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Update on my endometrial cancer diagnosis
Thank you to everyone who provided such lovely words of support in response to my original post (from the day I got the news).
Originally the plan was surgery in January. However I now have the MRI results and while my ovaries and lymph nodes still look okay, the gynaeoncologist said the tumour is big and visible enough that she doesn't want to take the chance of delaying till after Christmas. So I'm booked in for the hysterectomy in just over 2 weeks. My first instinct was "nooooo, I'm not ready!" But now I want to get it done.
I'll be staying with my parents once I'm out of hospital, probably until my post-op check up - I can't do any lifting over 4 kg - not even shopping bags - or exercise beyond gentle walking for 6 weeks, though I could be okay to drive by the end of the third week, according to the post-op care information from the specialist. It will be a very odd Christmas and New Year (I will miss my cats, but they'll be staying at a cattery where they will be doted upon and spoilt rotten, so they love it there) but all being well I'll be fine by mid to late January.
As I'm saying to every woman I know - any weird changes to your menstrual cycle, especially more pain and heavy bleeding (or bleeding after menopause), please get it checked - ask around for recommendations for a good female doctor in your community who understands women's reproductive health, if your normal GP just handwaves it away as "it's normal for your age, take a Panadol and lose some weight blah blah blah". My natural instinct is "ignore it and it will go away" and I'm so glad I didn't do that this time.
Oh, and I finally replaced my 20 year old double mattress that had been driving me bonkers for ages; I decided to get the new one sorted beforehand while I can still lift things. I managed to get the old one outside for collection and recycling AND set up the new one (I got one of those which come in a box and then expand) by myself! I was very proud of myself because I thought it would be a two person job.
I will be keeping you in my thoughts. Such an operation can be very intimidating and I admire your strength and bravery. All of my aunts on my adoptive mother’s side have had to have early hysterectomies due to endometrial and cervical cancer running in the family. Please give us an update after your surgery once you’re feeling up to it, and get some great rest over the holidays.
I'm so glad the docs are on your case and you are getting the treatment you need. Sorry that cancer is total bullshit and I hope you feel better very soon
Thanks for the reminder to take prompt action on such symptoms.
I recognize your courage.
I wish you deep peace as you navigate through this passage.
Wow! That's big news. I'm sure you're really worried but I seriously admire your bravery right now! At least you'll have a great excuse to relax for the holidays, and a new Mattress to lay around on :)
Glad you had access to good medical services, they caught it, and they can help you.
I'd be scared, but it's what has to be done. Be brave!!! Wishing you every good thing here!
Good luck with your surgery! I understand wanting to get it done even though it’s sooner than expected. It sounds like you have good doctors who will take care of you. Wishing you a speedy recovery<3
I wish you and easy surgery and a quick recovery and good health, of course.
Wishing you the best with your surgery and recovery! It's scary, but it might be for the best that it's happening so soon without much chance to dwell on the decision. Anticipating procedures is often worse on your emotions than the procedure itself!
All your planning ahead will pay off! I had abdominal surgery a few years ago, and we set up a lovely little downstairs living space for my recovery. Stairs were very hard the first week or so. Bending over or reaching up is hard, so if you don't always have a helper around, try to get everything you need for recovery (pill bottles, etc.) placed at waist level. You'll thank yourself later for that!
Push yourself to start walking around as soon as the doc says you should... even if it hurts a bit, it'll really help speed up the recovery. And if you have a cane laying around, that might come in handy while your abdominal region is still sore. I used a cane to get up from chairs, get out of bed, and get out of the car during my recovery.
Finally, this may be TMI, but get ready for difficult poops for a week or two. You'll be told not to strain because of the abdominal surgery, but then the pain meds are stopping you up! If you can, try to stop the pain medication when you think it's suitable and switch to ibuprofen. Get some stool softener if it's still being an issue. Nobody likes to talk about this part of abdominal surgery, but it's something almost everyone has to deal with.
Again, wishing you the best, you can do it! 🙂
Thank you! That's all really helpful.
Yes, the info sheet from the specialist warned me "it may be uncomfortable to use your bowels" and that I might need something to soften things up! I'll get some beforehand to be safe. I bought a walking stick while travelling a couple of years ago so will get that out too.
The plan is for laparoscopic surgery, which will have a faster recovery time (though it's still a 6 week ban on heavy lifting or high impact exercise either way), but my gynaeoncologist said she might have to do an abdominal incision - she won't know till she gets me into the operating theatre.
Many thanks again to you all for your words of support!
I think I feel okay about this now though I have had moments of fear and grief. Mostly it feels surreal, as if it's happening to someone else. When people ask me if I'm okay, it's both truthful and false to say yes - physically, I feel fine most of the time, though medically I definitely am not. I caught up with a friend from work in person recently who was very concerned that I might be in pain: I told her, "that's the strange thing - I actually feel really good. It doesn't feel like something serious is wrong." So getting my head around the idea that I need this operation took a few days (though I never considered declining the procedure), but I recognise that if I did nothing, in 12 months time I would most likely be in trouble.
Not looking forward to the recovery period but if everything goes according to plan and my oncologist is right about it being localised, I might not even need chemo afterwards. The Cancer Council here has a peer support program where they can put you in touch with a volunteer who had the same diagnosis and treatment but is two years further on in recovery. I just had a good chat with a lovely woman who went through the same thing and I felt reassured afterwards.
Glad to hear you’re getting the operation ASAP (not glad for why it had to be brought forward, obviously). All the vibes for your health, for the new mattress being comfortable (getting a new mattress is a pain) and the cats not snubbing you when they come home.