hi

Niki26 , Daphne1 & all who are reading :-

i am 47 , previous history of numerous health conditions such as CFS / ME / PCOS/  OVERWEIGHT, always had irregular periods, but did not have one ofr over 4 months :-

Had smelly discharge for over 6 months, just though was stress as one parent was seriously ill, had worsening pain in my anus which over a couple of weeks got unmanageable, tried IBS meds with no reduxction of symptoms.  You know your`e own body better than anyone!

i had a ultrasound which showed a polyp and some thickening of the lining of the uterus,

was referred within the two-week time scale, had a hysteroscopy where they could not remove the polyp becos it was too big, uterus lining was thickened and they took a biopsy - just uncomfortable / crampy pain for a couple of minutes whilst sample was taken.

I received a call from the GYNA team on a firday  to go for my results  on the monday ,which was less than two weeks & was fitted in, so i knew it did not sound good, told i had ENDOMETRIAL / WOMB CANCER,

Had key-hole hysterectomy 4 weeks later, was in hosp just overnight, managed on paracetamol as pain relief for one week, was just uncomfortable, not agonising at all.  Whole team were great with me.  I have only 4 very small scars to show for after the surgery

4months down the line i have a few menopausal issues, no pain have had a recent discharge infection which was treaed with antibiotics.  I had great support from the GYNAE TEAM, from the consultant, nursing team, Macmillan specialist nurse.

My womb cancer / endo cancer was caught very early and was lowest grade, surgery was the ONLY treatment i needed.

Your symptoms may be minor, or even non-GYNAE, but youv`e done the right thing by going to your GP, i kept saying to mine that the symptoms were different to what i usually had, it`s not IBS, i was in pain, etc, you know what`s right for your body and what feels different.

hope this helps

take care

Hi Snoopy47 and hello to all in this thread

I am on this pathway too having been recently diagnosed at the end of August. I too had thickened womb lining of 16mm and which led to a diagnosis of stage 1a endometrial cancer. It was a huge shock at the time and at the age of 54 had put my symptoms down to menopause. 

I have had my preop and am now booked in for sugery just inside the target date of 31 days since diagnosis.

snoopy47 - I have a similar history to you and good to hear your experience to date and gives me some comfort for my op which is planned to be open surgery with a total hysterectomy so expect my recovery time to be a bit longer :(

I know this is a forum that we all would rather not be contributing to but it is good to find somewhere that others have had relatable experiences to mine.

As earlier posted I reiterate listen to your own body and don’t dismiss anything unusual for you. I had seen my GP 8 months before diagnosis with my symptoms and was met with a dismissive response and only because I had to go to OOH with pelvic pain that I was encouraged to go back to my GP and insist on further investigation.

Best wishes to you all

Hi everyone

Thank you Snoopy and Tinkabelle.

I have been going to the GP since last year and each time my symtoms were dismissed as menopausal.. I agree please listen to you bodies. 

Well today was the day of my hysteroscopy. I am still in pain and bleeding. Biopsy was taken and she also found a polyp.  Unfortunately she couldnt remove the polyp today as she did not have the equipment.  Si being fast tracked for removal of the polyp within 2 weeks.  Consultant said i would need a GA or spinal anesthetic for the procedure.

The waiting continues, endometrial biopsy done today and then will need to wait for the polyp biopsy.  This is the most angonising bit of the journey.

I am so grateful for these forums. I am seen as the solid supportive person who is always there for everyone else. I am always picking up and supporting others, i cannot break down and talk to them. They all have so much on their plate. :-(

I wish everyone best of luck  on this difficult  journey xx

Hi Niki26

I agree the waiting is the worst part along with the feeling that you’ve somehow missed the point or not being told everything? (In my experience anyway, but then that’s me!) I too am the stalwart of the family and my stance was that whatever the outcome I had to be positive for them. I took some time for me - I work fulltime in quite a high pressured job and am the main breadwinner (just for added pressure :confused: ) so have started to exercise more and eat more healthily so I could get through this. Though at the time I didn’t have anyone else to talk to I felt that to get through this I had to be strong mentally and physically. So be kind to yourself, have a plan and you will get through this and don’t forget that you have a strong team that are working for you in the NHS and that they deal with this every day. 

All the best for good results :) 

After the nurse found a polyp 2 months ago I ended up on the 2 week pathway, where they also found cysts etc.  I never had the GA hysteroscopy and polypectomy I was due to have in the end, the recommendation changed to a full hysterectomy which may well  be by open.  Then I get the biopsy results and take it from there.  I am terrified of having a major op but the last 2 months has been so slow and stressful, and I still don't know if I actually have a malignancy or not, I am hoping it will reduce risk of going through this again as I'm 50 and if they do the ovary removal which was originally the plan, and then find endometrial biopsy not clear I will have to go through it all again!

Hi Snoopy47

I have some of the symptoms you described in your post particularly PCOS, being overweight together with the rectum pain, so am interested if your hysterectomy improved any of these. 

I appreciate it if this is too public arena but would be genuinely interested and if you would rather reply privately that would be good.

 Thanks x

Hi everyone

Thankyou for everyone's feedback

What a whirlwind of emotions. So i have a date for my polpectomym its this Friday 18th of october whch is 2 weeks from the date i had my hyteroscopy.   I phomed up today if they had the result of biopsy, only to be told that that the sample they took during the hysteroscopy was inadequate and now they will take another sample when they remove the poly and put in the mirena. What i cannot understand is that they are adamant that i have all this done under GA. I dont want a GA.  Can they force me to go under GA? I had a polyp removed 5 years ago and i didnt have anything. She said well things have changed since then and we now do them under GA  i have my pre op assesment on wednesday and i will air my views of not wanting a GA.

Waiting game continues!!!!!

Thanks daisy. 

How long were you under GA? Did you get to go home the same day. Yes i do understand they may have their reasons but its good to be informed why they are doing things the way they want to  i have so much fear of GA, my mother had difficulty coming round from a small endoscopy procedure when the consultant gave her a GA. So i have my personal reservations against a GA.

I hope you are feeling better after your procedure. I guess we have to wait around 2 weeks for the biopsy results.

Good luckxx

Hi ladies I'd already posted in general before I found this thread

I had scan on Fri afternoon, told I needed a gynaecology referral, was rung by gp as I arrived home asking me to go in on Monday

Went in today to be told they think I have endometrial cancer and am on a 2wk urgent referral for tests. I'm shocked, numb, and I've convinced myself they're wrong and it will all be ok

Reading your experiences has really helped me, I just wondered if the procedures were painful