At 41 am I too young to have uterine cancer?

Hi Victoriasponge,

I was about 20 years post menopause when I had a spotting. I thought I might have caught myself somehow, but 3 weeks later I had more of a bleed, and went to the doctors. I had no pain, but it turned out to be cancer.  A bleed seems to be what most people have experienced here. There is no real telling until you have had all the tests and scans. 

My own daughter had pain down one side of the pelvic area in her 20's. She was treated for cystitis for months, but then had bladder problems. Eventually she was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst which was pressing on her bladder. She was fine after her ovary and cyst were removed.

Your problems could be anything!   xxxxxxx

Hi, I don't know if it will help but, several years before I was diagnosed with cancer, I was diagnosed with fibroids which caused symptoms just as you describe. I know you said the ultrasound didn't see anything  but in my case the ultrasound wasn't clear enough to identify anything and it was only when I had an mri that they could see them properly. On the other hand when I was later diagnosed with cancer, they did see a mass on the ultrasound. As NannyAnny says there are lots of possible causes for your symptoms and at your age most are more likely than cancer. My best advice is that whilst I know it's impossible not to worry, stay away from googling your symptoms....there so much rubbish out there that you can easily scare yourself unnecessarily. Sending virtual hugs xx.

Thank you so much, I’m going to try and put it to the back of my mind until the procedure. Hopefully it’s something like a cyst or polyp that they didn’t spot on the ultrasound. I hope you’re feeling well again. Xxxxx

Thank you for your reply, it’s a relief to hear your symptoms were similar with fibroids. I was told two years ago that my womb lining looked pre-fibroid.

I had an internal ultra sound recently too but I think its probably hard to spot the smaller less obvious issues. I’m going to stay positive for now and hope for the best. 

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Much appreciated. Speaking to other people is much better than google! Xx 

Hi there try not to worry too much I’ve just got over a total hysterectomy for cervical cancer, I didn’t have any pain or discomfort before my diagnosis so try to stay positive ! I’m here if ur need any help x lesley

Thank you Lesley, that's so lovely! I went back to my GP yesterday to update on my symptoms in case I could be seen quicker but she just said to wait for the hysteroscopy. It's likely to be at least 6 weeks so I'm trying not to think about it for now.  I spoke to my step-mum yesterday and she's offered her support which is great as she's had a hysterectomy due to different issues so understands a little bit. My lovely boyfriend also came over to cook me dinner last night and he made me relaxed which really helped as I slept better and feel a lot brighter today and less anxious. Thanks for your message, I hope you're recovering well from your treatment. x

Its been really difficult for me to post a message to you  ( love the name). I was 37 so i don't want to worry you with my age at diagnosis and it was then I found that symptoms for womb cancer are very similar to so many different things including fibroids. I had a hysterectomy back in 2017 stage 1a grade 2 borderline on staging and that was all I had as treatment. So hopefully its not cancer and something else. Its great to hear you have good support at home and you will get lots of support whichever way things go. I know the waiting to go for tests is always the worst time not knowing, so try not to worry too much for now stay relaxed, ask questions. Womb cancer in our age group is around 1% of all those diagnosed so you have a good chance its not but we all understand the fears your going though had them thoughts myself before diagnosis.

Sending you a gentle hug

Hi Teddysmum,

I hope you don't mind me jumping in on this thread? I too am 40 with heavy bleeding and had a TVUS which showed fibroid and a thickened endometrium which 'seemed' like a polyp...i am on urgent referral for a biopsy and removal of the possible polyp. However i am absolutely dreading the hysteroscopy as I have a pinhole/tiny cervix and I have read so many awful stories about damage/rupture to the cervix, infection , extreme pain, bleeding etc etc and that a hyterscopy on a pinhole cervix is really difficult. 

So I am thinking of cancelling this and just paying for a private MRI/CT scan instead  just to make sure the polyp is not cancer - did you have the MRI to diagnose your cancer instead of a hyterscopy?

thanks in advance !!

Unfortunately, you will definitely need a  biopsy to obtain a tissue sample to be sent to histology for analysis. It's the only way that your consultant can be sure if the fibroid and thickening is benign or cancerous. An MRI simply gives more detailed images and is quite expensive. It can't determine if the cells are cancerous or not. If you're worried,y could ask to have a hysteroscopy with a general anaesthetic, which would avoid any discomfort. You could have this done on the NHS if your consultant is agreeable. Otherwise, you could have it done privately and it wouldn't cost much more than an MRI .Try not to worry too much, if you can - 90% of fibroids are benign.  Xx

Hello @eliz40 can you ask to have the hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic?  I have had two, and both times under general anaesthetic.