Newly Diagnosed

Hi Cheryl

Welcome to the Womb group.

I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis of endometrial cancer on Christmas Eve. 

The CT and/or MRI are the normal next steps after a diagnosis and they are looking to see whether the cancer has spread at all. From the biopsy and the scans they can then give you a provisional stage and grade of cancer. 

Where it is medically possible the first line treatment is normally a total hysterectomy with everything taken away. Where it is possible to do so they tend to do it via keyhole. After surgery anything removed is sent to pathology and checked. These are the results they use to advise whether any further treatment may be advisable. 

Spinal anaesthesia does not often come up on here as being used however it may be an idea to talk to your consultant once the scan results are back. You could also speak to your CNS. 

The CT/MRI results are the next critical step and once the results come back they will go to the MDT and they will advise on the best treatment. 

Occasionally for a grade 1 and stage1a cancer and in certain circumstances (eg; fertility) they may be able to offer a mirena coil. This can in some circumstances control/treat the cancer- but a lot will depend on what the provisional staging and grading shows. If this route is suitable for you then there are normally repeat biopsies done to see if it is effective

Change of diet itself is not a treatment for cancer, however there is of course a benefit to eating a healthy balanced diet. It is worth speaking to your CNS for some advice. 

I can understand your concerns re having surgery and I hope that you will not have to wait too long for the MRI and to be given a possible treatment plan. For me surgery was the right choice and I wanted to get the cancer out in the most effective way. I had a stage 1 cancer in 2022 and after surgery it was followed up with chemo and radiotherapy. I remain well 3 years post treatment. For me the hysterectomy was straightforward. I was in hospital for 1 night and had little pain. I recovered well. 

It can all feel a bit overwhelming when having a diagnosis and we do have the Support Line available from 8am-8pm every day. 

Jane

Thank you. After my initial ultrasound they said that my womb lining was thickened and they had to do a hysteroscopy to investigate further. They did this under a spinal anaesthetic and while doing this they inserted a coil as initial treatment - before they even had the results. So it may even have started doing its job. 

 I've changed diet ( to a more healthy one) simply because I am overweight, which may have contributed to the excess oestrogen that possibly contributed to the thickening of the lining and the cancer. 

I might be willing to have a hysterectomy if I can have the spinal anaesthetic again but I don't want a full anaesthetic for several reasons. I'm also not willing to have any chemo or radiotherapy  - or have any lymph nodes removed - and wonder, if at 67, it might be better to leave well enough alone, if it is slow growing anyway. 

I have my MRI next Friday and the MDT will meet the Thursday after that - so in the next fortnight I will know more.

Although there is plenty of research that indicates a diet rich in cruciferous vegetables reduces the risk of various cancers, we are talking maybe just 20% reduction in risk.  You would need to be have an entire lifestyle makeover - 2 hours exercise per day, organic wholefoods only, 30+ different plants a week etc - and be quite brave - to fend off the consultants when you have actual diagnosed cancer.

Hi Cheryl, I just wanted to say that whilst of course it’s all up to your own choices, I have to say that 67 isn’t old by any stretch of the imagination! I say that as a 66 year old! 

The more I read about the surgery, the less keen I am to go ahead.  Hadn't realised it was something that would take up to three hours to complete. I won't have a general anaesthetic and don't know if could bear the discomfort of a spinal one for that long. (I was beginning to get a bit restless during the hysteroscopy).

The two hours exercise wouldn't be a problem - as long as walking was considered ok (I have a dog)  and I'm already vegetarian. I'm trying to cut down on refined sugar and to include the standard 5 fruit/veg per day. It's a big change from pizza and chips with ice cream and chocolate to follow but I have found an improvement in my skin condition so far - and the weight is coming off at a reasonable pace.

I just think that if it is slow growing am I likely to get any more years out of life with surgery than I would without. 

I'll have to do a "cost/benefit analysis".

I've felt old since I was 50.

If you're up for 2 hours walking a day, you could live another 20 years or more!

My only reason for wanting to do that would be to get as much pension out of this govt as possible - they've already denied me 6 years worth

For me the op was fine. I’d previously had a C section with the birth of my first child over 30 years before, and this was so much easier. Laparoscopic surgery, one night in hospital, up and walking around from 6am and no need for pain relief as soon as I was up out of bed. Again, your choice is entirely your choice, I’m only posting this for balance for the benefit of others that may be reading without responding. 

Hi Cheryl

I hope that the coil is having some effect already. 

Changing your diet to become more healthy is a positive thing and for some endometrial cancer (type1) there can be a link with being over weight and oestrogen. My own cancer was a type 2 and no linked to excess oestrogen. One thing I did not realise before my own cancer was that there were different types and grades and stages. 

Definitely ask about a spinal if you do not want to have a general- it may well be an option- I wonder if some form of sedation would be an option- I don't know but worth having a good discussion with your consultant. 

I did not have any lymph nodes removed. 

67 is still young. Endometrial cancer when caught early is a very treatable cancer.