Mum - Endometrial cancer - similar experiences?

Hi

I am new to all this so apologies if I am rambling......

After going to the doctors as soon as she had an abnormal bleed in August last year, my mum was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in October. She was initially told it was stage 1 grade 3, and she would have a hysterctomy & then possibly chemo or radiotherapy.  2 weeks later she had a scan, went for her results 2 weeks after that and was told that it was Stage 3 & had spread to pelvic lymph nodes and the fatty apron that covers her organs (omentum?).  

Her treatment plan was chemo to attempt to shrink the cancer in order to make the operation easier.  She went ahead with that and after 3 sessions she had a scan so they could assess the effectiveness.  At her results appointment she was told that the chemo hadn't worked, the cancer had grown and they can't operate! Radiotherapy could be considered to control any symptoms and give her quality of life. As you can imagine we are all devastated that, what started out back in October as quite a straightforward treatment plan has in 4 months changed to there is nothing they can do for her really.  

I know everyones cancer is different, even if it the same type but I have read about people whose cancer had spread much further than Mum's and they've been successfully treated, and also about de-bulking or removal of the omentum, etc but nothing like this has been suggested.  I haven't attended any of her oncologist appointments as Mum & Dad wanted to go together.  She has a lot of questions she needs to ask now she has had time to process the message she was given.  I just wondered if anyone else has experienced anything similar? Did you go on to challenge the decision not to operate, did you request a second opinion, did you just go with what the doctors/consultants said and you feel that was for the best? 

I don't want to seem like I am clutching at straws and maybe I should have waited until Mum has had her questions answered before posting on here. I just feel so helpless at the moment, so wanted to do a bit of researching.  Thanks 

  • Hi [@DBird]‍ 

    Thanks for your response to my post. I appreciate you taking the time. Apologies I am only just replying now. 

    I fear I may have given the wrong impression via my post, I have no intention of fighting doctors decisions, I just wanted to ask if anyone has experienced anything similar.  I had said to Mum & Dad that the likelihood is that a second opinion will be the same as the first but it may just give them peace of mind.  I think it will be best for me to attend any further appointments with my Mum & Dad so I can ask questions and understand how things have changed so dramatically over the past few months and how things will progress from here. 

    You mention your cancer in the past tense, I do hope that means your treatment has been successful? I wish you all the best and thank you once again for taking the time to reply to me. 

     

     

     

  • Hope all goes well on Friday and I wish you all the luck for the future. Take care. x

  • Hello Jo

     

    Hope you well?

    hiw is your mum doing ? My mum is in a similar position to your mum and is receiving chemo.  Next scan is 28th of this month

     

    Look forward to hearing from you 

     

    lots of love xx ️ ️