Diagnosis

Morning Jemand welcome to our group!

It’s all very overwhelming when you first receive your diagnosis, and a lot to process, so you can feel quite out of control. It’s a scary time.

You haven’t mentioned how your diagnosis was confirmed, but I’m assuming you had scans after a biopsy? Normally that’s when the cancer is staged, so it seems strange that they say they don’t have a stage for you. 

However, a radical hysterectomy would normally only be performed at stage 1, so sounds like that’s where you are. Beyond stage 1 would require chemoradiation. We have ladies in the group who’ve had this surgery so hopefully they will pop in and share their experiences with you. I was post menopausal at diagnosis and my cancer was too advanced for a hysterectomy at that point so I went straight to chemoradiation. I have since had more major surgery though.

It is a big surgery, and does take some time to recover-I know my surgeon signs ladies off work for 3 months afterwards. You need to be really careful and gentle with your recovery-resting a lot, no lifting or housework and generally taking it easy to rebuild your strength. Normally you are just in hospital for a few days, and are discharged once your catheter is out and you can go to the loo yourself. I’m assuming you are having an open abdominal surgery where the cut will be on your abdomen as this is the usual procedure for hysterectomy when cervical cancer is involved. I had staples after surgery rather than stitches. One of the most difficult things afterwards can be going to the loo, and painkillers can make you constipated so it’s a bit of a balancing act there! I’d recommend having some stool softeners on hand, not laxatives, for afterwards to help with this. 

I don’t have any experience with egg retrieval, but as you are so young they will go through your fertility options and what’s possible. It will delay your surgery though if they are able to do egg retrieval. I hope if any of the other ladies have gone through this they might be able to help. 

Follow ups should be regular-one soon after surgery to make sure you are healing inside and then normally at 3 monthly intervals. 

Please keep in touch with us and let us know how you’re doing. We may not have all the answers but we have a lot of varied experience in the group and can help with support and encouragement. It really helps if you update your profile information which saves repeating things and lets others know what has brought you here and where you are in the process. 

Sarah xx

Hi Sarah 

Thank you for responding to me. 

I was diagnosed after a traumatic experience having a bleed (embarrassingly on the school playground picking my son up i was covered no pain no warning but my body contacting and blood and clots coming from no where) fast forward rushed to hospital, they couldn't find anything tests scans bloods all normal. They asked if I would consider having my coil removed, which I'm so glad I did as it was the sexuak health clinic that saw it and fast tracked me to hospital. The consultant I saw immediately told me it was cancer, 3 biopsys taken and cancer then was confirmed from that and also just in one area via MRI scan. 

I have done a little research and saw it is a big operation. Yes it will be done via open wound of my abdomen. I am awaiting a appointment currently to speak to specialists and in regards to fertility  to,I did think that this would be a longer process but I am desperate to share a child with my partner as is he. We don't have a child together but it was our dream to. Which really breaks me we may not, all I no is the specialist will make the decision when I am seen by them. Which again knowing someone else is in control of my wishes and body is heartbreaking to me  

I just feel my worlds come crashing down,  I no it will feel like that for many if not all on here. I'm just young and feel my life will never be mine again how I want it to be, everything we have pnned and wanted has been crushed.

Jem xxxx

Oh Jem, you are so young to be going through this and it must be just devastating for you. And what a scary experience you’ve had.  Everything is completely out of control when we are diagnosed-everyone else is making the decisions about our life, but we have to trust that they are making the best ones for us.

I don’t know how long the process is to go through egg retrieval but the doctors will work together and will make the ultimate decision on whether surgery can be delayed to go through this. The priority needs to be getting rid of the cancer, although that will be very difficult for you to accept I’m sure when you want another child with your partner. 

You have been lucky, although it won’t feel like that, in that your cancer has been found early enough for a radical hysterectomy to be possible. But unfortunately the treatment for more advanced cancer would also leave you unable to have children, as pelvic radiotherapy would destroy the ovaries and put you into menopause anyway. It’s very harsh to have your fertility snatched away no matter how that happens, but treatment of any type for this cancer results in that. 

But you need to be able to get this dealt with so you are here for your son. Leaving things isn’t an option. I remember one lady in a group I was in, not this one, who refused the hysterectomy, and then did not live to see her daughter grow up. No-one was able to persuade her to go through with it. Cancer is unpredictable and sneaky and having the opportunity to have it successfully removed in the surgery gives you the absolute best chance of being here for your little boy. 

This is an incredibly difficult position for you to be in-I can’t know what it feels like due to my age, and my daughters are around your age, but I do really feel for you. It’s an awful situation to be in. We all lose when we have cancer in some way, but you have a very good chance of getting rid of it while it’s still contained. 

Sarah xx