So… I was a diagnosed with cervical cancer in October… I have a second lletz procedure booked for 17th November. The first lletz I had they ended up taking a depth of 10mm away straight away so I doubt I’m left with much cervix to play with!
A recent letter I was CC’d Into it mentioned a hysterectomy depending on my fertility (???)
No one’s spoke to me about a hysterectomy… Ive read this in the letter from the consultant to the nurse who will be performing my lletz, she’s dealt with me from day 1.
Dies anyone know what will happen after this second lletz? I know I haven’t given much info to go off… Im just confused!!
Thanks x
I was told hysterectomy was only an option in very early stages. Why?, I don't know. I am stage 4, in my late 60's and feel it would make sense to just 'take it all out'. I was diagnosed in April, denied treatment (it scared me), in October I decided I would try treatment so am in the stage of redoing all tests. I am exhausted and trying to find energy to make it through treatment.
I believe the second lletz will be to to see if they can get clear margins, if they can and you have finished having children a hysterectomy may be offered, especially if your changes are adenocarcinoma. Think this is due to glandular changes being more difficult to pick up on future smear tests.
Hi, I had a Lletz which found it then was offered the cone biopsy to 'stage it' but that came back completely clear (thank the lord!!) however, because I had had my children and I was planning no more it was suggested to me to have the hysterectomy to be sure to be sure! But the oncology gynae specialist did say to be it was over kill and I shouldn't have needed it but I went ahead to reduce risk as much as I possible can!!
if your second Lletz/cone comes back clear I would imagine they would give you smears every 3-6 months for 5? Years maybe? If it does not, then yes, - hysterectomy would be the next in line depending on how clear the margins are/are not.
When treating cervical cancer one of the very many things that your team will take into consideration is you age and whether or not you have had any children. If you are young, have had no children but were hoping that you would one day have a family of your own then they will do what they can to preserve your fertility. But if you are older or already have children or don't want any anyway then they won't go to the extra effort to preserve your fertility. I would think, that if they don't manage to get clear margins with the second LLETZ that the normal next options, in order of severity are; cone biopsy, trachelectomy, hysterectomy. So if you aren't planning to get pregnant they'll probably skip out the cone biopsy or trachelectomy options and jump straight to hysterectomy. I hope that makes sense and clears up your confusion :-)
Be lucky :-) Tivoli
Hi DeeDee :-)
The reason a hysterectomy is an option only in the early stages is because it is unlikely to have spread very far. Once you are a stage 2 or above the cancer is extremely likely to have travelled a bit in which case the best way to treat it is with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of the two. Do I understand correctly that it was you who made the decision to refuse treatment and it was not that treatment was denied to you? I would like to reassure you that chemo-radiotherapy is not nearly as scary or difficult as it sounds. We have at least a couple of women here on the forum who have come all the way from Stage 4 to No Evidence of Disease so there's a good chance you can be completely cured if you let your doctors try :-)
tvioli, yes, I had refused treatment. I am petrified of radiation and chemotherapy. Thanks for the information on when surgery may be a yes and when it is a no. I am still terrified of treatment, but after saying I will do it, I don't feel I can back out now and my daughter does not think the insurance wil pay for all these tests again 'the next time I get more afraid of the cancer than the treatment.' One more appointment on the 1st of December and then treatment the following week. So many appointments to get to treatment, they are exhausting and very painful for me. Thank you so much for your positive support.
To be completely truthful with you, I found the whole thing rather exciting! You will have the opportunity to meet lots of other people going through the same business and a certain amout of camaraderie develops.
