Hey, feel like I'm in limbo. Had a total hysterectomy a week ago, all went well. But I asked my surgeon about follow up checks and he said I didn't need any 'I'd heal'.
Asked how long pathology would take - up to 6 weeks, its such a long time.
My main fear is I'd gone for postmenopausal spotting of just 2 days 18 months ago, a polyp was found, it got removed. 10 weeks later biopsy said precancerous, had another hysteroscopy and biopsy, came back clear, so surgeon was convinced the precancerous results were contained in the polyp, 3 hysteroscopies and 3 biopsies later all was clear, no symptoms, no pains nothing. The last one one they were deciding what to do with me, sign me off, give me an open appointment or annual hysteroscopy and biopsy.
So it was quite a shock to get the call saying I had cancer. A week later at my meeting with the surgeon I asked about scans to see if it had spread, was told no, they start at stage 1, 3 weeks later I got a total hysterectomy. I'm just scared that it has spread, or started somewhere else. I didn't know I had cancer, no idea how long I've had it. Its seriously messing with my head, feel brushed off by the surgeon, family are telling me its stage 1 and been caught early, but how do they know?
Hello Mrs Be
Welcome to the womb group.
I am sorry to hear that some cancer was found in your last biopsy. It sounds like things have moved quickly and I know that can feel a bit overwhelming. I am glad that your surgery has gone well and hope that you continue to recover well.
Waiting for results can be hard and there are several ladies on here currently waiting for theirs and they will empathize with you. its not easy and it can be hard to focus on much else. 6 weeks does seem a fair amount of time to have to wait and hopefully they will come back before then. My own results took around 3 1/2 weeks post surgery.
It sounds like your cancer has been caught at the earliest stage and initially was precancer within a polyp. For most of us scans are part of the diagnosis and are used for staging. The biopsy that you had would have given a provisional grade. The grade is about the type of cancer and how it normally behaves. So for instance a grade 1 cancer is far less likely to spread and tends to grow slowly. I wonder if this may be an element in the decision not to do the scan.
However I do understand your concern about not having the staging scan for reassurance. I can not say for sure why they would not have done one but there may well be a reason. I wonder whether it would be worth contacting your CNS or even your GP to see why one wasn't done. My hospital tests and notes from appointments were always sent electronically from the hospital so there may be something in your notes that the GP could look at.
I understand that things have happened really quickly and having had the surgery recently things can feel a bit all over the place. Do give the Support Line a call if it would help to talk things through. They are lovely on there.
I wish you well for your continued recovery and hope that those post op results come back much quicker for you. In the meantime we are here if you need us.
Jane
