r/endometrialcancer 7d ago

A little sad about my pathology results

Hello I am 24 with stage 2 grade 3. I went to two fertility clinics trying to freeze my eggs. I’ve lost 65 pounds this year but neither of them would operate on me unless I lost another at least 40 pounds. And my doctor was adamant that I needed my hysterectomy as soon as possible. She gave me three options. Full hysterectomy, partial hysterectomy and retrieve my eggs after I loose the weight, or see another oncologist for a third opinion. When I told her a partial she told me the cons. If I choose that option I would need chemo and my chances of having viable eggs are much lower. We don’t know how far the cancer has spread and my ovaries might already be affected by it. My chances for recurrence are higher and if it comes back I have a lower chance of living. I got back my pathology and my ovaries are fine. A little bit of spread to my cervix. I might need chemo anyways. My life could very well be uprooted for the next couple of months. Not including the past couple months of appointments and surgeries. I just accept a job offer when I found out. It pays well but it’s hard work so I won’t be able to do it while on chemo. I wanted to go back to college with year and I had to put that on hold. I was saving to move out. All that money went to making sure I had enough to survive being out of work for two months. I just hope all of this is worth it. Because the only thing that made life worth it was the fact that I was gonna be a mother one day. I know I can adopt. I’ve always wanted to be a foster parent after my kids reached a certain age. But now the idea that I can’t have children and the only way I will ever be able to is going through a long phase of lawyers, paperwork, meetings and waiting is making me sad. Post op appointment is in a week. I’m hoping that my journey is over and I can move on with life

14 Upvotes

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u/Hummingbird_1960 7d ago

I had grade 3 endometrial cancer but I knew something was wrong. Grade three means it is a fast moving cancer. I had a little pain June 17 of last year. It got worse and no one cared until a family member helped me to get a biopsy. August 1 was my biopsy and I was in excruciating pain. Aug 6 they said it was stage 1 but by Aug 27 when I had my uterus out, it had moved up. But the pain came from the tumor pushing out of my uterus. I had six rounds of chemo, finishing up February 10th so far am cancer free. No idea what’s next but I won’t be doing more chemo. I’m 65 and have neuropathy and can’t do much. You know what you need to do, feel it out. We all have our own answers.

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u/Leapinglizzard75 7d ago

This concerns me because they said I was Figo 1 at my biopsy and I'm having surgery next week. There's a chance it can be a grade 3 so quickly?

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u/Antique-Anteater-988 7d ago

Sadly yes. Mine was grade 1 at biopsy and upgraded to 2 after the complete pathology after hysterectomy.  In my opinion, it’s not that it accelerated that quickly but rather more to do with the sample size. The sample that was obtained from biopsy measured very small, like 2x2cm.  And was likely retrieved from the first point reachable within the uterus.  

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u/Leapinglizzard75 7d ago

True it's like a tiny picture of what's really going on.

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u/Hummingbird_1960 7d ago

I can only tell you what was true for me. Aug 1 was the biopsy and it was stage 1, but after the hysterectomy it was grade 3. My oncologist said it’s a very fast moving cancer. Which was why I had tiny pain June 17th and excruciating pain not long after. When I had a CT on June 17, they told me just a thickening of the uterus. I had had that before, and it wasn’t painful. I had gone to the ER even and no one would help because ‘it was only a thick uterine lining’! 🤦🏽‍♀️

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u/Leapinglizzard75 7d ago

I am so sorry you're going through all this. I guess they never know until they open you up what's truly going on. Ugh.

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u/Hummingbird_1960 7d ago

Thank you, I truly appreciate that. I’m six months out from my last chemo session. I’m hoping the neuropathy wanes soon. I hope you get good news and it stays a 1. Keep us posted.

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u/ChichiriPikachu 6d ago

Yes... And it's possible that the biopsy could show grade 1 and the pathology shows both grade 1 and 3... That's what happened to me. Dedifferentiated Endometrial Carcinoma...

I feel your pain and hope that all goes well for you!

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u/mcmurrml 7d ago edited 7d ago

No one can make this decision for you. Grade 3 with stage 2 is too close to stage 3. They could get in there and as time goes by it could spread more. Did she say what the plan is when they operate it has spread further than what they thought? I feel for you but I would be aggressive in what you do but I can't make that decision for you. I know it's a loss. Cancer takes so much from us. Please decide quick because you need to get started so it doesn't spread. I hate to tell this journey is not over. Not even close.

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u/Interesting-Food5233 7d ago

I’ve already had my hysterectomy. My post op appointment is next week. I’ll hear my pathology there. I’m more just feeling regret and sadness. I mean it’s not like I didn’t try to find a place that would freeze my eggs. I was just unsuccessful

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u/Antique-Anteater-988 7d ago

I’m very sorry that at such a young age, you’ve received this diagnosis. I know you are weighing the different surgical treatments options to best meet your needs. I would encourage you however to take action quickly regarding your hysterectomy decision. They’ve already determined it has spread to the cervix so that means it has left the uterus so it’s moving elsewhere. I don’t mean to frighten you or cause anxiety. I hope you’re able to make a decision soon that will bring you peace in the midst of this rough time. 

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u/Interesting-Food5233 7d ago

Thank you. I already had my hysterectomy. Post op appointment coming soon. I just regret I wasn’t able to secure a route to have children first

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u/Antique-Anteater-988 7d ago

My bad. Didn’t see your comment at the end about post-op appointment.  Is this appointment also to discuss your treatment plan?  For me, just knowing the treatment plan brought me some certainty of knowing what lies ahead. 

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u/Interesting-Food5233 6d ago

Yes. It’s to go over my pathology and see if I need more treatment. I’m a little nervous

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u/sanityjanity 7d ago

Do you have parents who can support you financially?  I was out of work for far more than two months.  8 weeks for surgery, five weeks for radiation, and nine weeks for chemo (with some down time in between, that was over seven months for me)

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u/Interesting-Food5233 7d ago

I have emotional support. But sadly no one in my life can afford to support me financially

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u/sanityjanity 7d ago

I encourage you to ask to talk to the social worker on your cancer team. You need to have a back up plan for what you will do if you run out of money before you are done with treatment.

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u/Interesting-Food5233 7d ago

I did get a chance to do that. They gave me a list of grants to apply to. I’ve gone through a couple and applied weeks ago. I have heard back from them. But I will continue down the list

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u/sanityjanity 7d ago

You need to treat your cancer immediately.  Collecting eggs isn't going to do you any good if it spreads.

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u/Interesting-Food5233 7d ago

You don’t read love? I already had my hysterectomy. I’m just upset I wasn’t able to retrieve my eggs beforehand

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u/Specialist_Badger331 7d ago

To be honest you post is quite hard to read. Sorry you have lost the chance to give birth to your own children, all you can do now is live the healthiest life you can & try to do things that at least make you smile & of course be guided by your medical team for future treatment.

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u/Ready-Sherbet-2741 7d ago

I’m sorry you could not collect your eggs before the hysterectomy. And as you point out there are other options it‘s just that there is a grief on losing that option. And it’s hard grieving your fertility and recovering from a hysterectomy and dealing with cancer at the same time. It’s a lot. When the grief gets a little less dire I’m hoping you find a way to be a fabulous mom.

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u/Interesting-Food5233 6d ago

Thank you so much