Hi all, first time sharing. 47 year old diagnosed in October with womb cancer, stage 1A. I had laparoscopic surgery on October 31. This included total hysterectomy, BSO and removal of three sentinel lymph nodes. The surgery was done with curative intent. Diagnosis to surgery was 27 days- it all happened so fast. Before that, I waited 14 months for a gynaecologist appointment to check a polyp found during my smear test in summer 2023.
Tomorrow I will find out the results of the surgery - when they will confirm the stage. I feel quite numb about it. Even if I hear that I am now cancer-free, will I feel that way? What about recurrence elsewhere? My tumour has proteins that indicate lynch syndrome- my surgeon said (before surgery) that 1/3 of people with these proteins have it. Therefore I will undergo genetic testing for lynch syndrome. The possibility of lynch syndrome feels like it takes away any possible good news I’ll receive tomorrow regarding my womb cancer diagnosis. Has anyone else experienced this? How dones one deal with feelings of inevitability and hopelessness with cancer.. once it’s been in your life? Thanks in advance for sharing.
Hello Bellarina68
Welcome to the Womb group.
Everything can happen very quickly.
It is tough waiting for the post op results. Hopefully they will confirm the provisional stage 1A- which is the best possible. Post op results will also confirm the provisional grade and also give some other markers. Lynch is one of those.
Lynch syndrome (LS) | Macmillan Cancer Support
I understand that it is an extra worry but I remember when I had my post op results back, they were not as expected but looking back it was better to know. The waiting for the results felt worse in a way with the uncertainty. Once I knew what I needed to do with treatment, it felt more in control.
There have been other ladies on here who have had the Lynch gene.
It is tough to work out how to best deal with the feelings of inevitability and hopelessness with cancer. Sharing on here is a good start. People will identify with those feelings. Talking things through helps and I can recommend giving the Support Line a call. Some people find Maggie's | Everyone's home of cancer care helpful. The Support Line can also do a search to see what is local to you.
Counselling can help some people and Macmillan can help arrange this through BUPA.
Free counselling for people with cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
I can also recommend the Online Hope course. I have just completed it myself.
Online HOPE programme for your patients | Macmillan Cancer Support
Good Luck for today and I hope that your results appointment goes ok. Let us know how you get on and do ask if there is anything you want to know.
Jane
Thanks jane2511 I really appreciate your detailed reply. The results were as you said- confirmed stage 1A, no further treatment needed, and low risk of recurrence. All very good news, and a great relief. I don’t feel as numb as I thought I would, but still a little numb. I have an open appointment for 3-4 sessions with a cancer psychologist to help me process the diagnosis, results, and implications of surgery (loss of fertility, surgical menopause). I like the idea of a Hope course. That sounds meaningful. I’m realising how being hopeful is not only a choice but a practice. Thank you for sharing these resources, I’ll check them out. And thank you for asking about my results, it’s so appreciated 
Am really pleased your results are positive. I wasn't sure initially about the HOPE course but I have just completed it and it is brilliant. It helped get things in perspective and feel more in control. There are lots of exercises and short videos that are helpful and help get things feeling a bit more in perspective. I liked the gratitudes, mindfulness and target settings- it breaks things down into manageable sections. It is free to sign up and I found it was helpful to dip in and out for short times. There was some great advice. If you sign up and its not for you, there is no pressure to complete it.
