Do I have cancer?

Hi tlacey,

Sorry you find yourself here, but you may not have cancer. When I was in hospital there was a young lady opposite me who had a hysterectomy because she had a benign growth the size of an iceberg lettuce in there!!!

I think we are all guilty of thinking our bodies are invincible, and it's a dreadful shock to realise that they can, and do,  go wrong. The only comfort is that medicine is quite good these days. I hadn't been near a hospital for 40 years, and found the tests, scans and care was much improved!!!

I would have thought that if the doctor  thought cancer was involved she would have fast tracked you, and you would have been seen sooner by the hospital. 

All the best xxxxx 

Hitlacey, illmsecondnwhat Nanny Anny says, statistics indicate that it is more likely NOT to be cancer by a factor of ten to one.  It's natural to worry until you are sure but do hold on to the fact that the odds are very much on your side.  Xx

Hi tlacey,

Have they booked you in for a hysteroscopy or a biopsy? That can give you a definite diagnosis when they analyse the sample in the lab. 

I'm 37 and I had a cancerous mass, they didn't tell me mine was a fibroid though, mine was something like 7cmx5cm or 8cmx6cm. I was treated with a hysterectomy only. I had symptoms for years, that I really should have acted on earlier, I was in quite a bit of pain and constant bleeding / flooding / giant clots. These symptoms can be caused by non cancerous conditions too, like fibroids, so try and take one step at a time.

I managed to speed along my gynae appointment by phoning the hospital every day and asking for cancellations. My gynae took a small sample at my appointment and after the results of that came back booked me in for a hysteroscopy. It was a few weeks for results after the hysteroscopy and then I had my diagnosis and about 5/6 weeks later had my hysterectomy.

I'll stop rabbiting on now but please feel free to ask me anything 

Lots  of love

xxx

Hi Aria:

No, I have not been booked in for anything other than an MRI at this point.  I am assuming after the results come in my gynecologist will discuss further options at my consult appointment.  Unfortunately, it is not until May 2nd though...My family doctor said I would definitely need a hysterectomy and that my case was fairly urgent..not sure if it looks suspicious or it's just its sheer size (10 cm)? 

I just feel like things are getting worse.  I can feel a burning sensation down there and I have a lot of brown discharge at the moment.  I honestly feel like I'm pregnant as I have to pee literally every 5 minutes. I am very uncomfortable and just want this over with...

It is hard for me to think about the fact that there is something the size of a large orange growing inside me!

What were your initial symptoms?  Now that I think about it I have had all of these symptoms (especially the bloating and constant peeing) for many years now but never really thought much about them.  I always looked pregnant by the end of the day, which I attributed to eating too much or gas (bloating).

I am tying to stay positive but my mind keeps going to that very dark place.  I will update all when I get the MRI results on Thursday.

Thanks so much for all of you taking the time to write to me.

xxoo

Hey there lovely,

Firstly BREATHE ! I know it's scary but believe in the system. It may not be cancer .

In my case re stress before finding out, ignorance was bliss.I had a hyscaoscopy in Oct, for polyp removable, the biopsy was due in 8 weeks and I was not given any reason to worry about possible outcmes. So I didn't! Then Dec 8th I get a call saying can you come to gynae clinic in two days and bring someone to take info in with you. Those were the longest two days.....I FELL APART! and rightly s as was diagnosed with grade 2 cancer. 

Two days later I had an MRI, within 1 week of being diagnosed I had my apt to discuss surgery of radical hysterectomy. I was transferred to the royal Surrey in Guildford to another surgeon. Xmas was Upton us I had the pre op Dec 28 then surgery Jan 23 2019. Believe in the NHS they will fast track you if they suspect the big C word I'm sure.I had keyhole and the da vinci robotic surgery.

I'm now 8 weeks post op and returning to work next Monday. CANCER FREE and recovering well.

Just know that we are all here and that we all came here for a reason at the beginning. You can have all the family support in the world but sometimes you just need to speak to people that have gone through the emotions that you are going through.

Sending hugs

Hi tlacey,

You could ask your doctor to fast track your referral, if they think it's urgent they can usually put you on a two week waiting list, it's worth doing some chasing as the whole diagnosis and treatment process takes ages. 

Its also worth asking your doctor if they have anything to help your symptoms whilst you wait, I got a few different pills to help me whilst I waited .

lots of love

xxx

For the last few days I have been feeling a burning sensation in my bladder area (almost like a bladder infection) but it does not sting to urinate.  I have been constantly feeling the need to pee and feel really bloated.  I am worried it’s related to my grapefruit sized mass which is more than likely in close proximity to my bladder.  

I had my MRI today and have a follow up appointment on Tuesday with my family doctor to go over the results. Will I be okay to wait until then to bring up theses symptoms or should I go to some sort of walk in clinic?  It is really uncomfortable and it’s kind of scaring me.

Hello tiacey

Our mantra here is when in doubt get checked out. Your symptoms could be due to a number of things. The mass could be pressing against your bladder -  for example, ladies who have large fibroids can have bladder issues for this reason. You could be starting a urine infection so maybe give your GP a ring and ask for an appointment and take a urine sample along to be sent for testing.

 Meanwhile make a full list of symptoms to discuss with your doctor at the follow up. It’s easy to forget something when you’re in the doctors office. I can understand why you feel scared - waiting for test results can be a scary place to be. Use the next few days well. Go prepared with a list of symptoms and questions and take someone in with you to act as your 2nd pair of ears. They can prompt you if you forget to ask anything and may even think of new questions as you go through the consultation. Take a notebook and pen and make notes on the day. Once you’ve made your list try to do things you and your family enjoy. One of the best bits of advice I was given was to try not to second guess anything. I know it’s easier said than done but experience shows that doing things you enjoy while you wait can help keep some perspective  Sending you a gentle hug and lots of good wishes x

Hi tlacey,

Could you get an earlier appointment at the doctors to see if he can get the hospital to see you? My daughter had similar problems with an ovarian cyst, and it was only when she burst into tears at the doctors that they 'found 'her a slot!!!!! Once they referred her to hospital things moved quickly. Mention your toilet problems, as that is important.

Good luck xxxxx

So I ended up going to the hospital and I'm glad I did.  I had a massive bladder infection!  Also when I was there the ER doctor got a hold of my MRI results, which I was not supposed to get until next week. This is what it says:

Enlarged, bulky uterus containing an 8.2 cm left intramural uterine fibroid displacing the endometrium.  The fibroid is mildly hypo-vascular, possibly secondary to degeneration.  The fibroid is new from a 2011 pelvic ultrasound.  Given the fairly rapid interval growth, an underlying uterine leiomyosarcoma is not definitively excluded, although hypovascularity would make this less likely.  Gynecology referral is recommended for further evaluation. and management.

Not really too sure what to make of all of this.  The ER doctor said that it showed no other spread other than my uterus.  But when I look up this kind of cancer the prognosis is not very good. 

I got a very quick bump up of my appointment with the gynecologist to next week (it was originally for May 2nd).  I received a phone call from his office the second the report came in.  The ER doctor didn't even have a chance to call them.  

I know I am going to have to have a hysterectomy very quickly and I am nauseous thinking about everything.  It is so overwhelming...  

Can someone offer any words of advice or has anyone on here ever had a fibroid that they thought might be cancer and turned out to be nothing?

Thanks for any replies