Been called in urgently to see cconsultant after day surgery to remove womb polyps and take biopsy

It seems because my polyps were actually tumours they could not completely remove them in the Day Surgery last week because they were not attached by little stalks. So the surgeon was not being quite truthful when he said the polyp surgery was successful. He then took biopsy of the tumour which has turned out to be cancerous. The next stage is to have CT and MR scans.  The consultant I saw  very today seemedpositive though. He said he thought they had been caught early enough to clear up due to only bleeding recently.  I hope he is correct as they have all just been wrong about the polyps. 

Hi nightingale,

At least this seems to have been caught early.

A hysterectomy was all I needed with Stage 1A cancer, Grade 2. They took my lymph nodes away which were all clear. So far my left ankle swells slightly in the evenings, but goes down over night. I am 2 years post operation, and am a fairly active 75 year old. I, too had keyhole surgery, which was quite marvellous. I recovered very quickly. I also had CT and MRI scans. They do these to help them plan the operation. My consultant saw on them that my cervix looked a mess, and asked about my history. She didn't want a nasty surprise when in there!! I explained I had 2 miscarriages and had to have each of 2 children stitched into the womb! She was quite happy then, so it obviously helps them.

Good luck xxx

I think the problem with polyps is that 9 times out of 10 they are benign so im sorry you yours were the exception. Only biopsy can confirm. At least take heart that its been caught early it makes such a difference to the outcome. I had symptoms for 3 years before i was eventually diagnosed at stage 3 and because of that had a recurrence recently. Fingers crossed a hysterectomy will do the trick.

I think the problem with polyps is that 9 times out of 10 they are benign so im sorry you yours were the exception. Only biopsy can confirm. At least take heart that its been caught early it makes such a difference to the outcome. I had symptoms for 3 years before i was eventually diagnosed at stage 3 and because of that had a recurrence recently. Fingers crossed a hysterectomy will do the trick.

Oops sorry went thro twice!

Thanks for that. The consultant today was quite positive about keyhole surgery and said I would be discharged within 48 hours out and back to nearly normal activities like driving, after 2 weeks. I just watched the RCOS video about them which ndpaints an altogether more negative outlook. Suggesting  the a  6 week minimum recovery period for laparoscopic womb surgery and makes various negative comments like how depressed  you can feel afterwards.

I am still trying to process that I have cancer at all - after all the health professionals diagnosed the cause of my  problems as benign and assured mnd only 5% of uterine polyps are malignant. Trust my luck to be in the 5% but then my lucked ed has all but deserted me lately.  

Hello nightingale19, I know that isn't the result you wanted to hear but it does sound like they've caught things early. The CT and MRI scans will give them lots of useful information to help plan your surgery in detail. They may well take some lymphnodes for sampling. They removed 23 of mine in total along with a para-aortic sample. Yes lymphnode sampling/removal can lead to an increased risk of swelling /lymphoedema in the pelvis and legs, but not everyone will get that. I'm 21/2 years on from treatment ending (I needed chemo and external radiotherapy) and I do have a tiny amount of swelling on the right side in my pelvis/lower tummy area. They monitor it at each check and so far I've not needed any treatment for that. 

Just a thought - were they wrong about the polyps or did they say that to try and alleviate some worry whilst they did thorough checks on the biopsies tissue? I know you'll never know the answer to that but it might be a positive way of looking at things for now. If they did, I'm not passing judgement on whether they were right or wrong but sometimes until all the photographs are checked and the biopsy is analysed, it can be very difficult for them to tell what they're dealing with.

My top tip for the next few days / weeks is to try not to second guess anything - hard, I know, but worth trying to do. Keep busy and try to keep doing the things you enjoy - it's good to have some things to look forward to over the next few days/weeks, and  it gives some good things to talk about with family and friends in the early days after surgeruwhen you're not very mobile. Stay away from Google if you can, too, it just Ramos up the anxiety levels.

Sending you a gentle hug x

Thanks for this. I do think it was originally a mistake about the polyps. They were diagnosed via the Trans Vaginal Ultra sound, in the Gynae Rapid Access clinic and the Sonographer took a lot of care over it.  The images were then studied by the Registrar who originally suggested removing them herself in her office under local anaesthetic.  She reassessed on studying the images again and said as the polyps were high up in the uterus it would be more comfortable for me to have them removed in day surgery under a general. She emphasised she saw nothing to raise concern.

The consultant said today that they could not be fully removed because they were tumours not polyps or rather one tumour  attached as a tumour.I did hear while I was  coming round from the day surgery, someone saying " it would cause excessive bleeding" and I wonder if that is what he meant. I assume he took a biopsy of the tumour. The consultant today said it had cancerous cells Level 3. So maybe the day surgeon was deliberately misleading me to avoid alarming me. I did see on my discharge papers I was being referred back to the MD team but assumed that was usual in cases like mine. 

i remain worried about how far it has spread of course. Initially my symptoms were diagnosed as a UTI/trapped kidney stone  escaping and I had CT scan done for that plus  a vaginal exam because I had a period type bleed at the same time . It was the vaginal scan  which triggered the referral to the Gynae Rapid Access clinic. The CT scan at the time was  of kidneys, Urethers and bladder  and that was clear.The consultant today did not look at that as he said it was lower down than uterus. He also thought the cancer  was unlikely to have spread and said they needed to do CT scan higher up for the uterus . I do at least know the earlier kub CT scan found no abnormalities in my kidneys urethers  and bladder. 

Without boring you all, I have had such a bad year, so much unbelievable bad luck. I was really hoping it was about to turn. . 

Just to add, tidying up paperwork last night, I came across copy of the letter the Gynae Rapid Access centre doctor  sent my GP after I had my initial TVUS. It says I have been diagnosed with two large uterine polyps which it has been recommended I have removed by hysteroscopy in Day Surgery. No indication of malignancy at that stage. 

Hi nightingale19,

I do wonder if it is difficult at the start for the Doctors to negotiate the fine line between being optimistic/reassuring us and worrying us when they themselves do not have all the information available.

When I went to the Doctor after a bleed and having convinced the practice nurse that I had no symptoms of a UTI; I was immediately told bluntly that I was to be referred as it could be a sign of endometrial cancer!.  (I do now know that any post menopausal bleed is supposed to trigger immediate referral for possible cancer) When I saw the Gynaecologist she took pains to reassure me that there were other reasons than cancer  for the bleed.  I was doubtful about that as far as I was concerned!  That was five years ago , I am now 81 and doing Ok after treatment.  

The fact is that until a biopsy is done they can't be sure and the let down after reassurance that all is well can be as hard to handle as the diagnosis itself. 

The positive thing is that now the situation is clearer and your treatment is being planned. You will find plenty of help here to support you.