Monday, January 2, 2017
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Tears
Everytime I see a baby or pregnant woman I want to cry because I feel like I will never be pregnant or have a child of my own. It feels like I'm getting stabbed in the gut every time :(
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Torture
I feel as though I'm being tortured. The same week that I find out that I have cancer two of my close friends found out they are pregnant. And as happy as I am for them, I'm just so sad for me. Everyone says they are there but I don't feel it. I feel like that's something they think they are required to say. But mostly I'm sad that I'm not the one who's pregnant. I want a child so badly. I want to experience it and I feel like I've been robbed. It's just how I'm feeling today
Friday, October 7, 2011
Endometrial Adenocarcinoma
On Monday, September 26th 2011 I went in to hear the results of the biopsy done on the tissue removed from a d&c I had done to remove polyps and excess uterine lining. My Doctor did not have the report from the Oncologist yet so she told me the worst case scenario. She told me my options would be 1) Hysterectomy (The standard treatment). 2) That I could freeze eggs then have a hysterectomy and then use a surrogate, or 3) I could do chemotherapy then try to get pregnant because I haven't had my own kids yet and I'm still young.
It's hard to even describe how you feel. I know the Doctor told me many things that day but all you hear is "cancer" over and over again in your head. All I've ever associated with cancer patients is death. Every single person I know that has had cancer has died from it. I know I didn't want to die yet. I have too much left to do. But I also knew I wanted to have my own kids and it seemed like I didn't have much of a chance of that.
So Doctor sent me on my way home until she received the "full report". I tried to hold in my emotions but as I scheduled my appointment for the following Thursday the tears just started to flow. I just sat in my car in the parking lot and cried. I didn't know what to do next. I didn't want to tell anyone at first mainly because I didn't know how to. I just cried. I finally decided that I should call my husband. I told him and he went through a bit of shock. I decided to drive myself home and we both cried for my entire car ride home. Once I got home I just went to the bed and my husband hugged me and we both just cried and cried. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life. I just heard two major devastating things in about 2 sentences 1) YOU HAVE CANCER 2) YOU WILL NEVER BE PREGNANT... or at least that's what I heard, not necessarily what the Dr. said
So what felt like an eternity and in reality was the matter of a few days I went back in to the Doctor. This time I heard much better news. She received the Oncologist report back and it had been caught very early and they think they removed everything during the d&c I had. But she wanted to do an MRI to be 100% sure. If the MRI showed no spread and that they got everything out she would put me on a non-standard treatment of birth control pills and a d&c every 3 months.
Luckily for me the MRI showed cancer free! yay! So I've started the bc and I have my next d&c scheduled. I'm praying that it won't come back. If they find it again in 3 months then I will have to do one of the alternatives mentioned before :( After a year of successful and cancer free biopsies we can try to get pregnant again. yay!!
So my goals are to
1) Start Jenny Craig - My first appointment is on Monday!
2) Work out EVERY DAY! at least a walk around the block
3) Cut out non-natural sugar from my diet. Sugar feeds cancer!
4) Stick to my medicine
I also decided to share my story with the world by telling all my facebook friends. I figured they'd all find out eventually and hopefully I could inspire someone else to get checked out and maybe it would save their life too.
Love & Peace - Peach Ribbon Pride!
It's hard to even describe how you feel. I know the Doctor told me many things that day but all you hear is "cancer" over and over again in your head. All I've ever associated with cancer patients is death. Every single person I know that has had cancer has died from it. I know I didn't want to die yet. I have too much left to do. But I also knew I wanted to have my own kids and it seemed like I didn't have much of a chance of that.
So Doctor sent me on my way home until she received the "full report". I tried to hold in my emotions but as I scheduled my appointment for the following Thursday the tears just started to flow. I just sat in my car in the parking lot and cried. I didn't know what to do next. I didn't want to tell anyone at first mainly because I didn't know how to. I just cried. I finally decided that I should call my husband. I told him and he went through a bit of shock. I decided to drive myself home and we both cried for my entire car ride home. Once I got home I just went to the bed and my husband hugged me and we both just cried and cried. I don't think I've ever cried so hard in my life. I just heard two major devastating things in about 2 sentences 1) YOU HAVE CANCER 2) YOU WILL NEVER BE PREGNANT... or at least that's what I heard, not necessarily what the Dr. said
So what felt like an eternity and in reality was the matter of a few days I went back in to the Doctor. This time I heard much better news. She received the Oncologist report back and it had been caught very early and they think they removed everything during the d&c I had. But she wanted to do an MRI to be 100% sure. If the MRI showed no spread and that they got everything out she would put me on a non-standard treatment of birth control pills and a d&c every 3 months.
Luckily for me the MRI showed cancer free! yay! So I've started the bc and I have my next d&c scheduled. I'm praying that it won't come back. If they find it again in 3 months then I will have to do one of the alternatives mentioned before :( After a year of successful and cancer free biopsies we can try to get pregnant again. yay!!
So my goals are to
1) Start Jenny Craig - My first appointment is on Monday!
2) Work out EVERY DAY! at least a walk around the block
3) Cut out non-natural sugar from my diet. Sugar feeds cancer!
4) Stick to my medicine
I also decided to share my story with the world by telling all my facebook friends. I figured they'd all find out eventually and hopefully I could inspire someone else to get checked out and maybe it would save their life too.
Love & Peace - Peach Ribbon Pride!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Today I was Diagnosed with Endometrial Adenocarcenoma aka Cancer :(
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002834/
Endometrial cancer
Endometrial adenocarcinoma; Uterine adenocarcinoma; Uterine cancer; Adenocarcinoma -endometrium; Adenocarcinoma - uterus; Cancer - uterine; Cancer - endometrial; Uterine corpus cancer
Last reviewed: February 21, 2010.
Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus (womb).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer. Although the exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, increased levels of estrogen appear to play a role. Estrogen helps stimulate the buildup of the lining of the uterus. Studies have shown that high levels of estrogen in animals result in excessive endometrial growth and cancer.
Most cases of endometrial cancer occur between the ages of 60 and 70 years, but a few cases may occur before age 40.
The following increase your risk of endometrial cancer:
Diabetes
Estrogen replacement therapy without the use of progesterone
History of endometrial polyps or other benign growths of the uterine lining
Infertility (inability to become pregnant)
Infrequent periods
Tamoxifen, a drug for breast cancer treatment
Never being pregnant
Obesity
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Starting menstruation at an early age (before age 12)
Starting menopause after age 50
Associated conditions include the following:
Colon or breast cancer
Gallbladder disease
High blood pressure
Polycystic ovarian disease
Symptoms
Abnormal uterine bleeding, abnormal menstrual periods
Bleeding between normal periods before menopause
Vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause
Extremely long, heavy, or frequent episodes of vaginal bleeding after age 40
Lower abdominal pain or pelvic cramping
Thin white or clear vaginal discharge after menopause
Signs and tests
A pelvic examination is frequently normal, especially in the early stages of disease. Changes in the size, shape, or feel of the uterus or surrounding structures may be seen when the disease is more advanced.
Tests that may be done include:
Endometrial aspiration or biopsy
Dilation and curettage (D and C)
Pap smear (may raise a suspicion for endometrial cancer, but does not diagnose it)
If cancer is found, other tests may be done to determine how widespread the cancer is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging.
Stages of endometrial cancer:
The cancer is only in the uterus.
The cancer is in the uterus and cervix.
The cancer has spread outside of the uterus but not beyond the true pelvis area. Cancer may involve the lymph nodes in the pelvis or near the aorta (the major artery in the abdomen).
The cancer has spread to the inner surface of the bowel, bladder, abdomen, or other organs.
Cancer is also described as Grade 1, 2, or 3. Grade 1 is the least aggressive, and grade 3 is the most aggressive.
Treatment
Treatment options involve surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
A hysterectomy may be performed in women with the early stage 1 disease. Removal of the tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) is also usually recommended.
Abdominal hysterectomy is recommended over vaginal hysterectomy. This type of hysterectomy allows the surgeon to look inside the abdominal area and remove tissue for a biopsy.
Surgery combined with radiation therapy is often used to treat women with stage 1 disease that has a high chance of returning, has spread to the lymph nodes, or is a grade 2 or 3. It is also used to treat women with stage 2 disease.
Chemotherapy may be considered in some cases, especially for those with stage 3 and 4 disease.
Support Groups
The stress of illness may be eased by joining a support group whose members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.
Expectations (prognosis)
Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed at an early stage. The 1-year survival rate is about 92%.
The 5-year survival rate for endometrial cancer that has not spread is 95%. If the cancer has spread to distant organs, the 5-year survival rate drops to 23%.
Complications
Complications may include anemia due to blood loss. A perforation (hole) of the uterus may occur during a D and C or endometrial biopsy.
There can also be complications from hysterectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding or any other symptoms of endometrial cancer. This is particularly important if you have any associated risk factors or if you have not had routine pelvic exams.
Any of the following symptoms should be reported immediately to the doctor:
Bleeding or spotting after intercourse or douching
Bleeding lasting longer than 7 days
Periods that occur every 21 days or more
Bleeding or spotting after 6 months or more of no bleeding at all
Prevention
All women should have regular pelvic exams beginning at the onset of sexual activity (or at the age of 21 if not sexually active) to help detect signs of infection of abnormal development. Women should have Pap smears beginning 3 years after becoming sexually active.
Women with any risk factors for endometrial cancer should be followed more closely by their doctors. Frequent pelvic examinations and screening tests such as a Pap smear and endometrial biopsy should be considered.
Women who are taking estrogen replacement therapy should have regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears.
References
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2009. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2009.
Park CK, Apte S, Acs G, Harris EER. Cancer of the endometrium. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKenna WG, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 92.
Lu K, Slomovitz BM. Neoplastic diseases of the uterus: Endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial carcinoma, sarcoma: Diagnosis and management. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 32.
Hernandez E, American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists. ACOG practice bulletin number 65: management of endometrial cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(4):952.
Review Date: 2/21/2010.
Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Endometrial cancer
Endometrial adenocarcinoma; Uterine adenocarcinoma; Uterine cancer; Adenocarcinoma -endometrium; Adenocarcinoma - uterus; Cancer - uterine; Cancer - endometrial; Uterine corpus cancer
Last reviewed: February 21, 2010.
Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus (womb).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer. Although the exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, increased levels of estrogen appear to play a role. Estrogen helps stimulate the buildup of the lining of the uterus. Studies have shown that high levels of estrogen in animals result in excessive endometrial growth and cancer.
Most cases of endometrial cancer occur between the ages of 60 and 70 years, but a few cases may occur before age 40.
The following increase your risk of endometrial cancer:
Diabetes
Estrogen replacement therapy without the use of progesterone
History of endometrial polyps or other benign growths of the uterine lining
Infertility (inability to become pregnant)
Infrequent periods
Tamoxifen, a drug for breast cancer treatment
Never being pregnant
Obesity
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Starting menstruation at an early age (before age 12)
Starting menopause after age 50
Associated conditions include the following:
Colon or breast cancer
Gallbladder disease
High blood pressure
Polycystic ovarian disease
Symptoms
Abnormal uterine bleeding, abnormal menstrual periods
Bleeding between normal periods before menopause
Vaginal bleeding or spotting after menopause
Extremely long, heavy, or frequent episodes of vaginal bleeding after age 40
Lower abdominal pain or pelvic cramping
Thin white or clear vaginal discharge after menopause
Signs and tests
A pelvic examination is frequently normal, especially in the early stages of disease. Changes in the size, shape, or feel of the uterus or surrounding structures may be seen when the disease is more advanced.
Tests that may be done include:
Endometrial aspiration or biopsy
Dilation and curettage (D and C)
Pap smear (may raise a suspicion for endometrial cancer, but does not diagnose it)
If cancer is found, other tests may be done to determine how widespread the cancer is and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging.
Stages of endometrial cancer:
The cancer is only in the uterus.
The cancer is in the uterus and cervix.
The cancer has spread outside of the uterus but not beyond the true pelvis area. Cancer may involve the lymph nodes in the pelvis or near the aorta (the major artery in the abdomen).
The cancer has spread to the inner surface of the bowel, bladder, abdomen, or other organs.
Cancer is also described as Grade 1, 2, or 3. Grade 1 is the least aggressive, and grade 3 is the most aggressive.
Treatment
Treatment options involve surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
A hysterectomy may be performed in women with the early stage 1 disease. Removal of the tubes and ovaries (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) is also usually recommended.
Abdominal hysterectomy is recommended over vaginal hysterectomy. This type of hysterectomy allows the surgeon to look inside the abdominal area and remove tissue for a biopsy.
Surgery combined with radiation therapy is often used to treat women with stage 1 disease that has a high chance of returning, has spread to the lymph nodes, or is a grade 2 or 3. It is also used to treat women with stage 2 disease.
Chemotherapy may be considered in some cases, especially for those with stage 3 and 4 disease.
Support Groups
The stress of illness may be eased by joining a support group whose members share common experiences and problems. See cancer - support group.
Expectations (prognosis)
Endometrial cancer is usually diagnosed at an early stage. The 1-year survival rate is about 92%.
The 5-year survival rate for endometrial cancer that has not spread is 95%. If the cancer has spread to distant organs, the 5-year survival rate drops to 23%.
Complications
Complications may include anemia due to blood loss. A perforation (hole) of the uterus may occur during a D and C or endometrial biopsy.
There can also be complications from hysterectomy, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Calling your health care provider
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding or any other symptoms of endometrial cancer. This is particularly important if you have any associated risk factors or if you have not had routine pelvic exams.
Any of the following symptoms should be reported immediately to the doctor:
Bleeding or spotting after intercourse or douching
Bleeding lasting longer than 7 days
Periods that occur every 21 days or more
Bleeding or spotting after 6 months or more of no bleeding at all
Prevention
All women should have regular pelvic exams beginning at the onset of sexual activity (or at the age of 21 if not sexually active) to help detect signs of infection of abnormal development. Women should have Pap smears beginning 3 years after becoming sexually active.
Women with any risk factors for endometrial cancer should be followed more closely by their doctors. Frequent pelvic examinations and screening tests such as a Pap smear and endometrial biopsy should be considered.
Women who are taking estrogen replacement therapy should have regular pelvic examinations and Pap smears.
References
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2009. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2009.
Park CK, Apte S, Acs G, Harris EER. Cancer of the endometrium. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKenna WG, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 92.
Lu K, Slomovitz BM. Neoplastic diseases of the uterus: Endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial carcinoma, sarcoma: Diagnosis and management. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 32.
Hernandez E, American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists. ACOG practice bulletin number 65: management of endometrial cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(4):952.
Review Date: 2/21/2010.
Reviewed by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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