Hi all, I’ve got Pcos and had a very long heavy period in April which I needed medicine to stop in the June. I then had a tv scan and got myself referred to Gynae as I wanted treatment for my fibroids. I was then called into Emergency gynae unit at the local hospital on Monday. I had to tell my consultant and specialist nurse why I thought I was called in. ‘ my biopsy wasn’t clear and they were going to tell me I have cancer’. I wasn’t far from that guess.
I’m 51, no peri menopausal systems and now know I have atypical hyperplasia with a small focus of a grade 1 endometrial cancer (blind biopsy). Friday I had my MRI scan so now need to wait until MDT meet.
Straight away they offered a hysterectomy, where they will remove everything. This isn’t something I want, I know I should be like that will get rid of the cancer, but I’m scared of losing me with my insides. They keep saying you’ve not having any more kids and you could be going through mesopause soon. After so many years of being lost I’ve just started to find me and don’t want to lose her again.
i also don’t want to go through a surgical menopause, I’ve seen my friends struggle with natural menopause.
I’m so scared I’ll never be me again, I’ll never feel normal again and my loves will be over. How do you make a decision which could end who you are and may be the wrong decision. I don’t know which direction to turn.
Hi Cherry
Welcome to the Womb group.
I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia and a grade 1 cancer. I understand that you are feeling confused, angry and scared and they are all very natural emotions at a time like this.
Hyperplasia is where the lining of the womb is thicker than they would like and atypical means that it has the potential to become cancer in some people given time. Yours has developed into a small area of an endometrial cancer. Grade 1 means that the cells are only slightly different and this is the best grade to have as the cancer tends to be less aggressive and slower growing.
The purpose of the MRI is to stage the cancer and to check whether there is any spread. If the cancer is contained within the womb then that would be a stage 1.
It is normal for all the results to go to an MDT where they look at everything and decide on the most effective treatment.
For most ladies, where it is medically possible a hysterectomy is the first line treatment. I understand why you do not want to have this and understand why you are concerned that a surgical menopause may cause more issues than a natural one. There can sometimes be alternatives but this is something that you would need to talk to your consultant about after the MDT. Occasionally a mirena coil plus monitoring can be used where there is a stage 1a, grade 1 cancer. This is not suitable for everyone though.
My surgery was in 2022 and was done via keyhole. I recovered well from it and had little pain. After surgery everything that is removed is sent to pathology and it is these results that determine whether any further treatment is needed.
I did not particularly have any menopausal effects from mine.
Perhaps give the Support Line a call- it is available from 8am-8pm everyday and talk things through.
Jane
