Post about uterine cancer

Yathu · Nov 30, 2015

Hi All,
We Indian women are hearing about cancers only for the past few years. We know nowadays women are being affected by breast cancer and cervix cancer. How many of us know about Uterine Cancer.

Here I would like to share my thoughts and experience about Uterine Cancer and things I learnt about it. Hope it creates a awareness among us.

My mom is 56 years old. Menopause happened 3years before. Recently before 6months, she noticed sudden white discharge. It was very light and occured only while urinating. We immediately rushed to doctor asking for the reason. They did a pap-smear test. For women who doesnt know what pap-smear test is (even I was not aware all this while), it is the process of taking the sample cells from vagina and cervix by doctors without giving any anesthesia. I swear it do pains a lot.

Hopefully the result was positive. Doctors said that it happens in case of some women and nothing serious. We returned home happily. After 2months the white discharge got severe. My mom started using pads for white discharge. We got afraid and again went to doctor for their opinion. Now they took scan and said that some fibroids are seen in Uterus and the uterus layer is thick. You know what, uterus layer gets thick only during pregnancy period. We asked doctor if the uterus can be removed so she can be without any problems. But doctors didnt support that thought. Rather they gave some medicines to stop the white discharge. You wont believe it was less than 2weeks, mom started bleeding.

We were shocked. Doctors suggested for another pap-smear test. There they noticed a lump like thing in cervix. So they decided to remove the uterus but wanted to do a DNC and take the tissues from the uterus and confirm if they are only simple fibroids. Finally DNC happened and the tissues were sent for biopsy. In between mom started bleeding a lot in addition to white discharge. Horrible.

They asked us to visit the doctor after 10days. But after 3days we got a call from doctor's office saying that doctor wants to visit us. There a shock waiting for us. Tumor cells were seen in Uterus. Mom is suffering from Uterine cancer

It took one whole day to accept the fact. Finally the decision made was to remove the Uterus. The most pathetic thing in Uterine cancer is that the stage cant be decided until the biopsy is done in uterus tissue cells. So we need to wait for sometime till the report comes up. Only then we would come to know if it has been spread or not. Or if chemotherapy is need or not.

So women, please dont be careless. Even after menopause, please do regular check-ups and pap-smear test.

Have a healthy life. Women is the backbone of the family.

sokanasanah · Nov 30, 2015

Yathu said: ↑

Hopefully the result was positive.
Click to expand...

The word 'cancer' in the 'Recent Posts' box brought me here.

If I may clarify one crucial bit of terminology, in the spirit of a public service announcement (just like your original post above! :thumbsup):

In medicine, a 'positive test' can appear to mean different things. In the case of a pregnancy test, a 'positive test' means 'positive for pregnancy'. So positive = good! (Well, in most circumstances!).

On the other hand, for tests of disease, 'positive' often means 'positive for disease' i.e. bad for the patient. In this definition, 'negative' means 'no disease'. So negative = good!

I know this confusing. A technical definition and a common-language definition are at odds with each other. This is a problem that has been and is still being discussed in the medical literature, since it confuses communication between doctor & patient. In the United States, there are some efforts underway to change the terminology.

So, be careful. In your sentence above, you might say: 'The result was good' or 'the test was negative for disease'.

When speaking with medical personnel, always make it a point to ask: "What does positive mean? Do you mean 'positive for disease' or something else? What does the test result mean for me?"

Keep asking until you are sure that you can explain the situation to someone else, clearly and unambiguously.

It was very thoughtful of you to take the time to alert others to a problem even as you are dealing with a difficult situation. I hope your mum gets better soon!
:cheers

vaidehi71 · Nov 30, 2015

Hi,

Pap smear needs to be done in any girl who is sexually active.
You are bit confused about the pap smear and post menopausal bleeding

Family Planning NSW

The above fact sheet deals with the pap smear. Any person who is regularly having pap smear every two years without any positive results should be fine not to have pap smear post menopausal.

Since it is not done in India the reason they do pap smear in pt with PV discharge.

Furthermore here any post menopausal bleeding is endometrial cancer until proven otherwise. Here since all people have pap smear the frequency of cervical cancer is less. cervical cancer has a long time to develop almost 10 years in some instance. Hence the recommendation to do pap smear for any women, most often 2 years post being sexually active. There are a lot of resources on line, go through it. Infact every girl should know these things.

I just wanted to clarify certain things in your writings, not to hurt you by my writings.

My heartfelt regrets for you in this instance and hope your mother recovers well.

vaidehi71 · Nov 30, 2015

sokanasanah said: ↑

The word 'cancer' in the 'Recent Posts' box brought me here.

If I may clarify one crucial bit of terminology, in the spirit of a public service announcement (just like your original post above! :thumbsup):

In medicine, a 'positive test' can mean different things. In the case of a pregnancy test, a 'positive test' means 'positive for pregnancy'. So positive = good! (Well, in most circumstances!).

For tests of disease, 'positive' often means 'positive for disease' i.e. bad for the patient. In this definition, 'negative' means 'no disease'. So negative = good!

I know this confusing. A technical definition and a common-language definition are at odds with each other. This is a problem that has been and is still being discussed in the medical literature, since it confuses communication between doctor & patient. In the United States, there are some efforts underway to change the terminology.

So, be careful. In your sentence above, you might say: 'The result was good' or 'the test was negative for disease'.

When speaking with medical personnel, always make it a point to ask: "What does positive mean? Do you mean 'positive for disease' or something else? What does the test result mean for me?"

Keep asking until you are sure that you can explain the situation to someone else, clearly and unambiguously.

It was very thoughtful of you to take the time to alert others to a problem even as you are dealing with a difficult situation. I hope your mum gets better soon!
Click to expand...

good point...

vaidehi71 · Nov 30, 2015

@sokanasanah

That is a good point.

Let me clarify for the sake of OP.
Pap smear if positive does not indicate immediately mean cancer..
There are few stages before there is the final stage of cancer..
The tissues or cells are in the precancerous stage or kind of having potential of becoming cancerous.
So a positive pap smear means that there is abnormality and would require a specialist intervention.

Whereas a negative pap smear result means that the test result has been normal and that the test can be repeated in two years time.

Same thing goes for the endometrial biopsy result which is done by D and C.
I hope I have clarified a bit more.

OP I do understand what you are worried about now. You are worried about the staging of the uterine ( endometrial ) cancer. I would like to know whether they did a staging CT scan before surgery.

Yathu · Nov 30, 2015

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies. I would like to make a point over here. Well I'm not a doctor. I'm a victim thats it. There may be differences in the term I used to explain things. But this is the knowledge a common woman got. So I've come up with my point. A common man need not know much details about cancer or test related to them unless we go through it.

Anyways thanks people for teaching me what is positive or negative is.. what is pap-smear is.. I get your point here that I need to be aware and clear..

thanks

vaidehi71 · Nov 30, 2015

Yathu said: ↑

Hi all,

Thanks for your replies. I would like to make a point over here. Well I'm not a doctor. I'm a victim thats it. There may be differences in the term I used to explain things. But this is the knowledge a common woman got. So I've come up with my point. A common man need not know much details about cancer or test related to them unless we go through it.

Anyways thanks people for teaching me what is positive or negative is.. what is pap-smear is.. I get your point here that I need to be aware and clear..

thanks
Click to expand...

Sorry if I had hurt your feelings.

I did think I wrote in layman terms only.

I just want everyone else who are reading this thread to have more clarity that is all.

I am happy that you did your research and posted a post which is essential for everyone to understand.

By the by I added the positive and negative results so that you are aware of how to view the results and so does others who reads this thread.

You have done a great job of thinking and also have posted this thread with the main and nobel intention of making others wake up and be aware of these issues. I hope you understood me.

Take care of yourself and your mother.

vaidehi71 · Nov 30, 2015

I have been to Madurai and stayed there for more than a month long time ago.

I like the Temple and Madurai Meenakshi has a lot of significance in my life.

I am sure you do believe in Her and I hope She helps you and your mother at this time of distress.

Yathu · Nov 30, 2015

Hi vaidhei,

Thanks fine. No issues. People who read this, they should be aware of the things. No problem at all.. Yeah I always believe in Meenakshi amman. hoping for the best to happen soon. Thanks for your wishes