Hi everyone, I've not been on here for such a long time but I thought it was right that I come and share my update.
For those who don't know me, I was diagnosed with what was expected to be Stage 1a Endometrial Cancer in late November of last year. As many on here will attest to, this sent my mental health to severely decline, so much so that I needed help from professional mental health services. I've since worked with a wonderful counsellor from MacMillan and have recently started with a psychologist attached to the oncology team where I had my operation.
I had a full hysterectomy on 22nd January, everything removed. It then took 3 months to get my final results, so much so that I was considering approaching PALS. It had become apparent on my MRI that I had Stage 4 endometriosis and the surgery involved detaching my bowel from my uterus (resulting in a bowel surgeon having to be involved) and my left ovary was attached to my pelvis.
It has since been confirmed that all of the cancer was contained to my uterus. The reason for the delay in the final report was due to an unusual growth on my left ovary, which they weren't sure whether it was malignant or not. It transpired to be a borderline ovarian tumour. My mum had ovarian cancer at 80, so I'm lucky that it was found before it could possibly change.
I've not had to have any treatment. I returned to work on a phased basis last week, currently working 3 days a week. I still get tired and trying to get to grips with the surgical menopause (I'm only 46 and wasn't really peri-menopausal before the op) but it's not as difficult so far as I was told that it would be (achy legs, dry scalp, hot flashes). I have my first check up next Monday, which I'm obviously nervous about. I no longer have crippling pain for 2 weeks of each month with my adenomyosis and endometriosis and I feel calm for the first time in years.
It's not been easy and I have made sure that I take time to recover physically and also reached out for the mental health support that I so very needed.
I just wanted to post an update to give hope to other women who are in the situation I found myself in just 7 months ago - I thought my literal world was ending and nothing anyone said to me to encourage me that that wasn't the case could change my mind.
I also wanted to give the courtesy of an update, and also extend my absolute gratitude to the amazing women on this forum who were an absolute saving grace and so very supportive when I was at such a devastating point in my life. I will be eternally grateful.
And to those who have recently been diagnosed - you've got this!
