Hello, I have just been diagnosed with clear cell endometrial cancer. And I'm terrified

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Hi, I have just been diagnosed with clear cell endometrial cancer. Has anyone else had this? I am at the early stages waiting on a full hysterectomy, I'm not sure if it's curable 

  • Hi Cliobus

    Welcome to the Online Community and the Womb group.

    I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis of clear cell endometrial cancer. 

    There are several different types of endometrial cancer and clear cell is what is known as a type 2 cancer. Clear cell is named because of how the cells look under the microscope. 

    Endometrial cancer especially when caught at an early stage is usually a very treatable cancer. The normal first line of treatment is a hysterectomy- where it is medically possible. This alone may be enough to remove the cancer however some ladies may be advised to have some follow up treatment. For me this was chemo and radiotherapy. 

    From the biopsy they have a provisional grade for the cancer- and clear cell is a grade 3 cancer. This simply means that it can- in some ladies behave a little more aggressively. It does not necessarily mean it has spread- but it has the potential to do so more quickly than a lower grade cancer. I also had a grade 3 cancer. 

    The stage of the cancer is seen on the scans that you will likely to have had by now. The scan will show whereabouts the cancer is and whether it has spread. A stage 1 cancer is confined to the womb. A stage 2 cancer is where there is spread into the cervix. A stage 3 cancer is where there is a little spread within the pelvis. And stage 4 is where there is evidence of spread outside the pelvic area. 

    After surgery everything that is removed is sent to pathology and it is these post op results that will confirm your final stage and grade and they use this to determine whether any further treatment is needed. 

    There are other ladies on here with type 2 endometrial cancers. I myself remain well and have had no recurrence and am nearly 3 years post treatment. 

    This link may be helpful.

    Womb cancer booklet | Macmillan Cancer Support

    Having a diagnosis of cancer and awaiting treatment is naturally a worrying time and if talking things through would help then please do give the Support Line a call. 

    I hope that you have a date for your hysterectomy soon and I found that once I knew what my treatment was likely to be and when- things felt a bit more in control. 

    In the meantime if there is anything you want to ask about, please do so.

    Jane

           

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • Hi  

    Sorry to hear you've joined the womb Cancer club, best wishes for your future treatment. 

  • How are you now? I have ccec stage 2.can you give me some hope? 

  • Hi Backie- it might be an idea to post a fresh post so it can be more clearly seen.

    I am sorry to hear that you have clear cell endometrial cancer. I had a similar grade 3 cancer and I am doing well over 3 years since the end of treatment. 

    I had surgery, chemo and then radiotherapy. Treatment felt tough at times but it was doable and there is hope. At stage 2 they believe that you have an early stage cancer which is positive. 

    Jane

           

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

  • I have a different diagnosis than you but also only found out last Friday so I am still reeling . Speak to your cancer nurse and ask lots of questions. 

    Sending you lots of hugs . 

  • Sending you lots of hugs too HuggingHuggingHugging

  • Hi there

    I had grade 3 , stage 2 endometrial cancer last year. If you have any questions. 

    Sending love x

  • Thank you. I've had surgery but I'm far more worried about the chemo/brachy/radiotherapy combi. I'm 68 and obese and was diabetic

  • Hi again

    Of course, it is only natural to be. I hope you are recovering well from your surgery. I found all of the treatments challenging for different reasons but did research to help me get through them as I was strongly advised to have them. I especially researched probiotics to take when I had radiotherapy and personally asked people to wear masks and I wore a mask out when having chemo. May be I felt I had a bit more control. Have you got people around you? X

  • I have my husband. He's as scared as me but he says nothing. Doesn't show any emotion as he tries to support me. This makes me worry for him but that's another story. I have started taking pysillum husk powder and sprouted linseed because someone said it helped with radiotherapy