Initial scare

Hi chop,

to us mere mortals two weeks seems like a lifetime to wait, to the medical profession that's an urgent referral. Try not to worry whilst you wait, ninety percent of people who have a womb biopsy get the all clear.

So, your first appointment is usually an ultrasound scan or they might send you to a gynaecologist for an internal examination and maybe a biopsy. The ultrasound is like a baby scan and sometimes they do an internal scan too, the worst bit about my scan was having to have a full bladder but they let me go to the toilet between the external and internal scan. The gynaecologist appointment was ok too, at my appointment they took a smear test (I hadn't had one) had a look inside and took a small sample from my womb, the ultrasound had told them that my womb lining was thick (a thick womb doesn't always mean cancer).

After that I waited on results and was called to attend a hysteroscopy, during that they look inside your womb with a camera under local or general anaesthetic and take a bigger sample. The sample is sent off to a lab and after those results came back I had my diagnosis.

i went to my gp in February was diagnosed in June and had my hysterectomy in August, all I needed was the op to treat me, it's not usually a quick process, but things should go a bit quicker for you as you are on a two week referral, I didn't qualify for that due to my age.

lots of things can cause bleeding and the common things are more common but you are doing the right thing by getting things checked out.

we are here to wait with you whatever happens

lots of love

xx

Thank you so much for taking the time out to reply and to give so much detail and comfort.  Honestly means the world.  I now know what to expect.   I wish GP's weren't in such a rush and that they could explain the procedure and what to expect, instead of just using the C word and completely putting me in a spin.

You mentioned that you were not fast tracked because of your age.  Why would that make a difference?

Thanks again.  No doubt I will be back xx

Hi Chop,

Arla has given you a run down on what to expect. I was 72 when diagnosed, had keyhole surgery (absolutely marvellous invention), and made a quick recovery. I was not bed ridden at all, but moving around (if carefully) the day after. If your children can follow instructions and do the lifting you should manage, if it comes to this.

Hoping for good news for you xxxxx 

Thank you NannyAnny for your response.  I'm glad that you were able to have keyhole surgery and made a full recovery.  I will keep you posted xxxx

Hi 

I think age makes a difference to the 2 week referral because there are many reasons other than cancer  why a younger pre-menopausal woman may have bleeding..  The NHS guidelines are that any post menopausal bleeding should be subject to a 2 week referral whereas younger women may be recommended to  have other tests first.  However my gynaecologist said that even the two week referrals did not always lead to a cancer diagnosis. 

Even so, when I requested an appointment after a bleed, and telling the receptionist that I was 76 years old, I was offered an appointment with a practice nurse who was determined to give a prescription for a UTI!.  Only when I protested that I definitely had no problems in the "wee" department did she relent and call in the doctor who at once said she had to refer me.  

I was diagnosed with cancer - that was in February 2015  - over 4 years ago.   I had a hysterectomy followed by radiotherapy.  Having had regular check-ups over the last few years, I now  won't have another one till November, and, touch wood, I am still going strong,.  ( well, as strong as I can at 80!) 

So, you are being looked after well and now you have found this forum you can find answers and advice from others who have had the same experience. 

Hi chop,

Generally only post menopausal women qualify for a fast track two week referral, its rare for younger women to get womb cancer, although quite a few of us have found this site. No one mentioned cancer all the way through my diagnosis, I didn't even know womb cancer was a thing you could get until I got my diagnosis, I thought if anything was amiss it would be cervical cancer as that's what you hear about generally. 

Xxx