Survived Uterine Cancer!

I had always had really bad monthly cycles and severe PMS symptoms before menopause. When I was in my forties, it became almost unbearable, and often, I would pass clots the size of golf balls. I was relieved when my cycles stopped at 51. After the bleeding stopped, there was infrequent and slight spotting that never seemed to stop. It was never very much, and after the years that I suffered, it seemed like nothing, and was certainly a relief to what I endured before. I thought the spotting was a normal part of menopause.

When I went in for my annual checkup in August 2011, I decided that I would go to an OB/GYN instead of my regular family practice guy. I was becoming concerned about the spotting that would never seem to end. I had a pap test that revealed some irregular cells, so the next step was an ultrasound. That revealed a large mass in my uterus, so the next step was a biopsy. In September, just days before my 55th birthday, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a total hysterectomy a couple weeks after that.

I was lucky. My cancer was staged as a I-IA because there was no spread and had not penetrated the uterus walls over 50%. Thankfully, I did not need to go through chemotherapy. The only issue I had was tearing of the vagina, similar to childbirth because the tumor was 55mm and my uterus walls were 39mm thick (x2). It felt similar to the pain after childbirth.

I have had two visits to the specialist since surgery and everything looks great. I pray for all who suffer with cancer.