Waiting for biopsy results after hysteroscopy

Hi Rose. If there's one thing I can reassure you about, it's, if it comes to it and you need a hysterectomy, please don't be terrified. I was lucky enough to have mine laparascopically and my recovery was remarkable. I was out and about doing short walks 2 days after and was off all pain medication after 5 days. Even if you need the op and it has to be done by incision, although a longer stay in hospital is required, a friend of mine in her 80s, who had it done that way, also recovered very quickly. I had never had surgery or a general anaesthetic prior to my hysterectomy and so was a little bit anxious, but it was so much better than I expected.

With your mum's medical history, I can see why you are so anxious about everything. The fear of the unknown and the waiting for news can be very stressful. Keep posting. We're all here for you, whenever you need a rant!

Hi Love to walk.

Thanks so much for your very kind and reassuring reply. Definitely what I needed to hear this afternoon. It's only been a week since my hysteroscopy and a few days since the mammogram. Waiting for two letters to come is definitely worse than waiting for one especially after all the invasive tests and procedures.

Now I think of it,my mother had additional surgery at the time of her hysterectomy (bladder repair) so I shouldn't use her experience as a benchmark. And things were done differently then. Thank you for reminding me of that. 

I'm approaching sixty but only recently had my menopause.

Like you, I've never had a general anaesthetic though have had a lot of pre-cancers removed under local anaesthetic. Maybe I just went in shock a bit. Too much happening in too short a space of time. I was a bit shocked at how my post tumbled out. Amazed anyone had the patience to read it.

Thank you again for your reply! Rose

Anytime Rose. You have got a lot going on at the moment, so just be kind to yourself, rant and cry, if you need to, but also try and fill your time with nice things.x

Hello Rosalinda,

Welcome to the Online Community and to the Womb cancer forum.

You have come to the best place for your circumstances and you are very welcome to post here as much as you need to. 

I am sorry to see that you had some bleeding and that the scan showed a thickened endometrium. It is quite usual in these cases to have a biopsy to rule out anything more sinister. A thickened endometrium (hyperplasia) can have different causes. So can the bleeding, especially as you say you have a fibroid and had a polyp that they removed. The 2 week referral is there to try to rule out cancer if possible but if there is some then it is better to treat it sooner rather than later.

Waiting for the results is not great and I know what you mean about the doctors strike. Not sure though if the pathologists are included though? If you want to have a look at timings, click on my name and it will give you an idea. However my biopsy results came back within a week but my post surgery ones took 3 1/2 week- partly due to it being the long Easter weekend. 

I can understand your fears about the cancer in your family and also Mum having a hysterectomy fairly early. It is never easy when you have a family history of cancer. My Mum had it and I was asked a lot of questions. I can also relate to the fear of not opening the envelope when it comes- I still hate doing that as they always have the diagnosis in black and white and it still gets to me. I think most people feel like you do at some stage. 

I can understand that you do not want a hysterectomy but I had one last year, laparoscopically, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had very little pain, was out of the hospital within 24 hours and recovered well at home. Most people who have endometrial cancer are advised to have a hysterectomy as its the best way to remove the cancer but there are occasionally a few alternatives (such a hormone coil) but it depends on lots of different things. 

Your fears are in no way ridiculous and sound perfectly normal to me! It is normal to have lots of questions, want the results quickly etc. It's natural to want to know more. My advice is to try not to panic and think too far ahead. You do not yet know what has caused these symptoms and only the biopsy results will confirm whether or not you need any treatment for any condition- whether it is a cancer or something else. 

If you feel like talking it through with someone maybe give the support line a quick call. They are lovely on there. But please try not worry too much at this stage- I know it is hard. Everything feels out of control at the moment because you have had a scary experience but once you know for sure what is going on and what needs to be done I would hope that thins feel a little calmer.

I hope this helps a little. Please do ask if there is anything else you need and keep us updated with how you get on.

Jane

Yes, will do. Thank you for the advice. What I'm experiencing is a bit strange because it seems to be a combination of anxiety and grief. I'll shake, then cry and after a cry I'll feel a bit better. Maybe I'm still adjusting to menopause. I do have periods when I can concentrate well so I should make the most of those. Perhaps tomorrow I should go out for a walk instead of being in when the post round is due. Will try out different things. I do enjoy walking – as I guess do you. And I don't mind a bit of rain. Yes, I'll try that tomorrow. You definitely brightened me up. x

Yes a walk, even in the rain always helps me. Not getting much time at the moment with daily radiotherapy sessions and really missing it, but won't be long before normal service will resume, for a while, at least!x

Hello Rosalinda

Just a thought but I opted to have my results by phone. If you feel this would be better maybe think about giving them a call and ask to be phoned first before they send a letter- at least then you are a bit prepared? I also had many letters but they tend to arrive a couple of days after the MDT meeting days. (Where the doctors and the team discuss things) My hospital MDT was always on a Thursday so I knew that phone calls would most likely be on a Thursday afternoon or letters would arrive Saturday or Monday. If I didn't get one then-I could relax a bit until the next one

Jane

Thank you Jane for your long welcoming reply. Am suddenly feeling a lot less lonely and scared! Am going to go out for a walk soon, so will read your profile later. (I'm only just finding my way around the forum.) Had got myself in quite a spin when I posted. Already feeling so much better.

I think what threw me a little was thinking oh it'll just be endometrial hyperplasia, but I'm not sure that is possible even if I have endometrial atrophy? Keep wondering if I misheard things with my legs up in stirrups listening to hysteroscopic commentary.

An extra complication is I have a very close relative also waiting on biopsy results after tumour removal and may have to go and help out at very short notice. But have been told that I shouldn't go on holiday in next 2 to 3 weeks. That probably explains my feeling so helpless. Everything is out of my control. Hence the tears...

Thank you again for your very helpful response, which I'll read again later. People have been so very kind to me today. Am very grateful! x

Glad that we are helping.

There are some lovely ladies on here who were a great support to me last year. Maybe pop something on your own profile ( click on your name and then on edit profile) It helps as you don't have to keep writing everything and people can see where you are at in your journey and offer the best support. Don't have to - only if you want to. 

Walks and getting out in the fresh air definitely helped me and still does.

Tears are natural in the circumstances. I think sometimes just by writing down how you are feeling- it can help. 

I would try not to focus too much on the medical terms at the moment- they can be quite confusing when you are new to it all. 

We do have an Ask the Nurse section for medical questions and you can post on there. They normally respond within 3 working days. I will pop a link below for you. However the quickest way would to be to ask one of the nurses on the Support Line.

Ask a Nurse - Macmillan Online Community

Jane

Hi Rose and welcome to the Womb Cancer Forum. Sorry to hear you are having such a worrying time but this is the place to voice your concerns and express your emotions as much as you want to. Waiting for results is very challenging and, understandably, all sorts thoughts will be going through your mind. I had my transvaginal scan within the 2 week pathway and, immediately afterwards, I saw the consultant who took some biopsies from the lining of my womb. I saw her a week later to get my results.It's understandable that you're concerned about the risks and your family history. As jane2511 has pointed out your symptoms could be due to a number of reasons. Try not to look too far ahead and also try and do things which may take your mind off things. Walking in the sun or the rain - or both- sounds good! Take care. xx