Newly diagnosed high grade serous carcinoma

[u/Ready-Sherbet-2741]

I am now waiting for scan results to check spread. The stats on this cancer are terrible. I am 56 years old.

My symptom journey started with mild but persistent pelvic pain. Also started having changes in BMs. More D. Also, worsening insomnia. After a few weeks, I went to doctor and ultrasound showed 6mm lining but otherwise normal. Spotted blood with a BM then GP ordered a CT scan. Normal. Did a Pap smear also normal. A few weeks later a big bleed and went to ED. Then I was referred for a biopsy. I opted to go D&C/Hysteroscopy which happened last Wednesday. Gyno told me it looked like cancer after I woke up. Pathology confirmed the cancer.

Now a lot of crying and anxiety that is uncontrollable. Facing mortality with chronic insomnia is just bad. I share my home with my wonderful brother and one of my adult children still lives with me. I was widowed at 35 so my little family is everything. I am so upset that my children face losing their remaining parent. my adult child who lives at home is my best buddy.

I am being referred to the Gynaecology oncology team at my local hospital next week. Any tips for coping? Does anyone know why the cancer causes insomnia? medication?

[u/Glittering_Hurry236]

We've all been here. The early days are the absolute worst.

I was becoming hysterical constantly after diagnosis and could not function. I had a baby a few months before I turned 43 and could not believe 10 years later I could be leaving my child without a mother, and I don't know it just never occurred to me that I could get cancer, how stupid of me - but it's really what I thought...

I saw myself living to 100 in good health because I was fit and healthy and knock on wood. Nothing had ever happened to me before.

So. This was a shock. I went to my GP and bless her heart I was SO hysterical and shaking and asked for Valium and she gave me a years worth.

I'm 14 months postop and barely need it now; but I certainly needed it in the early days.

The cancer doesn't cause insomnia as far as I know but hormones do -- and loss of them which at our happens to all of us.

So, you can ask your doctor for an anti-anxiety, especially with your insomnia. For insomnia, I would say physically exhaust yourself with exercise and take Benadryl or whatever you have to do to fall asleep, especially now.

The early days pre surgery you're in right now is the worst, even if you find out, God forbid your stage three you will at least know the plan and you will have support thru your cancer center and a plan.

Endometrial cancer has a high cure rate. You have every reason to believe you will be cured. It might look gnarly. The hysterectomy absolutely sucks - losing your ovaries absolutely sucks. Becoming Postmenopausal overnight absolutely sucks. I was 53 and not menopausal before my hysterectomy.

You might need chemo, you might not you might cold cap while you do chemo and not lose your hair; you might do radiation and you might not, but you will very soon get this hysterectomy done and get your staging done.

You might only need the hysterectomy and that will be it and you'll get checked every three months for 2 to 5 years. And that's the best case scenario for endometrial cancer.

You have every reason to believe you will be cured and become a survivor.

[u/mandasee → u/Glittering_Hurry236]

Lots of good advice but if it’s actually serous, more than a hysterectomy is always needed. It’s very different than other types of endometrial cancer.

[u/Glittering_Hurry236 → u/mandasee]

Yup. OP will have to wait and see with more information. So far it's just confirmed cancer. Hopefully it's not aggressive and maybe OP can find out Figo score.

I knew Figo score and what type after my polypectomy, DNC during the operative hysteroscopy.

[u/CABB2020 → u/Glittering_Hurry236]

serous is always grade 3, so as the redditor above said, there is always more than a hysterectomy. op already knows it's serous, so, she isn't waiting to find that out.

[u/Glittering_Hurry236 → u/CABB2020]

Yes OP and I chatted below. I didn't know serous was always Grade 3. Hopefully she caught it early and can get a plan going. The waiting to stage and not knowing is the toughest mental place.