Endometrial Cancer Survivor

My name is Moira and I had quite a journey with endometrial cancer. I noticed bleeding (non-mensural bleeding), so I saw my family doctor and outlined my fears that it could be endometrial cancer. My mother and my brother had died (at age 48 years of colon cancer); and I found in my research on the internet that the defective gene that causes colon cancer also causes other cancers including endometrial uterine cancer. My family doctor said that it might indeed be endometrial cancer (among other conditions). I was sent for a Trans-Vaginal ultrasound and then I was referred to a specialist at a hospital.

I met with this specialist, and informed him of my fears and also of my family history of colon cancer (and the link to the gene which can cause both cancers ). This specialist performed a uterine biopsy....horror of horror...without any pain-killer or any type of substance to deaden the pain. After 15 minutes of him snipping my uterus , he finally got a sample my uterine lining for the biopsy. I was shaken, to say the least. Afterwards, I thought , why is it that the other specialist who performs my colonoscopy, provides a needle in a vien on my hand to deaden any pain of the colonoscopy; and yet this Specialist gave me nothing; thus subjecting me to such agonizing pain. Next, I was given another appointment to see this Specialist again to be told the results of the biopsy. He merrily informed me that I did not have cancer, and that I should be happy and go and live my life. I was stunned and shocked. In the depth of my being, I knew that I was very ill...I told him this and asked him about the continuous bleeding and my extreme fatigue.

He just said that it was just the body clearing itself of an extra thick uterine lining. I argued again that perhaps the same biopsy that he took from my uterus may not have been cancerous, but perhaps other parts of the uterus were indeed cancerous. Again, he disagreed with me. To cut a long medical horror story short, I had lariscopic radical hysterectomy surgery, as I insisted. Still no mention of cancer. I thought that my gut feeling must have been wrong and that Specialist was correct in that I did not have cancer. Six weeks after the surgery, I received a letter saying that I had to report to the hospital for a radiation review. The biopsy of my surgically removed organs revealed that I had had Stage One -C , Type 1 Endometrial uterine cancer. I knew it!!! That Specialist had been deadly wrong.

I researched the internet, met with the cancer specialists, and I decided not to take Radiation. Three and a half years later, I am still free from cancer, I feel great and most of all I am so glad that I listened to my gut feeling and insisted on surgery. Listening to my body saved my life. I think that all women over 40 or 45 years of age should routinely have a transvaginal ultrasound, and should listen to their bodies, regardless of what doctors and Specialists tell them. I had a terrifying journey with cancer, but I am glad that although I felt physically ill and rather weak, I was emotionally strong enough to disagree with the Specialist , stand my ground and insist on life-saving surgery. I hope that in sharing this experience, it will help other women to save their lives by being strong and vigilant; to listen to their bodies, to have a questioning mind, and not to be intimidated by physicians and doctors.