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
Hi MrsBe, welcome to the womb support group which is full of really lovely supportive women who are all at different stages of diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
it sounds like they have found your cancer at an early stage and iam pleased to hear that you have already had your hysterectomy.
It is really hard not to worry or catastrophise or think the worst, but there is lots of support out there to help you manage the worries. I used the McMillan helpline a lot after my diagnosis, sometimes just to have a good cry and they listened, sometimes with specific questions, they helped to get me through a very challenging time.
Your body will recover quickly from the op but it takes time for our minds to catch up. Be gentle with yourself x
I can relate with you.
I had a hysteroscopy in November 2025 which discovered and removed polyps.
I bowled into my follow up appointment 6 weeks later to get the all clear but was told l had serous endometrial carcinoma.
Just had CT and MRI scans and waiting to discuss treatment plan next week.
I was initially stunned by cancer diagnosis but slowly coming to terms with it.
I need to know more about the extent of it etc but at least l am getting medical care now.
Talk to your practice nurse if you need to more about case and/or another member of the medical staff in your team.
Diagnosed with Serous endometrial carcinoma on 26th January 2026
I had my hysterectomy on 19th February in the afternoon and it went well, woke up in recovery and was on oxygen and had a catheter already inserted.
I was moved to a ward by 10pm when a bed was ready after a sandwich and medication and my friend was able to visit me until they turned off the lights, then l spent a disturbed night as my bed was in front of the toilet and the lights went on every time another patient used it, l was observed regularly for blood pressure, temperature checks etc, thorough out the night and given warfarin injection which swelled up under my skin.
One of the patients went for a CT scan around midnight and came back around 2am, by that time l need some pain relief again and was given morphine which l took orally.
I tried to sleep next a snoring patient in the next bed who woke up at 6am for a shower and then the others started using the toilet so no point trying to sleep so waited for the nurses handover.
Thankfully one of the Cancer team that performed the surgery came to visit and reminded me and the nursing staff that the catheter needed to come off. Then the surgeon who did the operation with the robot came to check on me with the cancer team member and was satisfied with the my recovery with procedure.
I wanted to prove that l was ready for discharge so l started going to the toilet and kept drinking water until l produced enough urine so it could be measured by the nursing staff, l had a bowel movement and ate my breakfast to show l was ready for discharge and this included walking around the ward.
When the pharmacist came to visit me and checked me for medication, l knew l could be discharged so when my friends came to see me before lunch, l asked them to be ready to pick me later to go home.
They went off to have lunch and l had my lunch on the ward after which the paperwork and medication was ready for me to leave, luckily my brother and his son popped in just before l left so we got see each other too.
I was home by 2pm and was able to climb the external stairs up to my flat and use the stairs in my flat to go up to my bedroom too.
After my friends left l felt a bit bereft.
After a while I went out locally to my GP walking very slowly to hand in my discharge letter and make an appointment to check my wound dressing on 2nd March, after that l came home and rested.
At 6pm l took my medication with some soup and later my sister in law and niece came with enough food to last me for the weekend without having to cook.
My neighbour popped in to see if I was okay and l was so pleased to go upstairs and sleep in my own bed last night.
Diagnosed with Serous endometrial carcinoma on 26th January 2026
Hi Bangla, very well done and so glad you’re home! And that the stairs were fine and you’ve walked to the doctors! Hope you sleep well tonight and continue to make a good recovery!
Yes, you are right about getting the balance right.
I am feeling the strain this morning and trying to complete the medication regime for the next few days and weeks.
I fancy having a lie in this morning, especially with the rain.
I hope you are well.
Diagnosed with Serous endometrial carcinoma on 26th January 2026
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