Endometrial cancer - what were your symptoms?

Hi, I'm 36 and have been having problems for years. I've had 2 uterine scrapes and an ablation all within the past 3 years, for multiple cyst and non cancerous tumor removals. My cycles have only gotten worse, when promised these procedures would better them, if not stop them all together. Now I'm experiencing mild to heavy bleeding in between my cycles, along with pain in my ovaries, fatigue and cramping. I've begged for a hysterectomy time and time again and my drs all say I'm too young blah blah. Well I know my uterus can not withstand anymore surgeries. I work a very busy schedule so that doesn't help matters any and also with the vaginal pain I can no longer wear tampons. My insurance thru my job doesn't start til Jan 2018 so I'm getting worried that there's something really wrong and that we won't catch it on time. If anyone has any input I'd love to hear it plz. Tyvm ?

My journey with Endometrial or Uterine Cancer started last year October 2016 at 41 years old.

MY SYMPTOMS:

I noticed the changes in my menstrual cycle probably 2 years ago or so. The symptoms were prolonged and heavy bleeding for 3 weeks I only had 1 week off to rest and my menstruation or bleeding starts again. Light hot flashing at night or even during day time, and my period will start and end with watery, pinkish discharge.... none of which made me think anything was wrong. Though I recall too that I always experience menstrual cramp or dysmenorrhea.  I never consulted a doctor, I thought it was just normal to have cramps.

April 2016 – I had my annual check-up and I mentioned to my doctor that I have unusual bleeding.  She recommended that I need to get a “Transvaginal Ultrasound” which I delayed until October (yes, I know my bad).

September 2016 – My bleeding worsens

October 05 2016 – I had Transvaginal Ultrasound

October 06 2016 – I had a call from my provider and I was advised to see a Gynecologist A.S.A.P.  The nurse said that they saw abnormalities from the Ultrasound.

October 11 2016 -  I had Gynecology visit and took a biopsy sample.  Gynecologist told my she don’t like what she see from the sample taken.

October 14 2016 – I received a call and was told that I have Endometrial Cancer – Grade 3 ( it means my cancer is very aggressive) and again I was advised to see an Oncologist A.S.A.P.

October 21 2016 – I met my Oncologist and he explains everything I need to know and after the visit I had CT Scan (to check if the cancer has not metastasize).  After 2 hours I received a call from my Oncologist and told me the good news that the result was negative, and I can proceed to my surgery.

October 28 2016 -  I had “Hysterectomy – Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy” by Laparoscopic Surgery.  I stayed overnight and was discharged the next day.

RECOVERY was great.  I was given all meds for pain - I avoided taking Hydrocodone regularly instead I take Tylenol in between because Hydrocodone makes you Constipated and after the surgery you don’t want to get terrible constipation.  (NOTE: I took Magnesium Citrate a day before the surgery to clean my gut.  A friend of mine who had Hysterectomy told me it is better to have a clean gut before surgery) and it really helps.   Also, I was given a stool softener, Senna-Lax and Osmotic Laxative which never worked for me, I took Prune juice and I did the great for me.  As we all know it is very important to pass “GAS” and “Poop” after the surgery.  Sorry it’s TMI but I have to share it =).  It also help that you drink a lot of water, yes I’m an advocate of hydrating yourself.

I am so thankful my recovery went well…within 2 weeks I don’t need any pain meds anymore.

November 05, 2016 -  the dreaded news that everyone don’t want to hear….. the cancer stage.

 I was diagnosed with FIGO stage (pT3a N1 and IIIC1) – Endometroid Carcinoma

December 20, 2016 – I started my 1st Chemotherapy treatment. The unimaginable pain started on the 3rd day after treatment.  It was the most painful experience I ever had.  My whole body is in pain, joints were aching.  It lasted for 2 days.  During those days I couldn’t eat.  I tried my best to at least eat a piece of toast with butter, made some smoothies with chocolate drink (I mixed different berries or fruits).  Probably after 6 or 7th day, I’m back to normal appetite.  Oh boy I am soooo hungry.  I wake up in the middle of the night and eat!!!! My hair starts to fall on 2nd week.  I read that it’s better to get rid of hair or entirely shave it. And I DID!  Never regret it.  I wear bald, NO WIG!  Yes I am proud to be bald 😊. (NOTE: I drink prune juice too before and after treatment because chemo drugs make you constipated too).

1st treatment – body pain and joint aching 100%

2nd treatment - body pain and joint aching 75%

3rd treatment - body pain and joint aching 40%

4th treatment - body pain and joint aching – NONE 😊

 My treatment was every 3 weeks. My blood platelets started to go down on my 3rd treatment.  My 4th treatment was delayed for a week so as my 5th and 6th.

My last treatment ended up on April 2017.  My doctor asks me if I want blood transfusion because my blood platelets was so low.  I said I still feel fine and If I needed it I will tell him.

I recovered well with my Chemotherapy treatment.  I never limit my diet.  I eat anything I wanted to give my body enough strength to go through the treatment.  BTW my hair never stops growing throughout the treatment, but I need to shave it everyday otherwise it will fall off then grow again.  So, I decided to start growing my hair on June 2017.

June 2017 – I had 28 rounds of Radiation treatment.  Side effect was diarrhea.

3 weeks after the last treatment, I’m back to my normal like with minimal side effects like my joints are weak and occasional diarrhea (it depends what I eat -  so I avoided foods that triggers diarrhea).

September 2017 – My CT Scan and CA125(blood test) came out clean. Glory to God!

 

I feel fantastic as I write my experience today (November 28, 2017).  My journey was never easy but my positive attitude and faith in God is the reason I’m alive. 

If you are diagnosed of any cancer.  Don’t panic or be afraid.  Surround yourself with great friends and family.  Educated yourself through the internet, not to make you feel worst but read some uplifting stories. 

 

Life is great.  Everything happens for a reason.  There’s always great purpose.

 

Good Morning,

I am 51 years old.  I had extremely heavy periods so decided to have the uternine ablation/DNC.  Before they would perform procedure I had to have a biopsy of my uterus to make sure I got the "all clear", meaning no cancer or anything.  I had the biopsy done in September and it came back perfect so I was scheduled to have the ablation in November.  I never made my 4 week post op visit because I felt great and quite honestly, I didn't want to have to miss any more time out of work.  Fast forward to last week, my daughter was having some "lady Issues' so I booked her an appt.  with my GYN.   When we finished up her appt. my GYN asked why I hadn't booked my follow up and I told her because I had felt fine.  She said, well, since you're here, lets do it now.  She brought me in the room, asked how I had been feeling, etc. etc. She proceeded to tell me that when they removed the lining of my uterus and sent it to pathology (standard procedure) it came back as LGESS (Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma) which she said was precancerous.  The issue now is, I have no more lining so there is no way to go back and periodically take a biopsy to see if this has progressed, etc.  I currently sit here waiting for a call from the Oncologist I am being referred to so I can have further testing done as well as see what the next steps are.  I am a complete wreck and cannot stop looking on the internet at all of the scary information out there.  (luckily I did surf the internet otherwise I wouldn't have found this helpful discussion!) I know at this very moment I will at the very least have to have a hysterectomy.  The question all of my family has is, why hadn't the doctors office called as soon as they received the results from Pathology, rather than waiting for me to book a follow up?  Who knows.  What I do know is I have a lot of questions and uncertainty ahead of me.  Thank you for letting me babble and vent and hopefully I will be back with an update as to what happens next!

I am 27 years old i have had numerous cysts and I have 2 periods a month one will last a week the other a few days the Dr won't do any more tests bc I'm so young it's unlikely how can I get my Dr to do test

I’m post menopause, early 50’s.  I have spotting, brown discharge, pressure, etc.  I will be going for ultrasound this week.  I have looked at many sites, but no one seems to have the answer to my question.  One of the symptoms I have is it feels like I am on my period with bloating that lasts for 4 days, once a month for the last 3 months, the same time I would have normally had my period.  Every 28 days.  I knew I was going to have period like symptoms at Christmas, even told my gyn.  Sure enough that’s what happened.  If you have experienced this, can you let me know.  I’m curious whether you were diagnosed with endometrial cancer or something else.

Thanks for your information, I am 57 and stopped my menses at 49!  My purpose for joining this site is to gain more awareness, on Endometrial Cancer.  I am going in on Monday for a d/c endo biopsy. Spotting blood from uterus and bladder, for over 3 months now. Crampy feeling. Lots of dull aching in my abdomen on both sides a distended feeling of abdomen pain in low back.

I started menopause in my 40’s, never had children. At 49 I hadn’t had a period in 15 months. I started have pain in my right lower pelvic region. Doc sent me for an external ultrasound . They couldn’t find anything , my uterus lining was very thin, ovaries had shrunk. So it was left as all fine. The day after that scan, I started bleeding, it was like my normal periods used to be, lasted 6 days. I did see doc, but because I was u def 50, she said it wasn’t I’d gone through menopause until after the age of 50 . She said to go back though if I bled again.. well I didn’t, and 17 months passed, and then I started bleeding again last week, nothing much in first few days, but got heavier..went to docs, and have hosp app next week. I’m wondering if my lining was thin, which I was told was a good thing, can much have changed in 17 months since my last scan? Not sure what tests I’m having until I get there, not looking forward to it though. I’m 51 now.

The vague symptoms that are listed everywhere when you Google endometrial cancer symptoms. 50 years old and peri menopausal for 2 years. I had spotting pinkish to light tan, bloating, back pain and pain with intercourse. But I had a gut feeling something wasn't right so I went ahead and scheduled my Well Woman 7 months early because guidelines say you only need them every 3 years. Back pain? I've been a nurse for 27 years and have had back pain forever. Bloating, everything I eat seems to cause me to bloat and pain with intercourse, if you read about menopause everything says prepare for a atrophying vagina. But my GYN was concerned and scheduled the endometrial biopsy for the following week. Both results came back on the same day. Pap showed atypical cells and the endometrial biopsy showed cancer. That was on the 31st of Jan and I meet with the GYN/Oncologist this week for the treatment plan. Let's see how all this goes. But I do appreciate everyone's openers, I have been reading some of the posts. I have wondered about the recoup time for the hysterectomy.

Hi everyone. I am 52 and have been experiencing extreme heavy bleeding and pelvic pain for about 2 months. Went to gyn/er for low blood pressure and tests. Lining was thickening due to bleeding but really could not see to much. was put on birth control pills to regulate my bleeding. Now doubling up on pills because bleeding is getting worse.  Is this normal. I have never experienced this before. I realize I am peri menopausal too. But should it be a reason for concern since I am on birth control?

I am waiting for my transvaginal ultrasound on March 1st.  For the past couple of years I have been experiencing extremely heavy periods. I can barely make it through one hour of teaching before I have to use the restroom. I told my doctor about it and she scheduled me for the test this coming week. Just so you know I am a breast cancer survivor. I had a bilateral mastectomy in Nov of 2016. (Non-invasive). Nodes clear.

I’m 44, premenopausal and My symptoms are heavy bleeding (but regular), lower back pain and fatigue. I have also been experiencing swelling in my face...  which may or may not have anything to do with my other symptoms.

Has anyone had breast cancer and then diagnosed with endometrial cancer afterwords?  What are the chances I could be hit with two separate cancers within the space of two years? 

I was told by my going she didn't think I had endometrial cancer and she sent me to a eurogynecologidt. My symptoms were one period like bleeding followed by yellowish discharge. Then I had one more slight bleeding. I am 72. I had no pain of bleeding. I was sent for an ultrasound which came out abnormal with a 18 m thickening and infiltrative possibly invasive lesion in the myometrium. I am now waiting for the results of my biopsy and am very frightened. Has anyone had a similar experience of know about the lesion? Can ultrasound tell if the lesion is cancer?