Breast Cancer Survivor and now Endometrial Cancer

hannahstripe

Hello All!

So when shit happens, I come to the place where I never feel alone! 7 year breast cancer survivor...finally starting to believe that I might be ok and bam - endometrial cancer. No BRCA genes and recently tested for Lynch syndrome - negative for that too. So happy that I do not have these genes to pass on to my daughters, but why? I am 49 diagnosed with another type of cancer - why? Nobody knows. No genes. No family history. No risk factors that they can find. No reason. But here I am fighting battle No. 2.

Feeling so ANGRY and frustrated. My regular gynecologist said early stage - maybe just hysterectomy. Can't believe that right now. My breast cancer was supposed to be stage 0 - lumpectomy and done - didn't go that way. Still wasn't that bad and I am still here! My oncologist said full hysterectomy with ovaries too. Waiting for my appt with the gyno onc surgeon at Dana Farber. See her on Wed. so nervous....

Any help or advice appreciated...

AliceBastable

I was just the opposite - endometrial cancer with very thorough hysterectomy in 2008, then breast cancer in 2018. I also had my first basal cell (skin) a month after the hysterectomy. And then kidney cancer right after the breast. I tell you, it's like having cancer toilet paper stuck to your shoe and you can't get it off. Good luck. The hysterectomy wasn't bad as far as surgeries go.

Jelson

hannahstripe - sorry you are going through this. I had DCIS and then endometrial cancer too. I had to seriously hunt for information and could not find a supportive online community - there were many for women dealing with hysterectomies, but not specifically for cancer.Here is the place for you. Use the search function and you will find other threads.

I hope your experience is as positive as mine - Stage 1a or less!!!!,my surgery was laprascopic, one night in hospital.because early stage, no need for chemo or radiation. One blip was the surgeon insisted on taking lymph nodes which was probably unnecessary (talk to your surgeon). I thought of it as the removal of a little bag of cancer- all self-contained. Not like a lumpectomy where I was concerned about a missed tumor, stray cells or it popping up in the other breast. Yet, I must admit I was much more anxious with the second cancer diagnosis than I had been for the DCIS.

AliceBastable, you are too funny - picturing you picking off that cancer toilet paper stuck to your shoe!

hannahstripe

Thank you so much for the responses.

Alice well said - the stupid toilet paper that wont get off- love that! That brought a smile to my face!

Jelson - I am hoping to have a similar experience to yours - fingers crossed! I worry that it wont be so easy! I too searched for another place as good as here - found none. Many recommend hyster-sisters which is good info but as you said about the surgery and not much about cancer. This forum is my favorite place to go and talk about my real feelings and feel surrounded by friends.

Deep breath - I got this! Thanks for the energy to keep going!

AliceBastable

Should you need it, Hystersisters is a great site, with one whole section for women with cancer.

https://www.hystersisters.com/

hannahstripe

Hi Alice,

Thank you so much. I had visited the site but had not realized it had info about cancer. I had only seen those who had hysterectomies for other reasons. I looked further and found it - thank you so much!

AliceBastable

👍

Ann-sg

I was recently diagnosed with a rare form of endometrial cancer - Adenosarcoma in early May after removing a polyp. It was about 2.5 years after my breast cancer diagnosis.

I did a laparoscopic hysterectomy on 27 May, stayed in hospital for 1 night. First few days after the surgery was a bit tough but it gets better every day. Seeing my gynaecologist tomorrow. Finger crossed that no chemo and radiation required I would say the surgery experience is better than mastectomy - at least no drain to worry about.

My gynaecologist and my oncologist have differing views on whether this is due to the tamoxifen that I was taking.