Scared

It’s quite natural to be scared. Did they give any indication of why? Could it be due to Addenbrook having the facility for doing robotic surgery, which isn’t available at smaller hospitals? From what I can see it is a very highly rated hospital one of the best in U.K.

i was treated in a University Hospital which wasn’t too far from home but was different to my local hospital where my oncologist is based and I had my initial hysteroscopy and scans. It was due to there being the robotic option there. 

Thank you for your kind reply. The local hospital only said Addenbrooke’s wanted to do my operation but didn’t say why. I will certainly ask when they phone me with my appointment date. Your reply has made me feel better, thank you. Robotic would be a faster recovery apparently. I hope you are fully recovered now. 

Yes, it’s faster recovery and generally safer though the robots are expensive and so makes sense that only larger hospitals have access. 

My recovery is going well though I still am dealing with a few lingering effects from radiotherapy but these are minor and dealt with by diet. Still, a cancer diagnosis is life changing and I have found a great deal of support in this forum. 

Hi Bluebellina

I was diagnosed with Grade 3 in January at a hospital near to me. I was then referred to the Regional Cancer Centre in Oxford for surgery which, incidentally, was not robotic.

At this stage I decided to go privately, but my surgical care continued at Oxford as I was already "in the loop".  I had adjunct radiotherapy locally though. I can imagine that Addenbrooke’s is a regional centre also.

Wishing you all the best - you are not alone!

Hello Bluebellina 

I was in the same position as you. Diagnosed at my local hospital, the Lister in Stevenage. Then had pre-op appt at QE11 Hospital Welwyn Garden City. My pre-op assessment day was at St Albans hospital and my total hysterectomy was at Watford General Hospital - miles away. I don't know Watford or the hospital but I trusted the decisions were made in my best interests.

These hospitals are all part of the team that deal with womb cancer so I've had a tour of them all. 

I had robotic surgery at Watford General and I believe it was performed there due to the specialised equipment. 

The care has been awesome so far. 

Any dealings I have had with Addenbrookes have been very good. My family have been well cared for there.

Best wishes.

P.s mone and my family's experience of Addenbrookes was not for gynae care. Nevertheless I would rate it.

Thank you for that reassurance. It helps.

I’m sorry you still have lingering effects. I’d be interested in how you cope by change of diet. There’s so much about all this I don’t know. 
as you say, this forum is such a great help. 

Thank you for sharing your story. I was thinking of going along the private route but found out I would probably have the same surgeon and sadly the costs are prohibitive when on an old age pension. It sounds as if Addenbrooke’s are a good hospital so I will keep my fingers crossed. It was just scary being changed to a different, bigger hospital after having gone so far with the local one.

Thank you so very much for this information. Your reply has cheered me up so much! I realise it’s for my own good and at the end of the day, they are trying to save my life. I just need my big girl pants on and go with whatever happens. Not having been in a hospital for nearly 40 years and dealing with it all on my own, I was overwhelmed by the change. Thanks to you and this forum, I feel much better about why they said Addenbrookes. 

Hello Bluebellina

Welcome to the Online Community and the womb group. 

I am sorry to hear that you have had a diagnosis of cancer and I remember feeling a bit all over the place when I had my diagnosis in March 2022. I was also stage 1B. 

I can understand you preferring to be at your local hospital but I suppose they must feel that Addenbrookes will offer more expertise for you. It certainly seems to have an excellent reputation. I hope that they contact you soon and that once you have been there and met the team that they can offer you reassurance.

You mention that you are on your own and the hospital is a long way from home- the hospital may be able to arrange transport for you- I had some free hospital transport during my radiotherapy treatment, provided by the Red Cross. It is worth asking about. 

I will pop a link below to some info that you may find helpful.

Womb cancer booklet | Macmillan Cancer Support

We also have a Support Line (number below) if you feel like talking things through would help. They are lovely on there and they will be able to have a look to see if there is any support in your local area. 

I hope you hear from Addenbrookes soon but in the meantime if there is anything you need or want to ask, then please do so. There are a lot of lovely ladies on here who will want to offer support and share their experiences with you.

Jane