday and as I was the only patient discussed, they called me by 9.15am which is was a relief.

Please let me know how you get on and I will update when I have had further updates to my surgery/ pre-op.

Hopefully I have cleared some of the over drive this morning and I can focus on positive thoughts! Really good advice on the post treatment care, I do need to look after myself as we tend to push ourselves aside.

Good Luck xx

Hi Chloe,

I am exactly the same as you. I was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma stage 1B1 in May this year. In July I met with the consultant who advised a full hysterectomy. The scans showed that the lymph nodes were clear so he was confident that surgery would eradicate the cancer.

I had my surgery 5 weeks ago and in my follow up appointment the results showed that the cancer was gone and no further treatment would be necessary as the lymph nodes were not affected.

Stage 1B1 is very early so the risk of it returning is low. Please don't Google, you will frighten yourself!

Please try to stay positive and use my story as inspiration. 

All the best

Love Lynne x

Thanks SarahH21 

I didn’t think of that, I suppose people will be reluctant to stay in the forum post treatment so it will be difficult to get a balance of experience. 

It’s really helpful that you are supporting so many others. Thank you xx