Recurrence of womb cancer

Hello a very warm welcome to you on this extremely wet afternoon. I'm encouraged to hear that you are 9 yrs on from your surgery for womb cancer, but very sorry to read that you have these new worries about a possible recurrence. Our mantra here is always "if in doubt, get checked out". You are clearly very worried about these new symptoms and they sound like they are affecting your life in a major way. So, I'd say, follow your instinct and ask your GP for a referral and/or scan. Hopefully he'll be able to see your notes on the system (assuming of course that they use the same one as the hospital) If not, could s/he request a copy of your notes to be transferred to the new hospital? I'm not a medic so I can't say what might be causing your symptoms. Did you have any other treatment 9yrs ago? If you had radiotherapy for example, ladies can sometimes develop late side effects with the bowel and bladder. Only a doctor /specoalist would be able to say what's going on.

You might find it helpful to ring the helpline and chat with one of the nurses there - it's open 8-8 every day on 0808 808 00 00. Alternatively you could ask a question in the Ask a Nurse / Ask an expert here https://macmillan.funnelback.co.uk/s/redirect?collection=macmillan-main-meta&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.macmillan.org.uk%2Fcancer_experiences%2Fask_the_expert%2Fask_a_nurse%2Fdiscussions&auth=zzXjo4f%2F9kvsOKQr6dStQw&profile=_default&rank=1&query=Ask+a+nurse The nurses can't talk specifically about your case but they can perhaps help you to firm up the questions you'd like to ask your GP .

Sending you a gentle hug and lots of good wishes that things improve very soon x

Thank you for your response. I had no follow up treatment with my womb cancer hysterectomy apart from 5 yr checks. A polyp was removed in day surgery after a camera was passed into my womb. The polyp was cancerous so the treatment was a total abdominal hysterectomy. Histology report later showed no cancer in removed womb. The hospital I attend now does not share a computer system with my former hospital (though they are merged) so I shall have to request details sent over. A fortnight before I had my hysterectomy I had key hole surgery to remove my gall bladder ( yes there’s not a lot left of me!)

I  had colonoscopy last week  showed moderate diverticulosis and  a polyp was removed that though benign has the ability to turn cancerous. Follow up is to have another colonoscopy in five years and await formal result of histology. Next day I had a ct scan on abdomen with contrast which was clear. I have not had formal notification yet of this outcome. I only know because I fainted under hairdryer at hairdressers in the heat the other day and was taken as a precaution to a and e - doc there advised me of ct outcome. Because I am still having bowel issue and bladder issues and little bit of discomfort low down on left abdomen and because I’m a worrier - I’m thinking the worst about recurring womb cancer given the procedures I have had haven’t really told me what has been wrong. For at least 6 weeks I was in constant bad pain low left and right abdomen and something which I can only describe as guts  ache. I was scared to eat and have lost a stone in weight. Eating small meals now but still not right. Urinating lots with bit of soft faeces each time and tingling in private area similar to when one has a uti ( though tests say not). Full blood count fine. Once again thank u for taking time to respond. X

Hello and a very warm welcome from me too. I completely agree with Fairycake please ask as many questions as possible from us and we will cerainly do our best from our own experience to help you. But our experts can help more with medical questions and although as fairycake says they can at least give you some guidance and reassurance. I had a total hysterectomy in 2017 and was found to be low stage and no other treatment and I now have six monthly checks. I am very sorry to read about all your pain and health worries and totally understandable to be worried. Until we have answers we do its natural so don't beat yourself up as a "worrier" its OK. Until you have answers to the cause its difficult for you to know what you can and can't eat but may I say it maybe worth asking one of our dieatians for some advice on more gut friendly foods for you (Missing Forum) , they may be able to help and I hope you can get some answers and reassurance soon.

Sending you a gentle hug

Thank u. Hugs. 

Hi, I had to reply as I am another NannyAnny, but spelt differently!!!

I know whatever we have we are bound to think its a recurrence. But, I know from different experiences that diet can cause problems. I have a young friend in her 40's who suddenly began to be quite ill. They eventually discovered that she is allergic to wheat, and since sticking to a gluten free diet is a lot better. My own grand daughter kept being sick and having exploding motions until they discovered she was dairy intolerant after a severe tummy bug. She had to keep off any dairy food for 2 years. They then gradually introduced different foods again. She was quite thin because some days she couldn't keep anything in. Now she is allowed cheese again and chocolate she has filled out.

I think you have to go back to your GP and explain things to him. XXXXXX

Thank you. Xxxxx

Hi

What a worrisome time you are having. I’m so sorry to hear you are having all this stress. I think you’re quite right to get everything checked out.

But I do wonder if there’s something else to address and that is the degree to which you worry. You say that it must sound mad to worry your life away like this. Goodness knows, I have spent enough time worrying to sympathise. But I’ve also done a lot of work on managing the worry and stress. It feels like something I can change and a way I can help myself. It’s a work in progress but well worth it. My best sources of help have been my GP, counselling, massage, yoga and meditation. I also keep a three good things diary where I write three good things from each day before I go to sleep. 

I can imagine it would feel like a mammoth task and nine years of habitual worry is going to take some changing. But I do think it’s as important to look after our mental well being as it is to take care of our physical health - especially at a difficult time 

xx