Change of cancer grade - biopsy to post op biopsy

Hello BrokenMel

Welcome to the Online Community. I am sorry to see that you have had a hysterectomy due to a diagnosis of womb cancer. I hope that you are recovering well from the surgery.

I had a change of grade and stage in my post surgical pathology. It was explained to me that with the biopsy they sample a few cells but post operatively they have a much closer look in depth.

When I had my biopsy they took some tissue from the inside of my womb however after the hysterectomy they were able to look further into the muscle which showed a different grade and type- so I went from a potential adenocarcinoma to a carcinoma sarcoma. 

Hope this helps but I am sure they will explain a bit more after the MDT if you ask. 

Jane

Hi BrokenMel 

Good news! My grade and stage was 1 and 1a prior to hysterectomy. When my womb was examined in the lab, the cancer was superficial 1a in the lining of the womb but there had been abrupt transition to grade 3 aggressive in the muscle layer. My grade and stage continued to change, have a look at my profile by clicking on my username.

I'm sure the team will answer your queries after MDT re how the biopsy was Grade 3 but has now been classed as 1. Hope you get your answers soon.

A x

Thank you so much, that really helps. I had no idea that could happen. There is so much to learn and understand with this disease. I guess in the initial biopsy they must have grabbed a chunk of tissue that looked very abnormal but overall the tissue isn't as abnormal as first thought. What a rollercoaster this all is  

Thank you so much, I will check out your journey. I am learning such a lot, I guess all of this has been so traumatic that I feel that I can't possibly have good news and that it must be a mistake. I am frightened to hope which just says more about my state of mind I guess. I will write a list of questions for later this week and try to keep calm. Thanks for replying

Hi BrokenMel, just wondered if a stage was mentioned, or just the type and grade? (the terms can be a bit confusing!)  or did you maybe means staged one time you said graded?

FWIW, mine as predicted grade 1 stage 1a but was changed to grade 1 stage 2 post histology. 

After initial biopsy I was told type 1 and grade 3. No stage until after op, After op last week I was told stage 1a but a change of grading to 1. Good news but strange news 

Hi BrokenMel, this is the best news but I can understand your confusion, from what I've learned is that normally it's found at biopsy as a lower grade or stage and sometimes is upgraded to higher stage(more advanced) or higher grade(more aggressive). In your case I just wonder if the results at biopsy may have been inconclusive and it was graded higher on the side of caution? But whatever, the Consultant or CNS should be able to explain why the change. Hopefully you may need no treatments and just wait and watch approach. 

For now though it seems all good, wishing you the best. X

Yes it is puzzling because it is a downgrade. I could understand a tiny grasp of tissue shows grade 1 but then opening up the whole uterus shows grade 3. But the other way around seems strange. I feel stupid, like I should be celebrating but I am just scared to hope. The whole journey has been such a shock for me, now I am too scared to believe good news. I just have to wait until later in the week and hope all becomes clear. Thanks for your comment.

Hello everyone that responded. My initial biopsy was for grade 3. Post biopsy is grade 1 but with a pre-cancerous film that would be grade 3. These were done at 2 different hospitals and they don't agree. It is now under investigation. My surgeon thinks it will be grade 1 and if there was any grade 3, it must have been grabbed at the biopsy. It needs over 10% to be grade 3 and he is sure it won't be. All I can do is wait :) 

Hope it is grade 1 and your worrying about it ceases x