Hi all, my other post details how I was diagnosed so I'll not repeat it here.  I have Grade 1a endo cancer and am scheduled for a hysterectomy next Friday 25th.  They are taking my remaining ovary, uterus and cervix.  The MRI showed "minimal invasion of the uterus wall" and the lymph nodes also looked OK.  Chest X-ray was clear.  However last Friday they called me and said that the biopsy showed the hyperplasia (which I knew was there), some Stage 1a cells, but some "indeterminate cells" and as a result of that they said they would want to "remove some lymph nodes and test them".

I've since digested this and read up on it and I don't know how many nodes they want to remove but I'm concerned about the chance of lymphoedema.  I am a very active person and from what I've read, lymphoedema in the lower legs can be horriffic and last for the rest of my life.

If the MRI showed minimal invasion of the uterine wall and no abnormalities outside the uterus why are they worried that my lymph nodes may be affected enough to want to remove some?  Can they not do lymph node mapping instead?  Or is there an option for some chemo after the hysto to give the body a "flush out"?  If I had to choose I'd opt for the chemo than node removal.

If they are only removing a couple of the sentinel lymph nodes will I NOT be at risk of lymphoedema?  Does that just affect people who have had all their pelvic nodes removed?

I'm waiting for the surgical nurse to call me back so I can ask her about it.