1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hysterectomy

Review or follow up after TAH due to endomentrial cancer

Posted , 3 users are following.

sue08648
sue08648

Hi members, I had TAH due to endomentrial cancer stage 1A recently. My insurance provider will only cover 60 days post operation.

I will be on self paid for the rest of my 5 years cancer review. I know that my review frequencies shall be once every 3 mths for the 1st 2 years, once every 6 months for the following 2 years and subsequently once every year.

To members out there with similar case like me, hope you could share what test or what Doctor will perform during these review appointments? Will Doctor be performing pelvic exam (to ruled out cervical cancer), ultrasound, blood test (to check hormone level) or any other test? This could really help me to budget what will the cost I will need to spend on...

I was not given any medication after hyterectomy but doctor advised to cut down on red meat and consume more vegetables and fruits. Yet to see weight gain but kind of being scared off as I read most women put on weight after hysterectomy. Any suggestions from members to keep our weight in control.

Appreciate any replies from members with thanks 😍

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • susan39623
    susan39623 sue08648

    Posted

    Hi sue , im 63 and had same op as you for the same reason last June, I was 1b so had to have 3 radium treatments as a precaution. I have had 2 follow up appointments since and all they do is give you an internal examination, that is why they like you to use the dialators because it makes it more comfortable for you. The dr will ask you how you are feeling and other than that, that's it, no blood tests .If you have had a TAH you will have had your cervix removed so you dont have to have smear tests done and no cervical cancer. In total when I got in the dr room I was in about 25 mins , hope this helps.
    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite susan39623

      Posted

      OK call me ignorant, what the heck is a dilator?  I haven't  been asked to use one.
    • sue08648
      sue08648 susan39623

      Posted

      Hi Susan, many thanks for your informative reply. Appreciate it 👍. Like phoebe, I am also curious about dilator. Why dilator?

      Internal examination sound okay. I think my doctor will run ultrasound as well since I kept both ovaries. I may need to go for colonoscopy as well due to family history and my current position. I did not have radium treatment and maybe this is why my follow up is every 3 months.

      By the way Susan, how is weight management for you?

      Many thanks for your reply.😊

    • sue08648
      sue08648 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi, according my onco, stage 1A is early stage with minimal invasion of cancer or tumor still small in size (mine is just 3cm x 0.9cm). Norm, no radiation required but there is small percentage minute cancer cell they may not detect with hysterectomy biopsy. With this, he commented he need to review cancer case patients every 3 months for the 1st 2 years. Hope he is not trying to make money out of this😟....
    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite sue08648

      Posted

      Again I think that different consultants have different ideas, I have a 1st class consultant, he told me I didn't have to go for these check ups but that he liked to support ladies through the 3 years after hysterectomy, if they are worried about anything etc, his secretary is an absolute star as well,(I think she is married to him) I can phone her and ask questions and she relays them to him then she will email back, I can't fault any of the treatment I have had, I don't feel I need to go for these check ups myself but I do go, it keeps family happy as well.
  • phoebewhite
    phoebewhite sue08648

    Posted

    Hi Sue, I was a grade 1A, I have to see my consultant once every 6 months for 3 years, apparently if anything is going to spread it will do it in these 3 years, I am at 15 months post op and all that happens is you have an internal exam, my consultant also palpates where my liver is as this is the likely place it will spread if it is going to, and that is all that happens, I am in there 10 minutes or less, I am vegetarian but still managed to put on a stone in weight, I'm still trying to lose it, hopefully before my next appointment in August.

    Phoebe

    • sue08648
      sue08648 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi phoebe, yes.. My doctor also mentioned that the likelihood of cancer spread is areas nearby --- liver, bladder, colon, ovaries, breast... Hem, guess I have to live with these fear for 20 or 30 years. Been cutting down on food intake --- less sugar, fried stuffs, meat, processed food and etc. waiting now to bounce back on exercise. Concern on hormone imbalance that causes weight gain. Hormone imbalance was also the culprit that causes atypical hyperplasia that progress to cancer in my case...
    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite sue08648

      Posted

      Try not to worry Sue, I just carry on with my life the way I always have, yes I have always had a bit of a weight problem so am trying to get on top of that, my surgeon said that fat cells do form cancer cells something to do with oestrogen, he explained in detail but that's the long and the short of it and my being overweight didn't help me, I also had uterine polyps which were ignored (by me) for 15 years!! yes I know I'm silly but when you are working long hours etc etc I just let it slide, I was very very lucky the cancer hadn't progressed further than it had, I had one thing in my favour, my surgeon asked me if I had been on HRT and when I said no he said Good! as the extra oestrogen would not have helped at all. I had sailed through the menopause, no hot flushes or anything so hadn't needed HRT.
    • sue08648
      sue08648 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi phoebe, hope you are doing fine. How is the progress of your weight management? Managed to get rid of weight you trying to get rid off?

      I am on my 4th month post op and is due for my 1st 3-months review next month. I am worry about the internal examination you mentioned earlier in your reply. I normally will be tensed-up the moment I see a speculum at gynae office. Sorry to ask you such a personal question but does the internal examination require a speculum insertion or just a normal test of spatula insertion to feel the internal part?

    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite sue08648

      Posted

      Hi Sue, nice to hear from you, hope that you are doing well also? Ask whatever you want to ask, I don't mind, my personal experience is that no speculum is used it's just his finger (oh don't we chat about the nicest things? LOL) he also examined where my liver is situated to make certain it feels normal and that was that I was out in less than 10 minutes, I will have my nest appt in January, can't believe I am 18 months post op it's gone by so fast.

      Phoebe x

    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite

      Posted

      PS. Weight still a bit of a problem sad
    • sue08648
      sue08648 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi phoebe, thanks for your replies. Appreciate it. If I remember correctly, you are vegetarian right? Try cut off processed food (i.e. French fries, microwave meals, chips), sugary stuffs ( cakes, ice cream, coke, soda, biscuits ), limit cabo intake, cut off coffee --- I think this will help to control our weight and perhaps reducing a few pounds. Green tea, plain water, exercise, lots of fruits and vegetables are the recommendations from Doctor. I am also struggling to lose another 3 pounds to reach my ideal weight and I am sure my oncologist will highlight again during review😞
    • susan39623
      susan39623 phoebewhite

      Posted

      Hi Phoebe. Tell me about it . Its 12 mths this month for me, I go back every 4 mths to see oncologist, everything aok but due to me having diabetes and the fact that I got so many infections last year about 6 in total it has sent my sugar levels skyhigh and have put about a stone on and cant shift it. Waiting to be refered to a diabetic specialist in refrence to me having insulin injections not very happy about it but at least it will bring my weight down
    • phoebewhite
      phoebewhite sue08648

      Posted

      Yes I am vegetarian so eat lots veggies and fruit, cheese is my weakness

      So will have to really cut down on that, am doing more exercises in the way

      Of an exercise video treadmill and exercise bike, have lost a few pounds

      So that's a start.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.