2 week pathway to cancer gynae

Hi Tillyboo

Welcome to the Womb group.

Firstly I am really sorry to hear about your husbands cancer. I hope his treatment today went as well as possible and hope that his 3 monthly scan is showing improvement. 

I am sorry that you have had some gynae issues and are concerned about cancer. Your GP sounds like they are on the ball and you do need to be seen on the urgent pathway. For any possible gynae cancer/to rule out cancer then the ultrasound tends to be the first test that is done. It is normally a tummy scan (like in pregnancy) and also a transvaginal scan. This should show whether there is any obvious cause for concern. To give you an idea- I had one done at 5 pm on a Monday and was phoned at 10 am the following day as something had been seen. 

If the scan does show an issue- for endometrial cancer the next step is normally a hysteroscopy (camera test) and/or a biopsy. It is the biopsy that would rule out or confirm endometrial cancer. 

Another thing that may be done early on is a blood test to look at the level of CA125 as a raised level means that further investigation is wise. I see you have posted in the ovarian group and this level is also tested for ovarian cancer concerns.

For endometrial cancer the most common symptom tends to be post menopausal bleeding. This tends to be what leads ladies to seek medical help. Sometimes there can be other symptoms such as pain. 

I would hope that being on the urgent pathway an ultrasound appointment should come through in the next 14 days. If you do not hear anything within the next week, I would suggest getting back to your GP to chase things up. In the meantime if the pain or symptoms worsen or you are feeling they are unmanageable please do seek urgent medical advice. (GP, NHS 111, 999) 

From your symptoms alone it is hard to know what is going on but the scan should bring some clarity and next steps. However it is clear that something is making you feel unwell so please do persist in finding out what it is. 

We do have the Support Line available everyday from 8am-8pm if you need to talk things through.

Jane

Hi thanks for reply. I went this last yeah & several lesions & a benign tumour were found on my right ovary, my CA125 was normal & I was put on a watch & wait, but never called back. Then my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer in March & my symptoms started in early May & was put on the 2 week pathway again. But no appointments anywhere, I've just had to put up with it. But eventually got booked for 21st July & my GP rung this morn to say she wasnt happy with length of time I've waited, so referred for urgent scan. I've had the transvaginal probes & ultrasounds before, but hysterscopys I have to have a GA as they couldnt do it whilst I was awake & damaged my cervix, which caused an infection, this was laat year. I had an MRI with contrast & thats when the watch & wait was decided. 

I should have pushed more this year, but my husbands diagnosis came as such a shock, I put myself on the back burner, but the pains too bad now & I really feel unwell.

I've always had problems tumours etc on my womb ovaries & had various procedures. But it had to raise its ugly head now, whilst my husbands undergoing treatment. So its just us, no kids etc so should something nasty appear, we'll have to have outside help, as we both wouldnt manage.

Some year this as been....x

Sounds like its been a really challenging year.

Looking at it from a more positive side- if you had all the testing last year and it was not cancer then it could well be the benign lesions/cysts that are causing you to feel so unwell. If it does turn out to be something more concerning then it is more recent and not something that has been there for several years. 

Totally understandable that you have been focussing on your husband. 

I wonder if it would be worth calling NHS 111 on an occasion where the pain is really bad and they may suggest you go to an urgent care centre- which may be able to do an ultrasound, other tests and offer pain relief there and then. With my own cancer I had a heavy and sudden bleed, could not speak to anyone or see anyone at my GP surgery so a friend took me to A&E- it kick started the process for me. 

Jane

Very challenging to say the least! At the minute my husbands zometa side affects have started to kick with joint pain & shivery. He only had the infusion at 12, but the 1st one he had he was in agony for 2/3 days. So not sure how bad its going to be again. I thought Zometa was to help the bones & his body would get used to it. Hes had 4 co codamol so far & not doing a thing & he cant take anti infammotories. So at the minute I'm stuck trying to help him & myself.

The only diff with my pain from last year to now its far worse. But literally nothing I can do & just hope his pain wears off

Sounds really unpleasant for him. 

I hope that the side effects will settle for him and you get some pain relief and answers very soon. 

Thank you. Hopefully all settles soon x

It sounds as though you've been through it for sure. Take each step at a time, each day as it comes and try not to worry about what you don't know for now.

I too have been though similar with my husband and I being carers for one another. There is no 'good' time to be ill or find yet another medical problem. Sometimes it seems as though it's never-ending! And yet we find ways of coping. Some find comfort in hobbies, family, friends - but you say you would need 'outside help' - so try to put something in place in advance if possible. You say there are no kids, but does that mean you are young - or older, without kids? Meawhile, lean on one another, though I know it's hard. It may be that once you get your results, things are not so bad as you expect. Sending good wishes.

We dont have children & most family have either passed away or live to far. So just us.

Results for me I dont worry about me, as I'm a what will be will be type of person. But my husbands struggled with his diagnosis & will never come to terms with it. He did go thru a real bad patch of side effects last month as he had radiotherapies, immunotherapies & zometa. So all within a week was a hard hit, nausea vomitting couldnt walk. So I had several nights without sleep, as I was around the clock with him. Then he started to get back to normal, apart from weighloss & very swollen heavy legs. But I dont think I could manage again if that bad, due to my own pain level now.

So hopefully I'm hoping he wont be too bad this time as no radiotherapy this time, but just av to see. 

Its just a very hard situation & should my scans show something & I need either surgery or treatment, then we would need outside help ie some sort of care for shopping, cooking etc basic help for a short period. But face that if & when it happens.

Will just have to see how things go...

You do need to look after yourself as your husband's carer - not just for you but to stay well for him. Do you belong to any carers support group locally or other social support? It's hard I know. The best you can do for now, is push for tests and results so you know where you stand and take each stage individually.

There are literally thousands of us in the same boat, so in a way, you are not alone.

Social services or even your GP/CNS team at hospital may be able to advise about practical issues, should you need help. LINK services will also help with driving to and from hospital if you can't face or deal with driving at this time also.

Scans don't show everything either. Most women need a biopsy and/or hysteroscopy to see where things are. I have a low pain threshold and always have gas & air, plus local injections for pain relief for biopsies, which helps a lot.

Try to take each day as it comes - and keep in touch here.