Can't get my head around this

Yes, don’t see many people getting the first bunch of chemos that I got. I was treated at the Beatson Cancer Centre in glasgow

So today I’m determined to try and pull out of this bad negative head space.

I still dont feel ready to face people so I admit the curtains are closed as I live on a busy street and dont want unexpected visitors. One of my closest friends is being very needy, texting every day wanting to see me even though I’ve asked for space to settle myself. I had to be quite firm and ask please leave me be for a little while.

My lovely future daughter in law sent a care package for me. Face mask, foot mask, hair mask etc… so while the hubby is at work I’m going to have a nice bath. Bless her she’s amazing and has been in this dark place. Shes now 6 years clear of brain cancer. An absolute inspiration.

Tomorrow I’m going to go for a walk somewhere with my husband, out of town where nobody knows me. I need some air.

This is turning into a bit of a blog…
Sorry I just need to write things down, it seems to help.

I hope everyones day is going well. :heart:

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Hey there. First off, I am so sorry that you are going through this. It is good news that they found the tumor before they did a hysterectomy. In my case I found out after I had opted to get a hysterectomy only to be told that they discovered a 4cm adenocarcinoma. They cut up the cervix to remove the uterus and inadvertently spread the cancer. My situation went for dire to worse. They likely want to shrink the tumor and assess if they will remove, also to see if there is any spread to the lymph nodes. I had horrible symptoms and major hemorraging episodes before my gynaecologist misdiagnosed me and told me it was likely due to perimenopause and fibroids. She even joked, well at least it is not cancer. Well she was wrong.

So you stay strong, and make sure to have the doctor give you details on the approach. Ask if they will do surgery after to remove. I went through 10 weeks of chemo and radiation along with surgery for internal radiation to try and remove the cancer that was spread. Unfortunately 8 months later it was recurrent and I was told I only had 7 months to live.

That was last year, and I am still here. I did not opt for any more chemo as it was. never going to cure me at this late stage, only buy me time. I did finally decide to get the full pelvic exenteration surgery as my last hope. In September I went in for basically a full gutting and removal of all my pelvic organs. I am still recovering.

Please let me know if you need any support or have any questions. I am here… Tina

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Oh my @choeparis1 ,

Your story has just been the wake up call I needed.
I am very lucky that the tumour is where it is to cause me the pain, therefore resulting in it being found.
I hate that you’ve had to go through all that and still are…
You’re an amazing person, to be able to tell your story to comfort me is an inspiration.

I know this is going to play havoc with my head and my emotions for quite some time to come unfortunately.

Thank you so much for telling me your story

:heart:

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Any of you ladies have Stenosis as a result of this flipping thing…

Shocking pain again this morning in the lower pelvis, determined not to go to A&E again so took as much of my meds as I could ( safely of course)

Now feel like I’ve done 1000 sit ups…

Gonna have to ring GP Monday to get a good regime of anti inflammatories and painkillers. I dont think I’ve been taking them as I should.

:woman_facepalming::woman_facepalming::woman_facepalming::woman_facepalming:

:cry:

I’m so sorry to hear this. I am going to presume the pain is caused by the build up of blood in the uterus, caused by stenosis of the cervix, caused by the adenocarcinoma? Stenosis is a general term for a constricture, which can be immensely painful in some organs where it blocks a natural process. I have no experience of this with adenocarcinoma, but it sort of (sadly) makes sense, depending on where the tumour is. I’m so sorry to hear that you’re going through this and I hope you can get some proper pain relief. It’s bad enough having the cancer :persevere:. I wonder whether it might be worth having a chat with someone via the support pages of this forum:

https://www.jostrust.org.uk/get-support

Sounds like you need all the support you can get. :kissing_heart:

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Yes I think that’s what causes the pain. Although I’ve been on that drug ( cant remember the name) that’s supposed to stop the bleeding. So I’m at a bit of a loss as to why?

Perhaps it was some sort of spasm? No idea…

All very complicated

Hi I was told last July I had a 5cm tumour I was on my own when told and had to attend every appointment alone due to covid they said stage 2B but then 3 due to slight pelvic lymph node involvement following a pet scan. My letter now say 11c so I am not sure. I finished treatment Nov 2020 and got the all clear on world cancer day Feb 21. Life after treatment is not easy I worry before every hospital check up. Every twinge and pain I fear the worst but keep going keep fighting.

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We’re all thinking of you, Shammy. The drug may be to constrict small blood vessels so that they don’t bleed - I was given something for that many, many moons ago when I started having very heavy periods suddenly. I refused to take it, because my GP would not try to find out WHY I was bleeding, just treat the symptom… poor practice in my opinion. You do know what the problem is, so hopefully they will be targeting you with the right drugs.

Yes, since the start of the pandemic all of us have had to go through consultations, appointments and treatment completely on our own. It has been hard, although you do get used to it. The thing I found most upsetting was having to wear a mask for treatment most of the time, because it can feel like you’re being suffocated, especially when you’re in pain. I was told on one occasion that I should have brought someone with me when I had to get a blood transfusion and could hardly stand up - but they had to give me a chair and wheel me everywhere. I used to go in on hospital transport as you weren’t allowed on the tube in the pandemic with chemotherapy. It was over an hour each way but I was immensely grateful as I could barely walk to the car by the end of my course of treatment!

Yes, the pandemic has made everything harder but at least we are getting treated and that’s the main thing. Just keeping asking your nurse specialist if you’re unsure about anything - you matter! X

Lockdown sucked! I was diagnosed on the 8th July, and just like you I was on my own. My partner came to my MRI results to get my treatment plan and he came to my first scan results meeting in April but that’s all. I can’t remember half the conversations I had with my cancer team, too much information for someone to take in on their own. Glad you got clear but I just had my 6 month scan a few weeks ago and got the results last week, I can fully sympathise with what you mean about the worry. Hopefully it gets easier x

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Feeling a lot better today. I’ve taken the dog out twice for a walk and the hubby came along too. Made a nice cottage pie and veg for Sunday lunch… a little bit of normality.

Totally agree with the pandemic crap… being on my own for the appointments and when I was told I had cancer was horrendous. Even when I was admitted for the week and my husband and kids couldnt come in to see me. I managed to walk to the front of the hospital to meet some of the family and I smuggled in a burger from McDs. Thought I’d get in trouble but the nurses laughed and said i was just right.
It’s just all very surreal.

That’s all very positive, Shammy - you need to be enjoying some quality time with your family when you can.
X

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So I had a great chat with my GP this morning.
Surprised that she had my MRI results in front of her… so…

Bladder - clear

Rectum - clear

Pelvic bones - clear

No evidence of pelvic or initial adenopathy

No mode involvement.

Infiltration into upper 3rd of the vagina

Evidence of full thickness stromal infiltration with loss of the normal low signal rim and with parametrial infiltration.

The tumor measures at 3.6 x 2cm in sagittal diameter and 3.5cm in transverse diameter - so smaller than 1st thought.

Conclusion - The appearances are consistent with stage 2B and mode negative

Thoughts?

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Thought? It completely sucks but it could have been a lot worse. Very curable. Not a easy road but you’ll get there :heart:

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@Izzzy76 I was thinking that too. Theres no denying it’s going to be very tough going. But I feel now that the goal is more doable. I have a chance…

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You certainly do, you can do this!!

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This sounds like good news to me, @Shammy716 - the fact it hasn’t spread and there’s no lymph nodes involved makes it a much simpler situation to tackle. I’m stage 3b so my tumour is a bit more invasive than yours, but with no further spread my oncologist is exceedingly confident that it’s curable, particularly given that it’s squamous cell which responds very well to treatment.

If it helps in any way to ease some of your worries, I’ve had my first round of chemo today and honestly it has actually been a very pleasant day, much to my surprise! The medical staff are just fantastic and everything is very straightforward. Currently feeling weirdly good - I think I’m sensitive to the steroids they prescribe so I feel like my limbs are vibrating and that I could run a marathon! Might need to adjust the dose next time… :joy:

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@jd140589 Thank you for your reply! That’s great to hear you’ve had a positive experience… I did laugh at the steroid reaction :blush:
Certainly feeling more positive today. My GP has been amazing as well. 45 min phone call to sort out medications and chat about the mri and what the future will hold.
I know I’ll get down days, but I know see a little light at the end of the tunnel. Although I’m nearly scared to get too hopeful just yet… I’ve a long way to go

Hi Shammy,

Your diagnosis is very similar to mine 4cm adenocarcinoma grade 1 tumour. No spread outwith cervix my tumour has just touched the parametrium the doctor said low uptake? No lymph node involvement.

I am currently on week 3 out 5 and so far have had no issues. I am having my 4th chemo tomorrow.

This is curable are you having a pet scan I had one which confirmed the staging.

AMF

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@AMF I’m not sure just yet! I hope to hear tomorrow, I thought when I read the report that its sounded very familiar to yours!

I really want to get started now. Focussing now on getting the kids back to school and then hopefully it wont be too long