52 years,possible uterine cancer.

bailey52 · New User Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Hi Everbody,I was just wondering if anybody is or has been in my situation,
I am 52,post menopausal,I think(kinda borderline) and have had spotting for the last six months along with bloatness,frequency to pee,and feeling of fullness.
I finally went to the gyn 2 weeks ago,she felt the growth while doing a pelvic exam and believed it to be on a stalk,I had 2 ultra sounds and 2 trans vaginal ultra sounds which showed a fibroid size of a prune.(Is that big or small for a fibroid)
The gyn tried to do a biopsy in the office but there was too much blood as the slightest touch made it bleed and said it would have to be done in the hospital.
She has giving me the choice of a d&c or a uterine biopsy and I'm thinking of having a d&c even though I hate the thoughts of a general anesthia but I keep thinking the d&c would cover more area and be more accurate.
Also she said that during the d&c it might be nesessery to do an emmergency hysterectomy.Is that usual.Maybe I should just have the hysterectomy
I am worried sick in case I have cancer on account of my age and I can't believe I have not gone to the Gyn sooner as I may have left it too long.
I will do whatever it takes.Does any of this sound familiar to anyone.

Thanks in advance,bailey

rmaureen · Senior User Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Posts: 100

Hi Baily,

Want to welcome you to the forum, and of course, i wish it was under better circumstances. I cannot answer your question as to the best action to take, but thought you may find the url below helpful. I am going to post an excerpt from the page for others who may view this post. A lot of times a uterine biopsy is sufficient in finding cancer, but if a sample does not produce an adequate amount of tissue to analyze, a d & c may advised after a biopsy. But i do want to say that fibroids can cause the symptoms you described, and most often no cancer is present. It sounds like you have a good doctor, who seeks to rule cancer out. Hope this helps, and please keep us informed on what happens.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_endometrial_cancer_diagnosed.asp

God Bless,

Rhonda

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Sampling Endometrial Tissue

Endometrial biopsy: An endometrial biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of endometrial tissue is obtained through a very thin flexible tube inserted into the uterus through the cervix. The tube removes a small amount of endometrium using suction. The suctioning takes about a minute or less. The discomfort is similar to menstrual cramps and can be helped by taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen before the procedure.

This is the most commonly performed test for endometrial cancer. It can be done in the doctor’s office.

Transvaginal ultrasound (see below) is often done before the biopsy. This helps the doctor locate any suspicious areas that should be biopsied.

Hysteroscopy: This is a technique that allows doctors to look inside the uterus. If the endometrial biopsy didn’t find the problem, then doctors can insert a tiny telescope (about 1/6 inch in diameter) into the uterus through the cervix. The uterus is then expanded by filling it with salt water (saline). This lets the doctor see what might be causing any bleeding, such as a cancer or a polyp. The abnormality can then be biopsied. This is usually done with local anesthesia (numbing the local area), so that the patient can stay awake. This is the most accurate way of looking for cancer.

Dilation and curettage (D & C): If the endometrial biopsy sample doesn’t provide enough tissue, or if the biopsy suggests cancer but the results are uncertain, a D & C must be done. In this outpatient procedure, the opening of the cervix is enlarged (dilated) and a special instrument is used to scrape tissue from inside the uterus. This may be done with or without a hysteroscopy.

The procedure takes about an hour and may require general anesthesia (where you are asleep) or conscious sedation (medicine given into a vein to make you drowsy but still awake). A D & C is usually done in an outpatient surgery area of a clinic or hospital. Most women have little discomfort after this procedure.

jotay02 · New User Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 9

and also ask if it is their practice to do a hysteroscopy with the D&C. my dr. explained to me that without the hysteroscopy, they would be blindly picking a spot to sample. with the hysteroscopy, they can actually see in there , and if any places look suspicious, they can take a sample of that spot. definitely D&C with hysteroscopy. good luck.

bailey52 · New User Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

Maureen and Jotay,thank you both for your replies.I'm just back now on the computer,the dreaded blue screen.
Jotay I will definetly ask for a hysterscopy at the same time,thank you so much for the heads up on that.
I phoned my older sister back home in Ireland and she told me she had one done(d&c) for similar reasons and yes she did worry,all in vein thankfully.So that kind of lifted a load off my shoulders.
D&C is not schedueled yet but it will be a Wednesday,probably 2/3 weeks from now and I will keep yiz posted.
Thanks very much,Bailey

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