Waiting for biopsy result

Hello Free at Last, you're welcome to join the online community, though u  may find a lot of the discussion in this group is less relevant to u, not being in the UK?However, u will get support here from folk in similar situations to u.

I'm sorry to hear of your sister's sudden death - that's all you need when you are full of concerns about your own health.

Let us know how u get on on Fri 13th - lucky for some! 

Hi free at last,

the community is available for everyone to use, so don't worry about that, the treatment protocols might vary between the uk and Spain though, however what you have experienced to date diagnosis wise is as we would expect here, maybe even a bit quicker, which is great as the waiting is the pits. I'm really sorry that you have been through such a tough past year with your sister and your health issues, I can't imagine how difficult that must have been to deal with.

The stats say that 90% of womb biopsies are clear, so try and take one step at a time, however womb cancer caught early is usually treatable with a hysterectomy only, that's the case for lots of women on the site, including me. 

Your results appointment should hopefully give you lots more information and whatever the outcome there will be women in the group who can share their experiences with you.

Lots of love and good luck for Friday, please ask any questions or share any worries whilst you wait, 

xxx

Thank you Buttercup.   Yes, the group discussions about how diagnosis and treatment is handled in the UK won't be relevant to me, but the wealth of information and support will be invaluable, I think.  The doctors here are very good and all the staff kind and caring, but there doesn't seem to be the same level of discussion and information given to patients (at least in the state system) and consultations in general are pretty brisk.  So having somewhere to turn to is wonderful.

Thank you for the kind words, Arla.  I'm doing my best not to get ahead of myself, but must admit I am the kind of person who prefers to expect the worst and try to prepare for it so that sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, rather than taking the most optimistic view and having my hopes dashed!  The time until Friday morning seems to be passing very slowly.

Hello Free at Last.  First of all I am terribly sorry to hear what have been through recently - what an awful time you are having. You have my deepest sympathy.

I am currently going through a similar situation as regards biopsy etc.  I too had a scan, and although the Sonographer said she could see something I wasn't told what it was and it was only when I saw a gynaecologist when I went to hospital to have a hysteroscopy recently that he said they took the biopsy obviously to rule out cancer, or it could be a fibroid as they give very similar symptoms.  I have also been asked to attend an MRI scan so they can decipher what it is. 

I hope your results are good news.  Yes, the waiting is just awful, I feel like I am going mad sometimes but trying to keep busy helps. I took haven't told my family, only my partner as they are worriers so I just don't want to put them through it.

All the very best to you x

Thank you bb1972, much appreciated.  I hope your news is good too  No, I don't see the point of telling the family before I know exactly what's involved, i'm just glad I have my husband to support me and come to my appointments with me.  Very best wishes that the results of your tests will be favourable and you won't have to wait much longer.

x

Been there, done that, and would agree with you, the waiting is the worst part. You have been seen so quickly, which is great. I hope the news you and bb1972 get is all good.

So, I now have my biopsy result - I do have a tumour (a small one, the gynacologist said) - adenocarcinoma.  I asked about initial staging but she said they could not say until after an MRI scan has been done (although the printed report she gave me says Grade 1).  I am to have a radical hysterectomy with the uterus and ovaries being removed, and the good news is that they intend to do it laparoscopically which I am glad about as from reading all the information provided by you lovely people, the recovery time is much shorter than if it was done by abdominal incision.

I have an appointment for a blood test to be taken next Monday at my local hospital, am waiting for a call from the hospital to give me a date for the MRI scan (that will be a new experience but I'm not claustrophobic - that I know of! so will just be keeping my eyes tight shut and counting off the seconds), and I already have an appointment with the anaesthetist for Monday 30 September and have been put on the surgical waiting list as an urgent case.  So I really cannot complain about the speed of treatment, it is excellent.

I am feeling strangely calm about it all now, better than I have been all week.  I suppose knowing is better than not knowing, and at least the gynaecologist said the same as I have been reading from the online community members, that this type of cancer normally has a good outcome with no further treatment needed after the hysterectomy.  So it could be a lot worse.

We have a short holiday booked from 1st-5th October so are not going to cancel that, as there is a chance we may still be able to go in between my seeing the anaesthetist on 30 September and having the op done.  We wlll see, but I think it would do me good to go rather than sitting about at home.  I am feeling perfectly well physically, so intend to keep up my normal exercise regime up till the date of the op, will have to be good and do what they tell me afterwards.  

One rather trivial thing that concerns me is how difficult this will make it for me to be able to get travel insurance for the foreseeable future, I understand it can be very difficult (at least for a few years) to obtain cover after a cancer diagnosis.  Anyone have any information about this?

I really appreciate all the support and good wishes so far, you are all so kind.  

PS The phone call from the hospital just came through, I am to have my MRI next Tuesday, 17 September at 1.00 pm.  I can't believe how quick they are.

I had my results today luckily all clear. I agree the waiting and unknown is horrendous.  Hope everything goes well for you. Sending lots of love.

Hello @Free at Last

Sorry to hear that you have  the diagnosis no one ever wants to hear but great to hear that things are falling into place quite quickly. It’s strange but having a plan of action does help you to cope - that was my experience anyway.

Do talk to your team about going away - a few days is unlikely to make much difference to the outcome. I had a high grade, aggressive serous type and my surgeon was  happy to move my op back by 5 days so that I could attend my daughter’s engagement party. My nurse said that the team believed in facilitating patients to have as normal a life as possible providing the surgeon didn’t think any delay would be detrimental to the outcome.

Re travel insurance, if you search the site there are numerous threads about this. Yes it can be trickier but it’s is possible to get reasonably priced insurance. I had surgery, chemo and radiotherapy and we went abroad about 2 months after all my treatment finished. Some companies wanted to charge a four figure sum for s one trip policy but i got a very reasonable quote with good cover from this company which was set up by a lady who had had cancer and wanted to offer travel insurance at a more reasonable cost

https://www.insurancewith.com

Hope that helps a bit. Sending lots of good wishes for your surgery and recovery x