Question for endometrial Cancer-

In · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 6:46 am Post subject: Question for endometrial Cancer-

Hi, If anyone there who can help- i'd appriate it.

What symptoms, if any have you had to indicate a problem or cancer?
How did you realsie you had a problem and had to have it looked at?
What test did you have to do, to find out you had Endometrial Cancer?

Thanks before hand if anyone can respond- Inica
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Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

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rmaureen · Moderator Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 237

Hi Inica

Hope some of my story helps. I can look back to a point even years before i was diagnosed. I always had very heavy periods, they averaged 7 to 10 days even from the age of 12. Then about 6 years ago, i noticed a discharge, but this was attributed to yeast infections. New symptoms started in 2003, my periods became increasingly painful, of longer duration, and heavier bleeding. Then around 2004 HUGE clots began to come out during my periods, and a strange sensation in my upper abdomen. I had no insurance so i went a low-cost clinic for $25 which referred me to get an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed multiple fibroids and ovarian cysts. My OBGYN said this was normal, and that it was NOT cancer. I was so relieved. But later i knew i was getter sicker.

I feel very strong about this--doctors should not say "it's not cancer" until they have implemented the necessary steps to rule it out!!!

I had a pap done, again it revealed normal. The OBGYN prescribed birth control and i had another ultrasound which showed the cysts had disappeared. I went almost a year and a half after my visit there undiagnosed , then i had a hysterectomy (Sept. 2005), at that time the cancer was found and it had spread to my cervix. I even had another pap smear several months before it and it showed nothing. From what i have learned afterwards, i strongly urge women with such symptoms to press their doctors for the necessary tests--such as an endometrial biopsy--to help rule out cancer.

I bled continuously (every day) for almost two years, and had to literally wear incontinence briefs for the blood. I fainted 3 occasions alone in my house, and went through emergency which totally blew me off. One of the people at the hospital made a LOUD joke about "you know how wacky woman get with their hormones". No one even looked at how much blood i had lost. I was also severely anemic for 1.5 years seeing my OBGYN. I also had to have two emergency blood transfusions. I began to urinate with more frequency, and at times i had a watery discharge mixed with blood. As i became more anemic, my blood became almost orange in color.

Another thing, if you are filling up too many pads, and too fast at that, you need to get checked out. You shouldn't be saturating an entire pad every hour, some doctors say thirty minutes, but good grief, every hour? Even two?

I believe if i had medical insurance, it would had played out faster, but still i see insured people posting here with serious situations yet are discounted by their doctors. I have learned to ask questions, and so what if they get annoyed. Also, i think it is so much better for the patients to take a friend along to the exam room. Gives you more artillery to round off questions, in case you forget, and that is so easy to do sitting up there vulnerable, and half-naked.

Well, Inica those where my symptoms. My diagnosis was Adenocarcinoma Endometrial Uterine Cancer--Stage III-C". You are such a blessing to so many here, i see how often you reach out to so many people here. God bless, and i hope this helps someone.

Rhonda

In

Thanks Rhonda- I just do what I can...Like everyone else.

Thanks for the information. It has helped. Thanks for all YOUR hard work in this thread. I have no idea other than "usual get it looked at advice". So it's great to have someone who has gone through it.

Thanks again. Inica
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

rmaureen · Moderator Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 237

Hi Inica,

Just read your story link, and must say you have been through a lot! Keep defying those odds! I was wondering, does your doctor do follow up pap smears (mine does although a portion of my cervix was removed, and also, wonder if you get cat scans or pet scans? **Sorry, for misspelling your name earlier.

Take care,

Rhonda

brainman

OK Inica... what is going on? Why this new concern about Endometrial cancer? Sad

I suspect it is not just curiosity. You know your friends are worried about you. {{{{Inica}}}}
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Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
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Twitter: @JimHawkins54

In

Thanks Rhonda-

I have regular smears done- I'm told every 6 months though I do have then more often. (most times 3 months)

I haven't had any cat scans
or ?pet?? scans- never heard of them- what are they? Info please... Embarassed

All ok Jim- just wondering. Confused

_________________
Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1003 Location: UK

Hi:

CT [CAT] scans = computed axial tomography. A sort of super x-ray. You lie on a surface with a large doughnut shape with a revolving camera in it feeding the information into a computer. The surface slides through the doughnut and the camera records slices of your innards as it goes, building up a complete picture from top down. You are injected with a dye [and sometimes also have to drink a special liquid as well]. It is quick and relatively painless. I've just had one.

PET scan = Positron emission tomography - much the same, though in this case you have a shortlived radioactive isotope injected.

rmaureen · Moderator Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 237

Hi Inica,

Both of the scans look for tumors and cancer. I (in theory) am suppose to have a cat scan of the pelvis once a year, and a pelvic exam every three months. The Pet scan is from what i have read, more thorough at finding cancer. This url from cancer.org has some great information as to how endometrial cancer is diagnosed, scroll down to " Sampling Endometrial Tissue"

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_endometrial_cancer_diagnosed.asp

Hope this helps. Wink

Take care,

Rhonda

In

Thanks again Rhonda- and Vee. better then Jim's version.

*** A Cat scan is when then run a cat over your body the see if the cat finds any cancer (cats are very intuitive about these things). A pet scan is when they take your own pet (dog, cat, bird, fish....) and pass it over your body to see if your pet finds anything (based on the assumption that your pet probably knows you better than even your spouse or parent and can therefore detect a change in you).

I hope this explanation helps. Laughing

hehehehe- Sorry, Jim Razz

: had to do it.

. - Just so everyone doesn't think Jim is a mean- sick freak-
(Just a normal freak) Wink

he was trying to cheer me up- and it worked Laughing

Thanks Jim
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 1003 Location: UK

Wish it was as easy as Jim's Cat and Pet Scan! Laughing

In

Thought that would give a laugh.

Sounds very simular to a bone scan. but takes the inside picture of tissue etc, not bones...

I haven't had either- for cancer anyway. Confused

_________________
Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

In

Just looked back to this, as again in some major pain...(god must be a man)

so, should I really push to have this???

i don't think insurance will cover it, so know it's really expensive here...Normally Medicare will only cover if in accident or come in through emerganacy- and then maybe ot either...

So is it really important? What else, or other test?
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

rmaureen · Moderator Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 237

Hi Inica,

Yes, I think you should definitely push to have a scan, particularly if you are experiencing symptoms such as a pain. I am on Medicare/Medicaid here in the states, and they do pay for the CT scans. The PET scans are more expensive, but my understanding more accurate. I have never had a PET scan, they wont give me one I am sure for the cost, although I requested it.

Because you were diagnosed with cervical cancer, it seemed they should scan you yearly. You should make an appointment, tell your doc you are experiencing pain, and any other symptom or changes in your body. Then say you would like a scan of the pelvis as it is typical in follow up tests for such cancers. I think its long overdue to have one. And like you, I have pelvic exams every three months, but my oncologist informed me scans should be done yearly for endometrial cancer. Let us know how it turns out, but for now, make an appointment about these pains.

God Bless,

Rhonda

In

Thanks Rhonda.

I have a Dr app on Thursday, so hopefuly have a chance to bring it up with her then... Maybe time for the specialist again.
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
~Continous Cervical Cancer~

My Story-
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

Smile

9 Lives and still kicking Smile

saleha · New User Joined: 25 Apr 2008 Posts: 4

Hi Inica,

My symptom was only a one-day bleeding/spotting episode. I knew that it must be investigated (that was my good fortune to be aware of that) and made an appointment with my gynecologist. She did a vaginal ultrasound in her office and thought she saw a polyp in my uterus. Instead of doing an endometrial biopsy (usually done when there is bleeding in a post-menopausal woman), she arranged for a D&C.

Those lab results came back showing cancerous cells (clearly differentiated which was also good fortune). I sought out a gynecological oncologist (must be an oncologist because there are lymph nodes that must be tested during hysterectomy). I also had an MRI which showed there was no muscle involvement.

The surgeon looked over all my results, and we scheduled a laparoscopic hysterectomy. They did tons of tests during my surgery as well. I was very fortunate to have caught it so soon because I came back a Stage 1B, Grade 1 and needed no further treatment.

It's interesting to note that the hysterectomy itself if basically a diagnostic tool to determine the extent of the cancer. I was up and around the next day and sent home. I resumed my normal activities almost immediately.

I will be watched for two years by my surgeon with visits every three months.
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