Cervical Cancer-Hysterectomy

I’m not newly diagnosed in the sense that my first diagnosis of stage 2b cervical cancer happened last year. I was successfully treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and my scan 3 months after the end of treatment showed no evidence of disease. 

I attend 3 monthly check ups, and in October this year my consultant identified an area of concern he wasn’t sure about. I had an mri scan, petscan and biopsy under general anaesthetic and yesterday received the news that there is a small piece of residual tumour which is growing again. This is my “new” diagnosis, hence posting in this section. I cannot have more radiotherapy, but my consultant is prepared to operate now, whereas this was not possible when I was first diagnosed.

So...I am scheduled to have a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral saplingo oophorectomy on 7th January where they will remove my uterus, cervix, ovaries and Fallopian tubes. 

I wondered if anyone else has had this surgery following pelvic radiotherapy? It’s not too common and does carry a higher risk than a similar operation carried out on a woman who hasn’t undergone radiotherapy. I’m happy to accept that risk in an effort to be rid of this, but I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who has had this operation. I’m expected to be in hospital for about 3 nights afterwards I understand. 

 

 

  • Hello Minska ... that's great news, really pleased for you as you had major surgery, but looks like it's ended well.  Let's hope this is it for you treatment wise.  I had the follow up MRI in March just before they shut all the hospitals (they tried cancelling me but I said no !), and the report said my body had responded very well to treatment (can't really see how the tumour could have survived what they threw at it quite honestly) .... so it was classified an "excellent" result.  I've got a follow up in July, hopefully that will be at hospital, rather than a telephone call.  You were lucky you had your op before everything shut, and i'm very grateful my treatment finished in Jan.  This enforced rest has also come at a good time for me, as I never took any time off work during treatment and was starting to feel fatigued in March, but I imagine for others, who've had their treatment stopped midway or never started, it must be quite traumatic.  Really pleased for you.  Best wishes, Diane   

  • Hi Diane, thank you. Sounds like you’ve had a great response to treatment-I can’t believe you worked all through, I know I couldn’t have done that! I was lucky to get into hospital when I did-just got discharged and home the evening lockdown was announced so I was lucky. 

    Hopefully by the time your follow up appointment arrives things will be more normal and it will be at the hospital. For now, my consultant just checks up on me by phone. 

    Enjoy your time to recover from all your treatment and get strong again and all the best for your next check up..sounds like you are doing well, so hopefully all will be fine. All the best. x

  • HI there Minska!

    Saw your name and thought I'd see how you are, really glad to hear that your surgery went well and you're feeling good...and quite right too!

    Am in a very similar position in that all good here, just finished the end of my short term treatments with last rads on Friday so in recovery mode now, having a months down time to recharge batteries (and clean house! Parts not touched since surgery in Feb!).

    Pity the other nonsense disease has put paid for now to any travel plans for you but am sure you've already planned your next trip for when you can...

    Sam

  • Hello stranger! 

    Feeling good until yesterday when I had a day of vomiting...I think due to having too much rich food at the weekend. I still need to learn how much I can eat and what and it seems that cheese regrettably does not agree with me! Taking it easy today. 

    Glad to hear you’re doing well and have some time to recharge after treatment. Rads exhausted me! 

    Should have been in Majorca this week but obviously that didn’t happen-4th holiday we’ve lost now. Hopefully we can travel again next year and get back to Bali but will wait till the last minute to book anything. 

    Good to hear from you Sam, and hope you go from strength to strength! x

  • Hi there Minska...

    Was just wondering how your doing ???   We've crossed paths every so often, in a good way ... and think a lot of you .. my vertual buddy ... and just looked back on your posts to find out how your doing, and seen this thread of yours, saying your having to go through this surgery,  bless ya ..

    Life's been weird lately, and the world's gone mad in ways no one saw comming ... well I'd love to know how you are now ... and fingers , well everything is crossed for ya ... so if you get this, I'd love to chat on how your doing ...  sending a big vertual hug as always.... Chrissie x 

  • Hello Chrissie

    How nice of you to pop in and check up on me! I’ve had a bit of a rough time recently in my recovery but seem to be much better today. A pelvic exenteration is such major life changing surgery that it takes a year they say to recover fully so I should expect that it’s not all plain sailing! I’m glad to be feeling good again today.

    i get tired easily but I can do a lot of things I used to around the house now.. except hoovering, but that’s no loss! I had such a brilliant team of surgeons...I’m so lucky to have had such fabulous care. They saved my life, no doubt about it. I’ve had no post op complications and I think that’s due to the care I had. 

    It’s been weird being in this lockdown and shielding..I was discharged on the day lockdown was announced, then told to shield...I haven’t even been able to see my daughters. But my consultant phoned to check on me today and she thinks it’s safe enough for me now to stop shielding and be able to meet people. So pleased about that. I will be able see family at last. 

    So nice to hear from you and it’s made me smile that you checked up on me-very kind. Billygoat keeps a check on me and it’s lovely to have that contact with others. Sending big hugs back at you. xxx

  • Oh really lovely to hear from you .. yes you take it easy ... as that does take a while to settle , and doing to much to quickly can do a bit of damage, it has to settle nateraly, so you make the most of taking it easy...  wer tough as old boots  ; )) 

    My granddaughter is battling acute myeloid leukaemia at only 18 ... she's had chemo , radiotherapy,  and about 2 weeks ago a stem cell transplant... it's going good ( touch wood) and should be home tomoz .. but l havnt been able to see her or give her a hug due to her being on total lockdown... just her mum stayed with her ... but you know she's the bravest lass I know ... her smile is always there ... but then her mum, is a mum in a million... and she's got all of us holding her up ... 

    So hope you get to see your kids soon .. and you get lots of hugs ... and I'd love to keep in touch every so often, for a catch up ... so hunny, you stay safe and well .. sending you a vertual hug... Chrissie xx

  • Hello Minska,

    I know this post was a long time ago but I'm currently going through a few issues and I was just wondering what your symptoms were leading up to diagnosis? 
     

    thank you. 

  • Hello Mumscared24

    I actually replied to one of your other posts today when I saw you were worried about cervical cancer. 
     

    My symptoms wouldn't apply to you as I was post menopausal at diagnosis, so it really wouldn't be helpful to go through them. It's actually rarely helpful to compare symptoms when someone doesn't have a diagnosis as it can serve to increase their anxiety. Many gynaecological issues have straightforward explanations, which are usually not cancer.

    The symptoms you mentioned in your last post were not ones I experienced, so I wonder why you are concerned you might have cervical cancer? 

  • Thank you for getting back to me, my family has a long history of cancer and it's always been something I'm scared of ! I just get worried because I have two beautiful young children and don't want to leave them without a mother.

    I had 3 exams done last year where nothing was found and I've also had a lot of ultrasounds in the last year which the only thing that was found was ovarian cysts which did go away on there own luckily! I keep telling myself if it was cervical cancer at an advanced stage it would have been picked up on the examinations or ultrasounds but something keeps telling me that there is something not right