Newly diagnosed-endometrial cancer

Hi Grace!

It’s a difficult time to feel alone. I also have endometrial cancer stage 4. My oncologist is lovely and I’m sure yours will be very good.

I shouldn’t have endometrial cancer as I have no womb! It’s a sneaky one isn’t it? I’ve been through 5 rounds of chemo and immunotherapy and met some amazing people, you will too. You should be able to get help with transport, speak with your specialist nurse or indeed phone macmillan.

There is help out there and support groups, I wish you the very best 

Lynne

Hello sweetheart, 

I am so so sorry about your news. I know cancer doesn't care who its targets as you well know. I'm here to give you a virtual hug something we all need. I know you are like me alone at home but you are never ever alone here from the wonderful nurses helping you through this journey, through the support services who are there to listen emotionally support you too volunteer telephone support buddies

We see all here when you want to let off steam yes it's is very very frightening because nobody will ever know what you are going through even family members don't know how to help, treading on egg shells. 

Your probably still in shock, still numb with your diagnosis 

Please please don't think you are alone, each and everyone of the ladies on here will also help and listen they are a lovely friendly bunch who been or going through your carcinoma journey 

Hi Grace

Welcome to the womb group.

I am really sorry to hear that you have just had a diagnosis of endometrial cancer and can understand how devastating it must feel. 

I am sorry to hear of your husbands passing last year after 55 years of marriage. Wow- that's an amazing length of time to be married.  I am sorry that you are feeling alone but we are here if and when you need us. We also have the Support Line available everyday from 8am-8pm daily if you feel talking to one of the nurses would help. 

When a cancer is diagnosed things can all of a sudden start moving quickly and it can feel overwhelming. It sounds like your gynaecologist is trying to get you seen as soon as possible but agree it would be far better to discuss this with you first. 

With regard to getting to and from your hospital, please do not worry- it may well be that hospital transport can be arranged to help you. Even if you are able to still drive, if you are unwell let them help you. At my hospital my Macmillan Support worker arranged some transport for some of my appointments and this was via the Red Cross and once I had been assessed and it was agreed- I just had to call them and book in. A trained driver would then come to my front door, collect me and bring me back later. For many of my appointments I was able to have help from family and friends but for treatment that happened every day, there were times when I needed it and that is what it is there for.

What normally happens after a diagnosis is to get an appointment to go in to discuss what happens next in terms of treatment. It is also a chance to talk through your wishes and any worries you may have. I had a nurse in with me during the appointment and then she took me to a different room where she was able to chat and answer any questions. 

Please do not feel alone, we are here and there are many lovely ladies on here who will want to offer you support.

Jane

Hi Grace, sorry for your loss. You had many years together and all those memories, which must be wonderful.

The diagnosis must be a shock for you. You don't say what stage/grade your cancer is, which impacts what treatment will you have. There have been many ladies on here who are older and have had surgery for their condition, so take heart. You should have been given contact details of your team managing your condition, so you could contact them for more information. It's a lot to take in to start with but there are also some wonderful Mac Millan Nurses who you could talkk to online as well. If you can't or don't want to drive yourself to hospital, perhaps you might contact your local branch of LINK? They are very good with helping people with transport to and from hospital, which may help alleviate some of the worry about practical issues. Hang on in there....and take comfort from the many women on this site, who can listen and respond to your fears.

Dear Ladies, you have been very kind to me. In few days I will see the gyno/oncologist who will discuss the nature of my cancer and the recommended treatment. He will be the surgeon who is in charge of my care.

I will make travel arrangements for at least the first visit so I know where to go and perhaps get there by my own means. It's still a shock,,I have no symptoms. Thanks to all the "Babes in Arms" here. You are all certainly exceptional.

Just wanted to say I’m thinking of you. Try not to think too far ahead, and just focus on next appointment, and then what happens next. I live on my own, and I raised this a number of times with my team, I.e how would I cope after treatment? First time I said this to surgeon, he told me he had a lady in her mid 80s who lived on her own, and coped really well. I think you just need to plan perhaps a little more.

Have the hospital given you anything to help? What about eating prunes they are usually very good? How are you feeling?

Ask your doctor about whether stool softeners may help. I used DulcoEase when needed and it helped

I'm so sorry about your bereavement and on top of that your diagnosis. This is a lovely forum for support with so many helpful people. The helpline is great when we need someone to talk to and we can phone a nurse if there are medical things to chat about too. Sending best wishes.

So, I have a thing or two to say about all this and what's happened. I have seen my gyn/oncologist for the first time., a very decent sort and well-known in the area for his abilities. He explained what will happen next, and the follow-up therapies, i.e. chemo and radiation. He explained what will be removed, all the repro parts, a bit of omentum....But, before that, he has ordered a CT scan with contrast that I haven't had yet, but will in 2 days time. he explained the study will show if my cancer is spread.

So, I'm thinking to myself, the source of my disease will be removed with surgery. Let's just suppose the CT scan shows no spread before the surgery. It would be safe to assume there's no spread immediately afterward. Why would I torture my 81 yr old body for 6 months afterward? Why couldn't a followup ct scan be used instead of chemo/rads? There's no guarantee that my cancer would not return in spite of chemo/rads.I'm thinking given my age, I certainly would like to live out what time I had pleasantly. I hadn't yet spoken to the doc about my thinking. He might object. 

Thanks for listening